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Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School

Q: Is Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School a good school?

Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School ranks in the bottom 6.4% of Hawaii elementary schools.

Q: How many students attend Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 354 students attended Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School.

Q: What is the racial makeup of Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School?

Students at Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School are 36% Pacific Islander, 25% Two or more races, 23% Hispanic, 12% Asian, 4% White.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

191^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 204 Hawaii Elementary Schools

Better than 6% of Hawaii elementary schools

Summary

Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School is a public elementary school in Hilo, Hawaii, serving grades PK-6 with a total enrollment of 384 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.

Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School has consistently underperformed compared to the state average in academic assessments, with proficiency rates of 26.5% in English Language Arts, 19.5% in Math, and 35.85% in Science, all significantly below the state averages. The school also struggles with high chronic absenteeism rates, reaching 32.1% in 2023-2024 and 28% in 2024-2025, well above the state's target of 15%. When compared to nearby schools like Kaumana Elementary School and Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School, Chiefess Kapiolani's academic performance is significantly lower.

Factors such as the school's high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 66.67% in 2023-2024 to 76.83% in 2021-2022, may contribute to the academic challenges the school faces. The school has also struggled to support its diverse student population, with the school's rankings for Asian, Pacific Islander, White, English Language Learner, and Special Education students all in the bottom quarter of Hawaii elementary schools. Addressing these underlying issues, such as chronic absenteeism and socioeconomic factors, could be crucial for improving student outcomes at Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School.

354

Students ?

14.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,738

Per pupil spending ?

65%

Free/discounted lunch ?

966 Kilauea Ave
Hilo, HI 96720

(808) 974-4160

District: Hawaii Department of Education

Students who attend Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Hilo Intermediate School
High:	Hilo High School

Racial breakdown:

Pacific Islander:

36.4%

Two or more races:

24.9%

Hispanic:

22.9%

See top rated Hawaii elementary schools

Compare Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 39th percentile in 2015 → 6th in 2025

Worth a look

!In the lower quartile statewide (6th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 33 percentile points since 2015

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school23%

191^st of 204

Hawaii public elementary schools ?

Bottom 6%▼ down 32 pts since 2015

From bottom 39% (2015) to bottom 6% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Hawaii Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

174^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	9.9	191 of 204	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	14.3	187 of 207	9.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	8.9	187 of 195	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	8.8	185 of 193	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	10.7	181 of 196	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	29.0	146 of 196	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.6	143 of 193	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	48.5	117 of 207	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	49.5	101 of 195	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2015	40.5	119 of 194	38.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	29.2	161 of 196	17.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	37.4	141 of 195	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	34.9	141 of 191	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	44.8	114 of 183	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2009	41.8	132 of 191	30.9%	★★☆☆☆
2008	26.8	118 of 146	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	30.9	145 of 192	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	40.2	117 of 194	39.7%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	0.4	125 of 125	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	23.4	178 of 203	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	6.8	123 of 123	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	15.7	181 of 198	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	49.2	102 of 165	38.2%	★★☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	16.8	98 of 110	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.4	162 of 196	17.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	17.0	145 of 153	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	17.8	182 of 207	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	25.4	139 of 171	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.4	171 of 202	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

Hispanic (2024)38th percentile+29 vs school

White (2025)19th percentile+12 vs school

Pacific Islander (2025)11th percentile+5 vs school

Special Education (2025)5th percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2025)<1st percentile-6 vs school

Asian (2025)<1st percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs Hawaii (2024-2025) ?

Science27%

English Language Arts26%

Mathematics16%

★

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Schools Near Chiefess Kapiolani 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
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
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
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
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
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
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 Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School

What district is Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School in?

Hawaii Department of Education

What schools do graduates of Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Hilo Intermediate School
High : Hilo High School

What is the racial makeup of Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School?

Students at Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School are 36% Pacific Islander, 25% Two or more races, 23% Hispanic, 12% Asian, 4% White.

Is Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School a good school?

Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School ranks in the bottom 6.4% of Hawaii elementary schools.

How many students attend Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 354 students attended Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School.

Rate Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary 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.