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Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School

Q: Is Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School a good school?

Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School ranks 148 th of 204 Hawaii elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

148^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 204 Hawaii Elementary Schools

Better than 27% of Hawaii elementary schools

Summary

Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary & Intermediate School is a public school located in Papaikou, Hawaii, serving grades PK-8 with a total enrollment of 244 students. 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.

The school has consistently ranked in the bottom 20% of Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary & Intermediate School over the past several years, with a ranking between 138-201 out of 193-207 schools. In the 2024-2025 school year, the school ranked 148 out of 204 Hawaii elementary schools and was rated 1 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger. The school's performance on standardized tests is significantly below the state average across all grade levels and subject areas, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts (20.97%) and Mathematics (12.8%) well below the state averages of 50% and 48%, respectively. The school also struggles with high chronic absenteeism rates, with 35.2% of students chronically absent in the 2023-2024 school year, significantly higher than the state average.

Comparing Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary & Intermediate School to nearby schools, such as Keaau Elementary School, Kua o ka La - NCPCS, and Waiakeawaena Elementary School, highlights the potential for improvement, as these neighboring schools generally perform better academically and have lower chronic absenteeism rates. While the school's per-student spending and student-teacher ratio suggest that funding and class size may not be the primary factors contributing to the school's underperformance, further analysis of the school's resources, teaching practices, and community engagement strategies may provide insights into how to improve student learning and achievement at Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary & Intermediate School.

183

Students ?

12.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$19,667

Per pupil spending ?

70.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

27-330 Old Mamalahoa Hwy
Papaikou, HI 96781-0028

(808) 313-5200

District: Hawaii Department of Education

Students who attend Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Hilo High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

30.6%

Pacific Islander:

29.0%

Two or more races:

18.6%

See top rated Hawaii elementary schools

Compare Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 29th percentile in 2015 → 27th in 2025

Worth a look

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

!Near the bottom of Hawaii Department of Education's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school35%

Elementary school

148^th of 204

Hawaii public elementary schools ?

Bottom 27%▼ down 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Hawaii Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

48^th of 84

Hawaii public middle schools ?

Bottom 43%▬ steady since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Hawaii Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

139^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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	29.0	148 of 204	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	6.0	201 of 207	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.1	189 of 195	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	10.4	177 of 193	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	8.7	187 of 196	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	13.2	180 of 196	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	11.9	179 of 193	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	29.6	160 of 207	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	17.9	168 of 195	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	31.9	138 of 194	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	49.9	101 of 196	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2007	13.0	181 of 192	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	26.7	156 of 194	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	23.5	176 of 203	13.3%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	23.5	110 of 123	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.4	179 of 198	9.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	11.4	181 of 196	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	42.7	142 of 207	31.4%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	25.4	139 of 171	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	19.8	185 of 202	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	29.0	48 of 84	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	6.0	83 of 89	6.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	7.5	72 of 73	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	20.5	57 of 72	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.5	62 of 73	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	13.5	63 of 70	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.4	50 of 67	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	29.6	42 of 82	48.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	39.4	43 of 73	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2015	37.6	41 of 72	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	68.0	18 of 76	76.3%	★★★★☆
2007	25.6	54 of 71	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	25.5	53 of 69	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	23.5	67 of 87	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	23.5	31 of 52	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	17.4	66 of 81	18.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	11.4	73 of 81	9.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	42.7	40 of 89	55.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	25.4	50 of 74	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	19.8	71 of 86	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Special Education (2024)31st percentile+29 vs school

White (2025)19th percentile-9 vs school

Asian (2024)13th percentile+10 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)11th percentile-17 vs school

Pacific Islander (2024)8th percentile+5 vs school

Middle school

Special Education (2024)55th percentile+48 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)40th percentile~ school

White (2025)32nd percentile-10 vs school

Asian (2024)23rd percentile+16 vs school

Pacific Islander (2024)10th percentile+3 vs school

By subject vs Hawaii (2024-2025) ?

Science50%

English Language Arts36%

Mathematics20%

★

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Schools Near Prince Jonah Kalanianaole 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School

How many students attend Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 183 students attended Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Hilo High School

Is Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School a good school?

Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School ranks 148^th of 204 Hawaii elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School?

Students at Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School are 31% Hispanic, 29% Pacific Islander, 19% Two or more races, 13% Asian, 9% White.

What district is Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School in?

Hawaii Department of Education

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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.