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Hilo Union Elementary School

Q: Is Hilo Union Elementary School a good school?

Hilo Union Elementary School ranks 122 nd of 204 Hawaii elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

122^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 204 Hawaii Elementary Schools

Better than 40% of Hawaii elementary schools

Summary

Hilo Union Elementary School is a public elementary school in Hilo, Hawaii, serving 446 students in grades PK-6. The school is part of the Hawaii Department of Education district, which is ranked 1 out of 1 in the state and rated 5 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Despite being part of a highly-ranked district, Hilo Union Elementary School has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Hawaii elementary schools, ranging from 122nd to 166th out of 193-207 schools in recent years. The school has been rated 1 or 2 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger, indicating below-average performance compared to other Hawaii elementary schools. While the school performs relatively well for Hispanic and Pacific Islander students, it struggles with Asian and White student performance, ranking in the bottom half of Hawaii elementary schools for these subgroups. Hilo Union's proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science are consistently below the state averages, ranging from 30% to 50% proficient across different grade levels and subject areas.

Compared to nearby schools, Hilo Union Elementary School generally performs below average, with lower proficiency rates and rankings. However, there are a few exceptions, such as Kaumana Elementary School and Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School, which outperform Hilo Union in academic achievement and statewide rankings. Despite having higher per-student spending of $18,068, which is above the state average, Hilo Union's student-teacher ratio of 11.4 is lower than many nearby schools, suggesting that the additional resources have not translated into improved academic results.

449

Students ?

11.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,068

Per pupil spending ?

68.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

506 Waianuenue Ave
Hilo, HI 96720

(808) 933-0900

District: Hawaii Department of Education

Students who attend Hilo Union Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Hilo Intermediate School
High:	Hilo High School

Racial breakdown:

Pacific Islander:

36.7%

Hispanic:

29.8%

Two or more races:

18.5%

See top rated Hawaii elementary schools

Compare Hilo Union Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 10th percentile in 2015 → 40th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 30 percentile points since 2015

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school43%

122^nd of 204

Hawaii public elementary schools ?

Bottom 40%▲ up 30 pts since 2015

From bottom 10% (2015) to bottom 40% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Hawaii Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

117^th of 182Elementary Schools in the Hawaii Department of Education

1^st of 1Hawaii Department of Education among Hawaii districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	41.9	122 of 204	40.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.9	120 of 207	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	20.1	164 of 195	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	30.9	139 of 193	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	23.1	152 of 196	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.3	153 of 196	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	21.2	166 of 193	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	21.6	173 of 207	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	28.6	148 of 195	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	14.2	175 of 194	9.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	17.0	181 of 196	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	21.2	174 of 195	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	18.5	171 of 191	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	10.2	175 of 183	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	32.8	146 of 191	23.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	19.0	131 of 146	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	19.6	168 of 192	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	34.4	134 of 194	30.9%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	31.1	104 of 125	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	41.7	150 of 203	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	81.7	33 of 123	73.2%	★★★★☆
2024	59.8	106 of 198	46.5%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	79.3	45 of 165	72.7%	★★★★☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	68.9	36 of 110	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	73.2	63 of 196	67.9%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	43.3	98 of 153	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	56.2	101 of 207	51.2%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	58.7	83 of 171	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.1	121 of 202	40.1%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

English Language Learner (2025)73rd percentile+33 vs school

Hispanic (2024)73rd percentile+31 vs school

Pacific Islander (2025)67th percentile+27 vs school

White (2025)51st percentile+11 vs school

Special Education (2025)36th percentile-4 vs school

Asian (2025)17th percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs Hawaii (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts48%

Science42%

Mathematics39%

★

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Schools Near Hilo Union Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				HSA Science (2025)	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts (2025)	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	HSA Science All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts All Grades	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Hilo Union Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	506 Waianuenue Ave	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 933-0900	449	38	11.9	68.4%	31 (6.9%)	1 (0.2%)	134 (29.8%)	35 (7.8%)	0 (0.0%)	165 (36.7%)	83 (18.5%)	41.9	122^nd of 204 public elementary schools	40.2%		47.9	120^th of 207 public elementary schools	42.0%	2	42.0	48.0	39.0	$18,068	$1,957	$16,111
Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	966 Kilauea Ave	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 974-4160	354	25	14.1	65.0%	14 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	81 (22.9%)	42 (11.9%)	0 (0.0%)	129 (36.4%)	88 (24.9%)	9.9	191^st of 204 public elementary schools	6.4%		14.3	187^th of 207 public elementary schools	9.7%	4	27.0	26.0	16.0	$17,738	$1,684	$16,054
Haaheo Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	121 Haaheo Rd	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 974-4111	122	11	11.0	50.8%	22 (18.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (25.4%)	13 (10.7%)	1 (0.8%)	28 (23.0%)	27 (22.1%)	78	55^th of 204 public elementary schools	73.0%		78.3	59^th of 207 public elementary schools	71.5%	4	76.0	61.0	51.0	$16,116	$1,394	$14,722
Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	278 Ainako Ave	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 974-4855	422	23	18.3	26.1%	49 (11.6%)	0 (0.0%)	96 (22.7%)	60 (14.2%)	0 (0.0%)	66 (15.6%)	151 (35.8%)	93.2	14^th of 204 public elementary schools	93.1%		89.6	26^th of 207 public elementary schools	87.4%	12	72.0	75.0	75.0	$15,582	$1,242	$14,340
Waiakea Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	180 W Puainako St	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 981-7215	706	47	15.0	53.1%	24 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	166 (23.5%)	104 (14.7%)	0 (0.0%)	208 (29.5%)	204 (28.9%)	42.3	120^th of 204 public elementary schools	41.2%		56.8	97^th of 207 public elementary schools	53.1%	23	49.0	42.0	39.0	$15,167	$1,077	$14,090
Keaukaha Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	240 Desha Ave	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 974-4181	341	28	12.1	68.3%	5 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	91 (26.7%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	201 (58.9%)	41 (12.0%)	36.9	130^th of 204 public elementary schools	36.3%		34.2	146^th of 207 public elementary schools	29.5%	16	41.0	46.0	35.0	$18,443	$2,308	$16,135
Waiakeawaena Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2420 Kilauea Ave	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 981-7200	669	52	12.8	51.4%	23 (3.4%)	1 (0.1%)	182 (27.2%)	80 (12.0%)	0 (0.0%)	155 (23.2%)	228 (34.1%)	46.8	112^th of 204 public elementary schools	45.1%		59.6	90^th of 207 public elementary schools	56.5%	22	45.0	49.0	42.0	$16,286	$1,496	$14,790
Kaumana Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1710 Kaumana Dr	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 974-4190	238	15	15.8	51.7%	17 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	90 (37.8%)	12 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (17.2%)	78 (32.8%)	88.2	28^th of 204 public elementary schools	86.3%		70.2	79^th of 207 public elementary schools	61.8%	51	68.0	71.0	65.0	$17,553	$1,304	$16,249
Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	27-330 Old Mamalahoa Hwy	Papaikou	96781	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 313-5200	183	15	12.2	70.5%	17 (9.3%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (30.6%)	23 (12.6%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (29.0%)	34 (18.6%)	29	148^th of 204 public elementary schools	27.5%		6	201^st of 207 public elementary schools	2.9%	53	50.0	36.0	20.0	$19,667	$2,665	$17,002
Keaau Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	16-680 Keaau-Pahoa Rd	Keaau	96749	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 982-4210	829	56	14.8	62.6%	59 (7.1%)	7 (0.8%)	239 (28.8%)	106 (12.8%)	2 (0.2%)	236 (28.5%)	180 (21.7%)	25	161^st of 204 public elementary schools	21.1%		21.4	171^st of 207 public elementary schools	17.4%	10	29.0	39.0	35.0	$16,336	$1,183	$15,153

Frequently Asked Questions about Hilo Union Elementary School

What district is Hilo Union Elementary School in?

Hawaii Department of Education

What is the racial makeup of Hilo Union Elementary School?

Students at Hilo Union Elementary School are 37% Pacific Islander, 30% Hispanic, 18% Two or more races, 8% Asian, 7% White.

Is Hilo Union Elementary School a good school?

Hilo Union Elementary School ranks 122^nd of 204 Hawaii elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Hilo Union Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 449 students attended Hilo Union Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Hilo Union Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Hilo Union Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Hilo Intermediate School
High : Hilo High School

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Hawaii State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.