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Pahoa Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-6

190^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 204 Hawaii Elementary Schools

Better than 7% of Hawaii elementary schools

Summary

Pahoa Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-6 in Pahoa, Hawaii, with 394 students. The school is part of the Hawaii Department of Education district, which is ranked 1 out of 1 in the state and rated 5 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger.

Despite being part of a highly-ranked district, Pahoa Elementary School has consistently underperformed compared to the state average on standardized tests. In the 2023-2024 school year, only 22.7% of students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, and just 19.05% were proficient or better in math, compared to state averages of 50% and 48%, respectively. The school's science proficiency rate of 35.19% also lags behind the state average of 48%. Additionally, Pahoa Elementary has a very high chronic absenteeism rate of 44%, significantly higher than the state average and nearby schools, which range from 18% to 28%.

Pahoa Elementary School also serves a student population with a very high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, reaching 84.52% in the 2023-2024 school year. This is much higher than the nearby Keaukaha Elementary, Waiakeawaena Elementary, and Waiakea Elementary schools, which range from 53% to 83% free/reduced lunch recipients. Despite the school's challenges, it spends $17,183 per student, which is higher than the spending at some of the nearby higher-performing schools, suggesting that additional funding alone may not be the solution to improving student outcomes.

402

Students ?

13.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,183

Per pupil spending ?

81.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

15-3030 Puna Rd
Pahoa, HI 96778

(808) 965-2141

District: Hawaii Department of Education

Students who attend Pahoa Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Pahoa High & Intermediate School

Racial breakdown:

Pacific Islander:

31.3%

Hispanic:

30.6%

Two or more races:

21.1%

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Compare Pahoa Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 45th percentile in 2015 → 7th in 2025

Worth a look

!In the lower quartile statewide (7th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 38 percentile points since 2015

!Near the bottom of Hawaii Department of Education's ranking

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school23%

190^th of 204

Hawaii public elementary schools ?

Bottom 7%▼ down 38 pts since 2015

From bottom 45% (2015) to bottom 7% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Hawaii Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

173^rd 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	10.2	190 of 204	6.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	13.2	190 of 207	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	9.0	186 of 195	4.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	9.6	183 of 193	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	13.1	176 of 196	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.6	158 of 196	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	20.4	168 of 193	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	31.3	158 of 207	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	33.6	138 of 195	29.2%	★★☆☆☆
2015	45.4	106 of 194	45.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	60.5	73 of 196	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	37.2	142 of 195	27.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	27.0	159 of 191	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	35.2	135 of 183	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	15.7	174 of 191	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	21.8	123 of 146	15.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	24.0	160 of 192	16.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	19.7	174 of 194	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	32.3	125 of 160	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	38.0	154 of 203	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	34.0	162 of 198	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	52.6	95 of 165	42.4%	★★☆☆☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	8.8	107 of 110	2.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	39.3	133 of 196	32.1%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	13.2	151 of 153	1.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	45.1	132 of 207	36.2%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	4.3	167 of 171	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	21.0	184 of 202	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

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)42nd percentile+34 vs school

Asian (2024)24th percentile+16 vs school

African American (2024)22nd percentile+14 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)18th percentile+10 vs school

Pacific Islander (2025)3rd percentile-4 vs school

White (2025)2nd percentile-5 vs school

Special Education (2025)1st percentile-6 vs school

By subject vs Hawaii (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts25%

Science25%

Mathematics20%

★

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Schools Near Pahoa 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
Pahoa Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	15-3030 Puna Rd	Pahoa	96778	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 965-2141	402	29	13.8	81.8%	43 (10.7%)	4 (1.0%)	123 (30.6%)	19 (4.7%)	2 (0.5%)	126 (31.3%)	85 (21.1%)	10.2	190^th of 204 public elementary schools	6.9%		13.2	190^th of 207 public elementary schools	8.2%		25.0	25.0	20.0	$17,183	$1,406	$15,777
Keonepoko Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	15-890 Kahakai Blvd	Pahoa	96778	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 965-2131	565	45	12.5	69.9%	52 (9.2%)	3 (0.5%)	200 (35.4%)	12 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	200 (35.4%)	98 (17.3%)	12.2	183^rd of 204 public elementary schools	10.3%		11.2	192^nd of 207 public elementary schools	7.2%	9	25.0	30.0	22.0	$18,851	$2,116	$16,735
Ke Kula o Nawahiokalaniopuu Iki - Laboratory PCS	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	16-120 Opukahaia St	Keaau	96749	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 982-4260	451	32	14.3	54.8%	12 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	88 (19.5%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	295 (65.4%)	54 (12.0%)	40.2	127^th of 204 public elementary schools	37.7%		1.7	206^th of 207 public elementary schools	0.5%	79	67.0	23.0	32.0	$11,792	$3,474	$8,318
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	161^st of 204 public elementary schools	21.1%		21.4	171^st of 207 public elementary schools	17.4%	10	29.0	39.0	35.0	$16,336	$1,183	$15,153
Mountain View Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	18-1235 Volcano Hwy	Mountain View	96771	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 968-2300	468	39	12.0	73.3%	63 (13.5%)	0 (0.0%)	161 (34.4%)	17 (3.6%)	1 (0.2%)	137 (29.3%)	89 (19.0%)	25.8	157^th of 204 public elementary schools	23.0%		37.5	140^th of 207 public elementary schools	32.4%	17	35.0	40.0	30.0	$17,850	$1,456	$16,394
Na Wai Ola - PCS	Public, Charter	PK, KG-7	18-1355 Volcano Hwy	Mountain View	96771	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 968-2318	145	10	14.5	57.2%	34 (23.4%)	2 (1.4%)	33 (22.8%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (30.3%)	31 (21.4%)	14.4	178^th of 204 public elementary schools	12.7%		9.1	194^th of 207 public elementary schools	6.3%	16	31.0	34.0	16.0	$11,373	$3,833	$7,540
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%)	46.8	112^th of 204 public elementary schools	45.1%		59.6	90^th of 207 public elementary schools	56.5%	22	45.0	49.0	42.0	$16,286	$1,496	$14,790
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%)	42.3	120^th of 204 public elementary schools	41.2%		56.8	97^th of 207 public elementary schools	53.1%	23	49.0	42.0	39.0	$15,167	$1,077	$14,090
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%)	36.9	130^th of 204 public elementary schools	36.3%		34.2	146^th of 207 public elementary schools	29.5%	16	41.0	46.0	35.0	$18,443	$2,308	$16,135
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%)	9.9	191^st of 204 public elementary schools	6.4%		14.3	187^th of 207 public elementary schools	9.7%	4	27.0	26.0	16.0	$17,738	$1,684	$16,054

Frequently Asked Questions about Pahoa Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Pahoa Elementary School?

Students at Pahoa Elementary School are 31% Pacific Islander, 31% Hispanic, 21% Two or more races, 11% White, 5% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Pahoa Elementary School attend?

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

High : Pahoa High & Intermediate School

How many students attend Pahoa Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 402 students attended Pahoa Elementary School.

What district is Pahoa Elementary School in?

Hawaii Department of Education

Is Pahoa Elementary School a good school?

Pahoa Elementary School ranks in the bottom 6.9% of Hawaii elementary schools.

Rate Pahoa 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.