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Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-6

172^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 203 Hawaii Elementary Schools

Better than 15% of Hawaii elementary schools

Summary

Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School is a PK–6 public school at 966 Kilauea Ave in Hilo, Hawaii, enrolling about 354 students on the Big Island, and it is part of the statewide Hawaii Department of Education.

Statewide, the school ranked 172nd of 203 ranked Hawaii elementary schools in 2025-26, a 15th-percentile position and a 1-star result. That is the bottom of the state, but it is also the school's best showing since 2018-19 and its first real improvement after roughly a decade of decline — from the 48th percentile in 2015-16 down to the 4th–6th percentile from 2021-22 through 2024-25. The 2025-26 gains show up in the underlying scores too: ELA rose from 26% to 29%, math from 16% to 26%, science from 27% to 38%, and chronic absenteeism fell from 32.1% in 2023-24 to 28.0% in 2024-25.

Locally, in a group of 11 Hilo-area schools, it ranks second from the bottom, ahead of only Ke Kula o Nawahiokalaniopuu Iki - Laboratory PCS. Its ELA proficiency (29%) trails the neighbor average (about 50%) by roughly 21 points, and math (26%) by roughly 19 points. The sharpest comparison is Hilo Union Elementary School, which serves a similar poverty level yet reaches the 56th percentile. Science is a bright spot: 38% proficiency beats Keaau Elementary School (27%), Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Elementary School (29%), and the school's own ELA and math results. Per-student spending ($17,738, 2018-19) and a 14.1 student-teacher ratio are average-to-favorable for the area, yet results trail demographically similar neighbors. English-learner and special-education results also sit at or below the school's overall level.

354

Students ?

14.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

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: Rebounding — 4th percentile in 2023 → 15th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 15th (2026) from a 4th-percentile low (2023)

Worth a look

!In the lower quartile statewide (15th percentile)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school31%

172^nd of 203

Hawaii public elementary schools ?

Bottom 15%▼ down 33 pts since 2016

From bottom 48% (2016) to bottom 15% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Hawaii Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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
2026	20.7	172 of 203	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
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
2026	7.2	128 of 130	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
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
2026	21.5	102 of 116	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
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%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	19.8	170 of 202	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	27.2	93 of 115	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
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
2026	19.5	145 of 155	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
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
2026	38.4	124 of 173	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
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 (2026)28th percentile+13 vs school

Pacific Islander (2026)19th percentile+4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)16th percentile~ school

English Language Learner (2026)12th percentile-3 vs school

Special Education (2026)6th percentile-9 vs school

Asian (2026)2nd percentile-14 vs school

By subject vs Hawaii (2025-2026) ?

Science38%

English Language Arts29%

Mathematics26%

★

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Schools Near Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				HSA Science (2026)	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts (2026)	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2026)	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 (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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%)	20.7	172^nd of 203 public elementary schools	15.3%		9.9	191^st of 204 public elementary schools	6.4%	19	38.0	29.0	26.0	$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%)	61.2	90^th of 203 public elementary schools	55.7%		41.9	122^nd of 204 public elementary schools	40.2%	32	49.0	58.0	46.0	$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%)	41.3	128^th of 203 public elementary schools	36.9%		42.3	120^th of 204 public elementary schools	41.2%	8	51.0	42.0	34.0	$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%)	66	79^th of 203 public elementary schools	61.1%		46.8	112^th of 204 public elementary schools	45.1%	33	52.0	55.0	54.0	$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%)	81.3	50^th of 203 public elementary schools	75.4%		78	55^th of 204 public elementary schools	73.0%	5		63.0	61.0	$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%)	89.8	24^th of 203 public elementary schools	88.2%		93.2	14^th of 204 public elementary schools	93.1%	10	62.0	74.0	73.0	$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%)	42.7	124^th of 203 public elementary schools	38.9%		36.9	130^th of 204 public elementary schools	36.3%	6	43.0	46.0	40.0	$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%)	82.5	45^th of 203 public elementary schools	77.8%		88.2	28^th of 204 public elementary schools	86.3%	17	80.0	58.0	60.0	$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%)	26.2	160^th of 203 public elementary schools	21.2%		29	148^th of 204 public elementary schools	27.5%	12	29.0	42.0	33.0	$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%)	25.9	164^th of 203 public elementary schools	19.2%		25	161^st of 204 public elementary schools	21.1%	3	27.0	41.0	35.0	$16,336	$1,183	$15,153

Frequently Asked Questions about Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School

Is Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School a good school?

Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School ranks in the bottom 15.3% of Hawaii elementary schools.

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

How many students attend Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School?

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

Rate Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School!

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Latest Hawaii data All new data »

2025–26 graduation ratesNewSep 19, 2026

2025–26 HSA & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresNewSep 19, 2026

2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 18, 2025

2024–25 HSA & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresSep 18, 2025

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.