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Mayor Joseph J Fern Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

162^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 203 Hawaii Elementary Schools

Better than 20% of Hawaii elementary schools

Summary

Mayor Joseph J Fern Elementary School is a PK–5 public elementary school in the Kalihi area of Honolulu, HI, serving 384 students as part of the Hawaii Department of Education. Statewide, it has consistently ranked in the lower portion of Hawaii elementary schools: in 2025–2026 it placed 162nd out of 203 schools, at the 20th percentile with 1 star. That is still low, but it is a step up from 2018–2019, when the school ranked at the 3rd percentile. About 74% of students (73.96%) qualified for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–2025, so this is a high economic-need campus.

Academically, 2025–2026 proficiency rates are 40% in English Language Arts, 35% in Mathematics, and 29% in Science, up modestly from 32%, 34%, and 28% the previous year. Compared with nearby schools, Fern sits near the bottom of its local group: Moanalua Elementary School posts 77% ELA, 73% Math, and 75% Science, and Major General William R Shafter Elementary School reaches 67%, 64%, and 66%. Fern's results are closer to Kaewai Elementary School and Kalihi Waena Elementary School. Science is the clearest weak spot—Fern's 29% is the lowest among nearby schools with comparable data, and its 28% in 2024–2025 was also the lowest locally, below even other high-poverty Kalihi-area schools.

Attendance has improved sharply, with chronic absenteeism falling from 33.4% to 23.0% in a single year—better than several nearby high-poverty schools, though still above Moanalua Elementary School and Major General William R Shafter Elementary School. Class sizes are relatively small (a 12.0 student-teacher ratio, among the most favorable nearby), but that has not translated into consistently stronger outcomes. Subgroup effectiveness rankings are mixed: Pacific Islander students ranked at the 38th percentile and low-income students at the 29th percentile in 2025–2026, both somewhat above the school overall but still below the state median. Per-student spending was $17,487 in 2018–2019, mid-range among nearby schools.

384

Students ?

12.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

74.0%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

1121 Middle St
Honolulu, HI 96819

(808) 832-3040

District: Hawaii Department of Education

Students who attend Mayor Joseph J Fern Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	King David Kalakaua Middle School
High:	Governor Wallace Rider Farrington High School

Racial breakdown:

Pacific Islander:

51.8%

Asian:

32.8%

Two or more races:

10.9%

See top rated Hawaii elementary schools

Compare Mayor Joseph J Fern Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 20th percentile in 2016 → 20th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!In the lower quartile statewide (20th percentile)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school35%

162^nd of 203

Hawaii public elementary schools ?

Bottom 20%▬ steady since 2016

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	26.2	162 of 203	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	20.5	165 of 204	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.3	159 of 207	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	18.2	170 of 195	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	20.5	159 of 193	17.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.4	172 of 196	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	6.5	191 of 196	2.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	11.6	181 of 193	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	16.3	180 of 207	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	23.2	156 of 195	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	12.9	177 of 194	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	22.5	173 of 196	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	27.3	162 of 195	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	16.7	175 of 191	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	15.2	169 of 183	7.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	10.3	179 of 191	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	5.2	143 of 146	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	10.8	184 of 192	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	8.2	192 of 194	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	89.2	32 of 160	80.0%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	35.2	162 of 203	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	40.4	86 of 116	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	29.0	104 of 123	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	40.0	150 of 198	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	33.7	143 of 202	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	37.8	71 of 115	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	38.9	78 of 110	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	34.1	147 of 196	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	64.4	87 of 207	58.0%	★★★☆☆

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)80th percentile+57 vs school

Special Education (2024)58th percentile+35 vs school

Pacific Islander (2026)38th percentile+18 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)29th percentile+9 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)26th percentile+6 vs school

Asian (2024)20th percentile-3 vs school

By subject vs Hawaii (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts40%

Mathematics35%

Science29%

3.0

1 rating

5★0

4★0

3★1

2★0

1★0

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Schools Near Mayor Joseph J Fern 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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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
Mayor Joseph J Fern Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1121 Middle St	Honolulu	96819	Honolulu County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 832-3040	384	32	12.0	74.0%	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	16 (4.2%)	126 (32.8%)	0 (0.0%)	199 (51.8%)	42 (10.9%)	26.2	162^nd of 203 public elementary schools	20.2%		20.5	165^th of 204 public elementary schools	19.1%	3	29.0	40.0	35.0	$17,487	$1,896	$15,591
Linapuni Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-1	1434 Linapuni St	Honolulu	96819	Honolulu County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 832-3303	121	10	12.1	86.8%	2 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (4.1%)	2 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	103 (85.1%)	9 (7.4%)								(n/a)				$22,013	$1,530	$20,483
Major General William R Shafter Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	2 Fort Shafter	Honolulu	96819	Honolulu County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 832-3560	380	28	13.5	25.8%	133 (35.0%)	56 (14.7%)	93 (24.5%)	23 (6.1%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.6%)	65 (17.1%)	86.5	32^nd of 203 public elementary schools	84.2%		77.8	56^th of 204 public elementary schools	72.5%	24	66.0	67.0	64.0	$16,290	$787	$15,503
Kalihi Waena Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1240 Gulick Ave	Honolulu	96819	Honolulu County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 832-3210	432	31	14.1	65.3%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.5%)	180 (41.7%)	0 (0.0%)	192 (44.4%)	45 (10.4%)	27.6	157^th of 203 public elementary schools	22.7%		20.8	164^th of 204 public elementary schools	19.6%	7	35.0	41.0	31.0	$17,807	$1,789	$16,018
Puuhale Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	345 Puuhale Rd	Honolulu	96819	Honolulu County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 832-3190	239	19	12.5	84.5%	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (9.6%)	68 (28.5%)	0 (0.0%)	128 (53.6%)	19 (7.9%)	54.5	102^nd of 203 public elementary schools	49.8%		46.2	114^th of 204 public elementary schools	44.1%	12	73.0	43.0	37.0	$19,790	$2,507	$17,283
Kalihi Kai Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	626 McNeill St	Honolulu	96817	Honolulu County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 832-3322	533	39	13.6	64.7%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (5.4%)	378 (70.9%)	0 (0.0%)	88 (16.5%)	38 (7.1%)	60.1	93^rd of 203 public elementary schools	54.2%		50.4	108^th of 204 public elementary schools	47.1%	15	53.0	50.0	50.0	$17,912	$1,974	$15,938
Kapalama Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1601 North School St	Honolulu	96817	Honolulu County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 832-3290	476	37	12.8	56.3%	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (12.2%)	291 (61.1%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (10.5%)	74 (15.5%)	67.3	77^th of 203 public elementary schools	62.1%		70.5	75^th of 204 public elementary schools	63.2%	2	59.0	52.0	53.0	$15,866	$1,539	$14,327
Kaewai Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1929 Kamehameha IV Rd	Honolulu	96819	Honolulu County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 832-3500	257	21	12.2	80.9%	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.4%)	69 (26.8%)	0 (0.0%)	149 (58.0%)	24 (9.3%)	24.2	165^th of 203 public elementary schools	18.7%		18.5	170^th of 204 public elementary schools	16.7%	5	38.0	35.0	28.0	$18,403	$1,847	$16,556
Moanalua Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1337 Mahiole St	Honolulu	96819	Honolulu County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 831-7878	661	39	16.9	17.2%	59 (8.9%)	10 (1.5%)	80 (12.1%)	294 (44.5%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (6.4%)	176 (26.6%)	95	11^th of 203 public elementary schools	94.6%		91	22^nd of 204 public elementary schools	89.2%	11	75.0	77.0	73.0	$14,796	$1,136	$13,660
Kalihi Uka Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2411 Kalihi St	Honolulu	96819	Honolulu County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 832-3310	249	15	16.6	69.1%	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (7.2%)	137 (55.0%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (24.9%)	31 (12.4%)	69.9	69^th of 203 public elementary schools	66.0%		64.8	87^th of 204 public elementary schools	57.4%	18	53.0	57.0	57.0	$18,128	$1,896	$16,232

Frequently Asked Questions about Mayor Joseph J Fern Elementary School

Is Mayor Joseph J Fern Elementary School a good school?

Mayor Joseph J Fern Elementary School ranks in the bottom 20.2% of Hawaii elementary schools.

What district is Mayor Joseph J Fern Elementary School in?

Hawaii Department of Education

How many students attend Mayor Joseph J Fern Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 384 students attended Mayor Joseph J Fern Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Mayor Joseph J Fern Elementary School?

Students at Mayor Joseph J Fern Elementary School are 52% Pacific Islander, 33% Asian, 11% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic.

What schools do graduates of Mayor Joseph J Fern Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Mayor Joseph J Fern Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : King David Kalakaua Middle School
High : Governor Wallace Rider Farrington High School

Rate Mayor Joseph J Fern Elementary School!

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Latest Hawaii data All new data »

2013–14 through 2024–25 immunization rates (updated)NewOct 19, 2026

2025–26 graduation ratesSep 19, 2026

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

2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 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.