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Kau High & Pahala Elementary School

Public, Alternative Grades PK, KG-12
187th
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 204 Hawaii Alternative Schools
Better than 8% of Hawaii alternative schools
Summary

Kau High & Pahala Elementary School is an alternative public school serving grades PK-12 in Pahala, Hawaii, with a total enrollment of 520 students. The school is part of the Hawaii Department of Education district, which is ranked 1 out of 1 in the state and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While the school had a strong four-year graduation rate of 93.6% in 2023-2024, this declined to 87.0% in 2024-2025, still above the state average but a concerning trend. However, the school faces significant challenges, including a persistently high chronic absenteeism rate of nearly 50% in recent years and consistently low proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science, often 10-20 percentage points below the state averages. The school serves a population with a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating significant economic disadvantages.

On a positive note, the school's per-student spending was higher than the state average, and the student-teacher ratio has improved from 13.4 in 2021-2022 to 11.6 in 2023-2024, suggesting smaller class sizes and potentially more personalized attention for students. Addressing the root causes of the school's challenges, particularly those related to chronic absenteeism and academic underperformance, could be crucial in improving the overall outcomes for the students at Kau High & Pahala Elementary School.

488
Students ?
11.2
Student/teacher ratio ?
$19,124
Per pupil spending ?
67%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 96-3150 Pikake St
       Pahala, HI  96777

(808) 928-2088

District: Hawaii Department of Education

Racial breakdown:

Pacific Islander:
46.5%
Two or more races:
15.8%
Hispanic:
15.0%
more
 See top rated Hawaii elementary schools

 Compare Kau High & Pahala Elementary School to nearby alternative schools!
At a glance
▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 34th percentile in 2024 → 18th in 2025
Strengths
✓Small classes — about 11 students per teacher
Worth a look
!In the lower quartile statewide (8th percentile)
!Ranking has slipped from its 34th-percentile peak (2024) to 18th (2025)
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?
This school24%
Elementary school
187th of 204
Hawaii public elementary schools ?
Bottom 8%▲ up 1 pts since 2015
See the entire ranking list of Hawaii Elementary Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
71st of 84
Hawaii public middle schools ?
Bottom 15%▲ up 11 pts since 2015
From bottom 4% (2015) to bottom 15% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of Hawaii Middle Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
High school
51st of 62
Hawaii public high schools ?
Bottom 18%▲ up 18 pts since 2015
From bottom 1% (2015) to bottom 18% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of Hawaii High Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
16th of 22Alternative Schools in the Hawaii Department of Education
1st 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

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202510.9187 of 2048.3%☆☆☆☆☆
202421.5169 of 20718.4%★☆☆☆☆
202328.6147 of 19524.6%★☆☆☆☆
202215.5172 of 19310.9%★☆☆☆☆
202118.0166 of 19615.3%★☆☆☆☆
201910.2187 of 1964.6%☆☆☆☆☆
20185.4188 of 1932.6%☆☆☆☆☆
20174.5200 of 2073.4%☆☆☆☆☆
201610.6182 of 1956.7%☆☆☆☆☆
201511.2179 of 1947.7%☆☆☆☆☆
201319.5179 of 1968.7%☆☆☆☆☆
201225.6165 of 19515.4%★☆☆☆☆
201119.4169 of 19111.5%★☆☆☆☆
20109.0177 of 1833.3%☆☆☆☆☆
20098.2183 of 1914.2%☆☆☆☆☆
200714.6180 of 1926.3%☆☆☆☆☆
200632.7140 of 19427.8%★☆☆☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202414.4136 of 16015.0%★☆☆☆☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202450.5122 of 20339.9%★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202516.9115 of 1236.5%☆☆☆☆☆
202434.8159 of 19819.7%★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202448.1106 of 16535.8%★★☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202510.9104 of 1105.5%☆☆☆☆☆
202422.4166 of 19615.3%★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202523.9134 of 15312.4%★☆☆☆☆
202448.9123 of 20740.6%★★☆☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202512.7154 of 1719.9%★☆☆☆☆
202431.0166 of 20217.8%★☆☆☆☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202510.971 of 8415.5%★☆☆☆☆
202421.559 of 8933.7%★★☆☆☆
202311.568 of 736.8%☆☆☆☆☆
20226.171 of 721.4%☆☆☆☆☆
20217.371 of 732.7%☆☆☆☆☆
20193.470 of 700.0%☆☆☆☆☆
20184.167 of 670.0%☆☆☆☆☆
20174.575 of 828.5%☆☆☆☆☆
20168.669 of 735.5%☆☆☆☆☆
201510.869 of 724.2%☆☆☆☆☆
201318.167 of 7611.8%★☆☆☆☆
201224.661 of 7316.4%★☆☆☆☆
201111.965 of 718.5%☆☆☆☆☆
201011.461 of 656.2%☆☆☆☆☆
200930.050 of 6826.5%★☆☆☆☆
200733.946 of 7135.2%★★☆☆☆
200626.651 of 6926.1%★☆☆☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202414.464 of 719.9%★☆☆☆☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202450.539 of 8755.2%★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202516.941 of 5221.2%★☆☆☆☆
202434.835 of 8156.8%★★★☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202448.137 of 6845.6%★★☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202510.949 of 525.8%☆☆☆☆☆
202422.462 of 8123.5%★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202523.931 of 5947.5%★★☆☆☆
202448.932 of 8964.0%★★★☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202512.761 of 7417.6%★☆☆☆☆
202431.058 of 8632.6%★★☆☆☆
High school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202510.951 of 6217.7%★☆☆☆☆
202421.550 of 6725.4%★☆☆☆☆
20238.551 of 533.8%☆☆☆☆☆
202212.350 of 523.8%☆☆☆☆☆
202114.643 of 4810.4%★☆☆☆☆
20198.548 of 527.7%☆☆☆☆☆
20189.550 of 535.7%☆☆☆☆☆
20174.556 of 6311.1%★☆☆☆☆
201611.849 of 537.5%☆☆☆☆☆
20152.851 of 510.0%☆☆☆☆☆
201319.348 of 5614.3%★☆☆☆☆
201231.444 of 5824.1%★☆☆☆☆
201127.947 of 5616.1%★☆☆☆☆
201028.842 of 5625.0%★☆☆☆☆
200930.046 of 5516.4%★☆☆☆☆
200721.752 of 6013.3%★☆☆☆☆
200621.350 of 5610.7%★☆☆☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202414.448 of 5512.7%★☆☆☆☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202450.538 of 6541.5%★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202516.926 of 3321.2%★☆☆☆☆
202434.831 of 5947.5%★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202448.137 of 5228.8%★★☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202510.930 of 326.3%☆☆☆☆☆
202422.448 of 6121.3%★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202523.928 of 3826.3%★★☆☆☆
202448.933 of 6750.7%★★★☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankHawaii percentileRating
202512.743 of 5115.7%★☆☆☆☆
202431.047 of 6426.6%★☆☆☆☆
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
Asian (2024)40th percentile+22 vs school
Hispanic (2024)36th percentile+17 vs school
African American (2024)15th percentile-3 vs school
Special Education (2025)12th percentile+4 vs school
White (2025)10th percentile~ school
English Language Learner (2025)7th percentile~ school
Pacific Islander (2025)5th percentile-3 vs school
Middle school
Asian (2024)55th percentile+21 vs school
Special Education (2025)47th percentile+32 vs school
Hispanic (2024)46th percentile+12 vs school
English Language Learner (2025)21st percentile+6 vs school
White (2025)18th percentile~ school
African American (2024)10th percentile-24 vs school
Pacific Islander (2025)6th percentile-10 vs school
High school
Asian (2024)42nd percentile+16 vs school
Hispanic (2024)29th percentile+3 vs school
Special Education (2025)26th percentile+9 vs school
English Language Learner (2025)21st percentile+3 vs school
White (2025)16th percentile~ school
African American (2024)13th percentile-13 vs school
Pacific Islander (2025)6th percentile-11 vs school
By subject vs Hawaii (2024-2025) ?
English Language Arts35%
Science22%
Mathematics15%

4.0
1 rating · 1 written review
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What people are saying
by a citizen
Monday, May 16, 2022

Open Quote The teaching staff great. The administration, the principal in particular, don’t know what they’re doing. I’ve spent a fair amount of time on this campus over the last decade, and the principal seems to spend her time putting out imaginary fires. Let the teachers do their jobs and address their concerns with more than lip service. Close Quote




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Frequently Asked Questions about Kau High & Pahala Elementary School

In the 2024-25 school year, 488 students attended Kau High & Pahala Elementary School.

Kau High & Pahala Elementary School ranks in the bottom 8.3% of Hawaii alternative schools.

Students at Kau High & Pahala Elementary School are 47% Pacific Islander, 16% Two or more races, 15% Hispanic, 13% Asian, 9% White.


Rate Kau High & Pahala 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.




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