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Keaau High School

Q: Is Keaau High School a good school?

Keaau High School ranks 39 th of 62 Hawaii high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

39^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 62 Hawaii High Schools

Better than 37% of Hawaii high schools

Summary

Keaau High School is a public high school located in Keaau, Hawaii, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,014 students. It is part of the Hawaii Department of Education district, which is ranked 1 out of 1 in the state and rated 5 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger. However, Keaau High School has consistently ranked in the middle to lower range of Hawaii high schools over the past several years, with a 2 out of 5 star rating from SchoolDigger.

Keaau High School has shown improvement in its four-year graduation rates, increasing from 87.3% in 2023-2024 to 90.0% in 2024-2025, though this is still slightly below the state average. The school has a relatively high chronic absenteeism rate, reaching 41.0% in 2024-2025, significantly higher than the nearby Waiakea High School at 17.0% and Hilo High School at 22.0%. Keaau High School's test scores are also generally lower than the state averages and the nearby high schools, with 50% proficiency in English Language Arts, 16% in Mathematics, and 20% in Biology.

Keaau High School has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, reaching 74.16% in 2023-2024, significantly higher than the nearby schools. This suggests that the school may face unique challenges or have room for improvement in certain areas, such as addressing the root causes of chronic absenteeism and targeting interventions to improve academic performance, particularly for subgroups like English Language Learners and Special Education students.

1,041

Students ?

14.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,149

Per pupil spending ?

71.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

16-725 Keaau-Pahoa Rd
Keaau, HI 96749

(808) 982-4220

District: Hawaii Department of Education

Feeder schools for Keaau High School:

Elementary:	Keaau Elementary School
	Mountain View Elementary School
Middle:	Keaau Middle School

Racial breakdown:

Pacific Islander:

28.9%

Hispanic:

27.8%

Two or more races:

15.9%

See top rated Hawaii high schools

Compare Keaau High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 11th percentile in 2016 → 37th in 2025

Strengths

✓90% graduate within 4 years

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 37th (2025) from a 11th-percentile low (2016)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school29%

39^th of 62

Hawaii public high schools ?

Bottom 37%▼ down 6 pts since 2015

From bottom 43% (2015) to bottom 37% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Hawaii High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

31^st of 42High 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	22.9	39 of 62	37.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	37.7	38 of 67	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	33.0	38 of 53	28.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	23.5	42 of 52	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	26.9	37 of 48	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	28.0	38 of 52	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.5	37 of 53	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	21.6	39 of 63	38.1%	★★☆☆☆
2016	16.6	47 of 53	11.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	47.2	29 of 51	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	48.7	31 of 56	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	59.4	23 of 58	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2011	45.1	33 of 56	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2010	17.9	52 of 56	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	14.6	50 of 55	9.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	44.9	24 of 39	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2007	57.2	32 of 60	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	59.4	21 of 56	62.5%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	61.7	20 of 55	63.6%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	21.7	30 of 41	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	64.5	22 of 65	66.2%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	25.0	42 of 59	28.8%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	61.4	20 of 52	61.5%	★★★☆☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	28.1	22 of 32	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.2	31 of 61	49.2%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	24.5	27 of 38	28.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	0.0	56 of 67	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	24.6	37 of 51	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	36.0	43 of 64	32.8%	★★☆☆☆

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)64th percentile+20 vs school

Hispanic (2024)62nd percentile+18 vs school

Pacific Islander (2025)31st percentile-6 vs school

Special Education (2025)29th percentile-8 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)29th percentile-14 vs school

White (2025)27th percentile-10 vs school

Asian (2025)27th percentile-10 vs school

By subject vs Hawaii (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts50%

Biology I20%

Mathematics16%

3.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Saturday, July 9, 2022

I graduated from this school in '06 feeling accomplished and fulfilled. I look back not only with nostalgia but relief that I was free from a horrid environment.

From what I recall, there were many wasted learning opportunities. I felt the school didn't challenge the students enough to reach their maximum potential. Few teachers cared about the students, and it seemed like most were only there for another paycheck.

I recall a lot of insubordination and fist fights, which made me feel uneasy about my attendance. I was one of the better-behaved students, but I often felt comfortable with my surrounding environment. Security at the school was a big joke as the education there.

If I were a parent on the Big Island, I would do everything in my power to prevent my child or children from going to this high school. I am thankful that my brother didn't have to attend and that my time there is now a distant memory. Close Quote

Schools Near Keaau High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				HSA Science (2025)	HSA Biology I (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	HSA Biology I 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
Keaau High School	Public	9-12	16-725 Keaau-Pahoa Rd	Keaau	96749	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 982-4220	1,041	70	14.8	71.7%	145 (13.9%)	8 (0.8%)	289 (27.8%)	129 (12.4%)	3 (0.3%)	301 (28.9%)	166 (15.9%)	22.9	39^th of 62 public high schools	37.1%		37.7	38^th of 67 public high schools	43.3%	1		20.0	50.0	16.0	$17,149	$1,502	$15,647
Waiakea High School	Public	9-12	155 W Kawili St	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 974-4888	1,183	77	15.3	40.6%	102 (8.6%)	5 (0.4%)	283 (23.9%)	241 (20.4%)	1 (0.1%)	308 (26.0%)	243 (20.5%)	67.5	9^th of 62 public high schools	85.5%		78.1	6^th of 67 public high schools	91.0%	3		47.0	61.0	42.0	$16,204	$1,517	$14,687
Ke Ana Laahana - PCS	Public, Charter	7-12	160 Baker Ave	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 961-6228	33	4	8.2	51.5%	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (33.3%)	1 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (51.5%)	4 (12.1%)	4	59^th of 62 public high schools	4.8%		8.3	57^th of 67 public high schools	14.9%	2			21.0	11.0	$13,572	$4,115	$9,457
Hilo High School	Public	9-12	556 Waianuenue Ave	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 974-4021	1,170	74	15.8	50.1%	85 (7.3%)	4 (0.3%)	262 (22.4%)	148 (12.6%)	0 (0.0%)	448 (38.3%)	223 (19.1%)	34.8	30^th of 62 public high schools	51.6%		46.9	29^th of 67 public high schools	56.7%	1		33.0	48.0	25.0	$17,046	$1,569	$15,477
Pahoa High & Intermediate School	Public	7-12	15-3038 Puna Rd	Pahoa	96778	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 965-2150	745	59	12.6	71.8%	71 (9.5%)	1 (0.1%)	251 (33.7%)	75 (10.1%)	6 (0.8%)	237 (31.8%)	104 (14.0%)	10.1	53^rd of 62 public high schools	14.5%		12.6	55^th of 67 public high schools	17.9%	2	27.0		27.0	16.0	$19,147	$2,115	$17,032

Frequently Asked Questions about Keaau High School

How many students attend Keaau High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,041 students attended Keaau High School.

What district is Keaau High School in?

Hawaii Department of Education

What is the racial makeup of Keaau High School?

Students at Keaau High School are 29% Pacific Islander, 28% Hispanic, 16% Two or more races, 14% White, 12% Asian.

What schools feed into Keaau High School?

Keaau High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Keaau Elementary School
Elementary : Mountain View Elementary School
Middle : Keaau Middle School

Is Keaau High School a good school?

Keaau High School ranks 39^th of 62 Hawaii high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Keaau High School!

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Schools in Keaau, 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.