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Pukalani Elementary School

Q: Is Pukalani Elementary School a good school?

Pukalani Elementary School ranks 70 th of 204 Hawaii elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

70^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 204 Hawaii Elementary Schools

Better than 66% of Hawaii elementary schools

Summary

Pukalani Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-5 in Makawao, Hawaii, with 440 students enrolled. The school consistently performs above the state average in academic assessments and has maintained a stable 3-star rating from SchoolDigger over the past several years, ranking between 46th and 78th out of Hawaii's elementary schools.

Pukalani Elementary School's academic performance is particularly strong, with 58% proficiency in English Language Arts, 58% in Math, and 57% in Science, compared to the state averages. The school also performs well for certain student subgroups, ranking 3rd out of 160 Hawaii elementary schools for African American students and 47th out of 165 for Hispanic students, both with 4 or 5 stars. However, the school has seen an increase in chronic absenteeism, reaching 38% in the 2024-2025 school year, which is still lower than some nearby schools like Wailuku Elementary (37%) and Haiku Elementary (36%).

Compared to nearby elementary schools, Pukalani stands out for its higher academic performance, lower chronic absenteeism, and lower free/reduced lunch rates at 42.73% in 2023-2024, compared to Kihei Elementary (64.12%) and Lihikai Elementary (60.07%). This suggests Pukalani Elementary School may be providing a more favorable educational environment for its students within the Hawaii Department of Education district.

455

Students ?

13.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,960

Per pupil spending ?

43.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2945 Iolani St
Makawao, HI 96768

(808) 573-8760

District: Hawaii Department of Education

Students who attend Pukalani Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Samuel Enoka Kalama Intermediate School
High:	King Kekaulike High School

Racial breakdown:

Two or more races:

31.6%

Pacific Islander:

25.5%

Hispanic:

21.1%

See top rated Hawaii elementary schools

Compare Pukalani Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 58th percentile in 2015 → 66th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 8 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Hawaii median (66th percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school58%

70^th of 204

Hawaii public elementary schools ?

Top 34%▲ up 7 pts since 2015

From top 42% (2015) to top 34% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Hawaii Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

69^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	72.1	70 of 204	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	70.6	78 of 207	62.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	63.7	69 of 195	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.4	76 of 193	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	59.9	75 of 196	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	75.2	46 of 196	76.5%	★★★★☆
2018	71.8	48 of 193	75.1%	★★★★☆
2017	66.4	76 of 207	63.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	42.0	115 of 195	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	56.9	81 of 194	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2013	64.2	63 of 196	67.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	77.0	36 of 195	81.5%	★★★★☆
2011	67.5	52 of 191	72.8%	★★★★☆
2010	78.8	29 of 183	84.2%	★★★★☆
2009	67.6	47 of 191	75.4%	★★★★☆
2008	75.4	23 of 146	84.2%	★★★★☆
2007	66.3	55 of 192	71.4%	★★★★☆
2006	69.6	42 of 194	78.4%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	95.6	3 of 160	98.1%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	76.7	39 of 125	68.8%	★★★★☆
2024	69.3	76 of 203	62.6%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	66.2	51 of 123	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.5	100 of 198	49.5%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	77.3	47 of 165	71.5%	★★★★☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	66.3	39 of 110	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.0	117 of 196	40.3%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	25.6	132 of 153	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	45.0	133 of 207	35.7%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	67.7	67 of 171	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	72.2	72 of 202	64.4%	★★★☆☆

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)

African American (2024)98th percentile+36 vs school

Hispanic (2024)72nd percentile+9 vs school

Asian (2025)69th percentile+3 vs school

Pacific Islander (2025)65th percentile~ school

White (2025)61st percentile-5 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)59th percentile-7 vs school

Special Education (2025)14th percentile-52 vs school

By subject vs Hawaii (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts58%

Mathematics58%

Science57%

★

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Schools Near Pukalani 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
Pukalani Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2945 Iolani St	Makawao	96768	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 573-8760	455	35	13.0	43.7%	51 (11.2%)	0 (0.0%)	96 (21.1%)	48 (10.5%)	0 (0.0%)	116 (25.5%)	144 (31.6%)	72.1	70^th of 204 public elementary schools	65.7%		70.6	78^th of 207 public elementary schools	62.3%	8	57.0	58.0	58.0	$16,960	$1,640	$15,320
Makawao Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3542 Baldwin Ave	Makawao	96768	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 573-8770	463	34	13.6	51.6%	97 (21.0%)	1 (0.2%)	125 (27.0%)	20 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	107 (23.1%)	113 (24.4%)	67.6	79^th of 204 public elementary schools	61.3%		48.5	118^th of 207 public elementary schools	43.0%	39	67.0	49.0	54.0	$17,005	$1,607	$15,398
Paia Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	955 Baldwin Ave	Paia	96779	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 579-2100	406	22	18.4	61.8%	21 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	124 (30.5%)	8 (2.0%)	1 (0.2%)	202 (49.8%)	50 (12.3%)	51.7	103^rd of 204 public elementary schools	49.5%		34.7	145^th of 207 public elementary schools	30.0%	42	72.0	45.0	32.0	$14,717	$1,314	$13,403
Kula Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5000 Kula Hwy	Kula	96790	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 876-7610	339	24	14.1	49.3%	73 (21.5%)	0 (0.0%)	69 (20.4%)	13 (3.8%)	1 (0.3%)	86 (25.4%)	97 (28.6%)	54.4	97^th of 204 public elementary schools	52.5%		63.5	86^th of 207 public elementary schools	58.5%	11	56.0	50.0	41.0	$15,886	$1,087	$14,799
Haiku Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	105 Pauwela Rd	Haiku	96708	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 575-3000	336	22	15.2	53.0%	150 (44.6%)	0 (0.0%)	73 (21.7%)	4 (1.2%)	1 (0.3%)	45 (13.4%)	63 (18.8%)	46.7	113^th of 204 public elementary schools	44.6%		52.8	108^th of 207 public elementary schools	47.8%	5	33.0	51.0	51.0	$16,016	$1,511	$14,505
Kahului Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	410 S Hina Ave	Kahului	96732	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 873-3055	795	58	13.7	59.6%	17 (2.1%)	3 (0.4%)	124 (15.6%)	424 (53.3%)	0 (0.0%)	186 (23.4%)	41 (5.2%)	27.2	153^rd of 204 public elementary schools	25.0%		35.5	144^th of 207 public elementary schools	30.4%	9	38.0	36.0	33.0	$14,823	$1,257	$13,566
Kihei Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	250 E Lipoa St	Kihei	96753	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 875-6818	727	59	12.3	65.7%	98 (13.5%)	0 (0.0%)	196 (27.0%)	158 (21.7%)	2 (0.3%)	156 (21.5%)	117 (16.1%)	30.5	146^th of 204 public elementary schools	28.4%		45.3	130^th of 207 public elementary schools	37.2%	16	32.0	41.0	39.0	$16,149	$1,485	$14,664
Pomaikai Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4650 S Kamehameha Ave	Kahului	96732	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 876-7610	545	37	14.7	25.9%	64 (11.7%)	1 (0.2%)	116 (21.3%)	126 (23.1%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (12.5%)	170 (31.2%)	83.5	41^st of 204 public elementary schools	79.9%		83.4	43^rd of 207 public elementary schools	79.2%	2	73.0	63.0	60.0	$15,889	$1,504	$14,385
Lihikai Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	335 S Papa Ave	Kahului	96732	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 873-3033	632	43	14.6	61.6%	11 (1.7%)	3 (0.5%)	105 (16.6%)	273 (43.2%)	0 (0.0%)	169 (26.7%)	71 (11.2%)	40.5	126^th of 204 public elementary schools	38.2%		41	134^th of 207 public elementary schools	35.3%	8	35.0	45.0	47.0	$16,212	$1,580	$14,632
Kamalii Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	180 Kealii Alanui	Kihei	96753	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 875-6840	342	28	12.2	31.6%	139 (40.6%)	0 (0.0%)	84 (24.6%)	23 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (9.6%)	63 (18.4%)	65.8	85^th of 204 public elementary schools	58.3%		75.1	68^th of 207 public elementary schools	67.1%	17	52.0	59.0	51.0	$16,094	$1,165	$14,929

Frequently Asked Questions about Pukalani Elementary School

Is Pukalani Elementary School a good school?

Pukalani Elementary School ranks 70^th of 204 Hawaii elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Pukalani Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 455 students attended Pukalani Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Pukalani Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Pukalani Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Samuel Enoka Kalama Intermediate School
High : King Kekaulike High School

What district is Pukalani Elementary School in?

Hawaii Department of Education

What is the racial makeup of Pukalani Elementary School?

Students at Pukalani Elementary School are 32% Two or more races, 25% Pacific Islander, 21% Hispanic, 11% White, 11% Asian.

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Schools in Makawao, HI

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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.