Kilohana Elementary School

Kilohana Elementary School is a small PK–6 school on Kamehameha V Highway in Kaunakakai, on the island of Molokai, serving about 80 students within the Hawaii Department of Education, a single statewide district.

By the numbers, Kilohana currently sits near the bottom of the state. In 2025–2026 it ranked 201st of 203 schools (1st percentile) — its lowest position since records began in 2012–13, and part of a long stretch in which it has never exceeded the 24th percentile except once, in 2015–2016. On the most recent state tests, 21% of students met the standard in English language arts, 13% in math, and 9% in science. Nearby Molokai schools post higher results with similar student populations: Kaunakakai Elementary School reached 38% in ELA and 45% in math, and Kualapuu School - Public Conversion Charter reached 40% and 45%. Notably, Kilohana has the smallest classes in the group (an 8.8-to-1 student–teacher ratio) and the highest per-pupil spending on record ($24,576 in 2018–2019, a dated figure), yet the lowest proficiency — suggesting class size and funding alone are not the explanation.

Two findings stand out for families. First, a genuine bright spot: in 2023–2024, Kilohana ranked 6th of 207 schools (97th percentile) for its special education students — the strongest result anywhere in this data. Second, a clear warning sign: chronic absenteeism nearly doubled from 17.1% to 32.0% in 2024–2025, ahead of the recent test-score slide. The Maui schools compared here, King Kamehameha III Elementary School and Princess Nahienaena Elementary School, serve much lower-poverty populations on a different island, making them a weaker benchmark. With only 80 students, treat all percentages as approximate indicators rather than precise measurements.