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West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Q: Is West Hawaii Explorations Academy a good school?

West Hawaii Explorations Academy ranks 29 th of 62 Hawaii high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades 6-12

29^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 62 Hawaii High Schools

Better than 53% of Hawaii high schools

Summary

West Hawaii Explorations Academy is a public charter high school serving grades 6-12 with a total enrollment of 275 students in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. The school is part of the Hawaii Department of Education district, which is ranked 1 out of 1 in the state and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

West Hawaii Explorations Academy has experienced fluctuations in its statewide ranking, ranging from 9th to 40th out of Hawaii high schools, and its SchoolDigger star rating has also varied from 1 to 4 stars. In comparison, the nearby public high schools, Konawaena High School and Kealakehe High School, have maintained more consistent rankings and ratings. The school has shown strong performance for Hispanic and Pacific Islander students, ranking 5th and 6th out of Hawaii high schools, respectively, in 2023-2024. However, the school has struggled with lower rankings for other student groups.

West Hawaii Explorations Academy's four-year graduation rate has declined from 87.8% in 2023-2024 to 75.0% in 2024-2025, which is lower than the nearby public high schools. The school also has a relatively high chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 26.0% to 28.1% in recent years. Academically, the school has shown mixed performance, with proficiency rates in Smarter Balanced Assessments/English Language Arts ranging from 47% to 59% and proficiency rates in Smarter Balanced Assessments/Mathematics ranging from 17.69% to 27%. The school's per-student spending of $8,444 in the 2018-2019 school year was lower than the nearby public high schools, and its student-teacher ratio has been lower as well.

286

Students ?

16.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,444

Per pupil spending ?

20.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

73-4500 Kahilihili St
Kailua Kona, HI 96740

(808) 327-4751

District: Hawaii Department of Education

Racial breakdown:

White:

39.2%

Two or more races:

24.1%

Hispanic:

17.8%

See top rated Hawaii high schools

Compare West Hawaii Explorations Academy to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 31st percentile in 2015 → 53rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 22 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Hawaii median (53rd percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school39%

Middle school

39^th of 84

Hawaii public middle schools ?

Top 46%▼ down 13 pts since 2015

From top 33% (2015) to top 46% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Hawaii Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

29^th of 62

Hawaii public high schools ?

Top 47%▲ up 22 pts since 2015

From bottom 31% (2015) to top 47% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Hawaii High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

23^rd 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)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	34.9	39 of 84	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.7	21 of 89	76.4%	★★★★☆
2023	51.6	27 of 73	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.0	21 of 72	70.8%	★★★★☆
2021	60.7	20 of 73	72.6%	★★★★☆
2019	59.4	23 of 70	67.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.6	15 of 67	77.6%	★★★★☆
2017	49.0	22 of 82	73.2%	★★★★☆
2016	66.1	19 of 73	74.0%	★★★★☆
2015	56.1	24 of 72	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	64.7	20 of 76	73.7%	★★★★☆
2012	72.9	14 of 73	80.8%	★★★★☆
2011	78.6	9 of 71	87.3%	★★★★☆
2010	74.2	9 of 65	86.2%	★★★★☆
2009	79.5	8 of 68	88.2%	★★★★☆
2007	81.5	7 of 71	90.1%	★★★★★
2006	87.7	5 of 69	92.8%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	49.0	38 of 71	46.5%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	7.7	50 of 55	9.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	36.1	58 of 87	33.3%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	18.3	64 of 81	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	80.4	8 of 68	88.2%	★★★★☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	84.3	7 of 81	91.4%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	0.0	76 of 89	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	27.2	42 of 74	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.6	40 of 86	53.5%	★★★☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	34.9	29 of 62	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.7	18 of 67	73.1%	★★★★☆
2023	77.8	10 of 53	81.1%	★★★★☆
2022	49.4	30 of 52	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	71.1	14 of 48	70.8%	★★★★☆
2019	78.5	9 of 52	82.7%	★★★★☆
2018	39.3	34 of 53	35.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	49.0	18 of 63	71.4%	★★★★☆
2016	33.1	40 of 53	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	36.8	35 of 51	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	62.1	19 of 56	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2012	94.1	1 of 58	98.3%	★★★★★
2011	51.5	27 of 56	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2010	67.8	16 of 56	71.4%	★★★★☆
2009	98.1	1 of 55	98.2%	★★★★★
2007	88.2	5 of 60	91.7%	★★★★★
2006	45.5	31 of 56	44.6%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	49.0	35 of 55	36.4%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	7.7	38 of 41	7.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	36.1	50 of 65	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	18.3	48 of 59	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	80.4	5 of 52	90.4%	★★★★★

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	84.3	6 of 61	90.2%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	0.0	56 of 67	16.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	27.2	34 of 51	33.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.6	38 of 64	40.6%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Middle school

Pacific Islander (2024)91st percentile+15 vs school

Hispanic (2024)88th percentile+12 vs school

African American (2024)46th percentile-30 vs school

White (2025)43rd percentile-10 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)21st percentile-55 vs school

Special Education (2024)15th percentile-62 vs school

Asian (2025)9th percentile-44 vs school

High school

Hispanic (2024)90th percentile+17 vs school

Pacific Islander (2024)90th percentile+17 vs school

African American (2024)36th percentile-37 vs school

White (2025)33rd percentile-20 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)19th percentile-54 vs school

Special Education (2024)16th percentile-57 vs school

Asian (2025)7th percentile-46 vs school

By subject vs Hawaii (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts47%

Science47%

Mathematics22%

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a teacher
Thursday, March 5, 2009

It is a public charter school, and not a private school.
www.whea.info Close Quote

Schools Near West Hawaii Explorations Academy

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
West Hawaii Explorations Academy	Public, Charter	6-12	73-4500 Kahilihili St	Kailua Kona	96740	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 327-4751	286	17	16.8	20.6%	112 (39.2%)	2 (0.7%)	51 (17.8%)	16 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (12.6%)	69 (24.1%)	34.9	29^th of 62 public high schools	53.2%		59.7	18^th of 67 public high schools	73.1%	11	47.0		47.0	22.0	$8,444	$619	$7,825
Kealakehe High School	Public	9-12	74-5000 Puohulihuli St	Kailua Kona	96740	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 327-4300	1,401	88	16.0	51.1%	200 (14.3%)	3 (0.2%)	281 (20.1%)	206 (14.7%)	1 (0.1%)	519 (37.0%)	191 (13.6%)	44	20^th of 62 public high schools	67.7%		45.8	34^th of 67 public high schools	49.3%	14		29.0	67.0	22.0	$14,828	$1,132	$13,696
Konawaena High School	Public	9-12	81-1043 Konawaena School Rd	Kealakekua	96750	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 323-4500	955	53	18.0	51.7%	158 (16.5%)	3 (0.3%)	235 (24.6%)	111 (11.6%)	1 (0.1%)	292 (30.6%)	155 (16.2%)	34.2	32^nd of 62 public high schools	48.4%		56.9	21^st of 67 public high schools	68.7%	11		30.0	55.0	15.0	$16,244	$1,596	$14,648

Frequently Asked Questions about West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Is West Hawaii Explorations Academy a good school?

West Hawaii Explorations Academy ranks 29^th of 62 Hawaii high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is West Hawaii Explorations Academy in?

Hawaii Department of Education

How many students attend West Hawaii Explorations Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 286 students attended West Hawaii Explorations Academy.

What is the racial makeup of West Hawaii Explorations Academy?

Students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy are 39% White, 24% Two or more races, 18% Hispanic, 13% Pacific Islander, 6% Asian.

Rate West Hawaii Explorations Academy!

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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.