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Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science PCS

Q: Is Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science PCS a good school?

Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science PCS ranks 110 th of 203 Hawaii alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter, Alternative Grades K-12

110^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 203 Hawaii Alternative Schools

Better than 46% of Hawaii alternative schools

Summary

Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science PCS is a K–12 public charter school serving 738 students in Pahoa, a community on the Big Island's Puna side. It is the largest of four charter alternatives in the area — roughly twice the size of Connections - New Century PCS and four times Kua o ka La - NCPCS, both of which sit 14 to 18 miles away in Hilo. The school is part of the Hawaii Department of Education, the state's single statewide district.

Parents will find strong results here. In 2024–25, Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science PCS posted the highest proficiency of any school in its comparison group in all three tested subjects. In 2025–26 it leads in science at 51%, and is a very close second in English language arts (53% vs. 54%) and math (30% vs. 32%) — both more than double the results at Connections. Attendance is the group's best: 25% of students were chronically absent, down from 27.8%, compared with 29% at Ka Umeke Kaeo - PCS, 39% at Kua o ka La, and 59% at Connections. Its graduation rate also climbed from 80% to 89% in a single year.

The trade-off is resources. This school serves the highest-need group of the four, with 76.69% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, and it does so on the lowest per-student funding ($9,655, versus $18,455 at Ka Umeke Kaeo) and with the largest classes (a 15.5 student-teacher ratio, up from 14.2 in three years). Math remains the relative weak spot at about 30%, and one in four students is still chronically absent. Overall, it stands out as the highest-need, lowest-funded school in its group while still producing the strongest outcomes.

738

Students ?

15.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,655

Per pupil spending ?

76.7%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

15-1397 Post Office Rd
Pahoa, HI 96778

(808) 965-3730

District: Hawaii Department of Education

Racial breakdown:

White:

41.6%

Hispanic:

22.1%

Two or more races:

20.3%

See top rated Hawaii elementary schools

Compare Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science PCS to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 38th percentile in 2023 → 78th in 2026

Strengths

✓92% graduate within 4 years

✓Ranking is trending up — up 40 percentile points since 2023

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Hawaii Department of Education

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school45%

Elementary school

110^th of 203

Hawaii public elementary schools ?

Bottom 46%▼ down 12 pts since 2016

From top 42% (2016) to bottom 46% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Hawaii Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

27^th of 85

Hawaii public middle schools ?

Top 32%▼ down 7 pts since 2016

From top 25% (2016) to top 32% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Hawaii Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

14^th of 65

Hawaii public high schools ?

Top 22%▲ up 9 pts since 2016

From top 30% (2016) to top 22% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Hawaii High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 15Alternative 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	47.7	110 of 203	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	33.3	139 of 204	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.5	112 of 207	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	38.8	121 of 195	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.7	128 of 193	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.0	122 of 196	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	28.1	148 of 196	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	40.8	117 of 193	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	53.2	106 of 207	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	57.2	82 of 195	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	59.4	72 of 194	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	43.9	129 of 196	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2012	58.9	79 of 195	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2011	48.0	103 of 191	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2010	43.3	120 of 183	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	48.9	104 of 191	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2007	64.7	57 of 192	70.3%	★★★★☆
2006	37.6	128 of 194	34.0%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	49.8	106 of 160	33.8%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	61.3	105 of 203	48.3%	★★☆☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	85.1	38 of 198	80.8%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	54.4	92 of 165	44.2%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	59.9	86 of 202	57.4%	★★★☆☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	64.6	45 of 115	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	96.7	8 of 196	95.9%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	88.3	15 of 155	90.3%	★★★★★
2025	66.3	51 of 153	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.6	75 of 207	63.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	41.2	122 of 173	29.5%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.2	129 of 171	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	44.8	134 of 202	33.7%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	47.7	27 of 85	68.2%	★★★★☆
2025	33.3	41 of 84	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.5	29 of 89	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	41.5	40 of 73	45.2%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.1	43 of 72	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	46.7	33 of 73	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	40.3	41 of 70	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.0	34 of 67	49.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	53.2	20 of 82	75.6%	★★★★☆
2016	67.7	18 of 73	75.3%	★★★★☆
2015	70.9	16 of 72	77.8%	★★★★☆
2013	53.1	29 of 76	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	66.5	17 of 73	76.7%	★★★★☆
2011	68.9	16 of 71	77.5%	★★★★☆
2010	64.6	22 of 65	66.2%	★★★☆☆
2009	79.4	9 of 68	86.8%	★★★★☆
2007	72.0	14 of 71	80.3%	★★★★☆
2006	57.7	25 of 69	63.8%	★★★☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	49.8	36 of 71	49.3%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	61.3	24 of 87	72.4%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	85.1	3 of 81	96.3%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	54.4	27 of 68	60.3%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	59.9	19 of 84	77.4%	★★★★☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	64.6	10 of 53	81.1%	★★★★☆
2024	96.7	2 of 81	97.5%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	88.3	2 of 63	96.8%	★★★★★
2025	66.3	5 of 59	91.5%	★★★★★
2024	68.6	14 of 89	84.3%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	41.2	36 of 75	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	32.2	36 of 74	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	44.8	39 of 86	54.7%	★★★☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	47.7	14 of 65	78.5%	★★★★☆
2025	33.3	33 of 62	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.5	28 of 67	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	44.9	33 of 53	37.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	62.0	19 of 52	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	14.0	44 of 48	8.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	42.7	35 of 52	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.5	27 of 53	49.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	53.2	16 of 63	74.6%	★★★★☆
2016	64.3	16 of 53	69.8%	★★★★☆
2015	51.8	23 of 51	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2013	55.5	26 of 56	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2012	45.7	36 of 58	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2011	77.4	9 of 56	83.9%	★★★★☆
2010	60.8	22 of 56	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2009	61.2	20 of 55	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2007	92.8	2 of 60	96.7%	★★★★★
2006	96.0	2 of 56	96.4%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	49.8	34 of 55	38.2%	★★☆☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	61.3	27 of 65	58.5%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	85.1	4 of 59	93.2%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	54.4	27 of 52	48.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	59.9	8 of 64	87.5%	★★★★☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	64.6	5 of 32	84.4%	★★★★☆
2024	96.7	2 of 61	96.7%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	88.3	1 of 42	97.6%	★★★★★
2025	66.3	4 of 38	89.5%	★★★★★
2024	68.6	18 of 67	73.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	41.2	19 of 53	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	32.2	25 of 51	51.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	44.8	37 of 64	42.2%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Elementary school

Special Education (2026)90th percentile+45 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)81st percentile+35 vs school

Pacific Islander (2026)61st percentile+15 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)57th percentile+12 vs school

Asian (2024)48th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2024)44th percentile~ school

African American (2024)34th percentile-12 vs school

White (2026)29th percentile-16 vs school

Middle school

Special Education (2026)97th percentile+29 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)96th percentile+29 vs school

Pacific Islander (2026)81st percentile+13 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)77th percentile+9 vs school

Asian (2024)72nd percentile+5 vs school

Hispanic (2024)60th percentile-7 vs school

White (2026)52nd percentile-16 vs school

African American (2024)49th percentile-18 vs school

High school

Special Education (2026)98th percentile+19 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)93rd percentile+35 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)88th percentile+9 vs school

Pacific Islander (2026)84th percentile+6 vs school

White (2026)64th percentile-14 vs school

Asian (2024)58th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2024)48th percentile-10 vs school

African American (2024)38th percentile-20 vs school

By subject vs Hawaii (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts53%

Science51%

Mathematics30%

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, June 26, 2012

My daughter's mother enrolled my daughter in HAAS 4 years ago and I have watched her performance steadily decline over the years. When she left AZ she tested into the gifted program but at HAAS there is very little disciplined guidance as the school believes in allowing the students to be self-guided in a project-based curriculum. As a result, my daughter has been allowed to roll over incomplete assignments to the next school year, yet her report cards indicate she is a stellar student while also indicating incomplete subject areas in every area my daughter has no interest in learning. Fridays at HAAS are optional days, so she often opts to stay home rather than go to school. I am concerned that she is ill prepared to for the rigors of college courses. Sadly, prior to entering HAAS I was confident that she would not only be competitive for any university she chose to apply to, but would be able to compete for scholarships. HAAS has effectively transformed an academically gifted student into an average performer in academics and she has no interest in participating in anything she is not immediately good at....and this attitude is actually encouraged by the teachers and staff. Close Quote

Schools Near Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science PCS

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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 ()				Ranking ()				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 ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	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
Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science PCS	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	15-1397 Post Office Rd	Pahoa	96778	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 965-3730	738	48	15.5	76.7%	307 (41.6%)	6 (0.8%)	163 (22.1%)	12 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	100 (13.6%)	150 (20.3%)								(n/a)	51.0	53.0	30.0	$9,655	$1,209	$8,446
Kua o ka La - NCPCS	Public, Charter, Alternative	PK, KG-9	345 Makalika	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 981-5866	185	13	14.8	74.1%	28 (15.1%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (26.5%)	5 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (35.1%)	38 (20.5%)								(n/a)	46.0	54.0	32.0	$17,711	$6,696	$11,015
Ka Umeke Kaeo - PCS	Public, Charter, Alternative	PK, KG-12	1500 Kalanianaole Ave	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 961-0470	292	23	12.6	67.5%	7 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	66 (22.6%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	176 (60.3%)	40 (13.7%)								(n/a)	36.0	27.0	22.0	$18,455	$9,187	$9,268
Connections - New Century PCS	Public, Charter, Alternative	K-12	174 Kamehameha Ave	Hilo	96720	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 961-3664	352	30	11.9	75.0%	53 (15.1%)	6 (1.7%)	87 (24.7%)	11 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	121 (34.4%)	74 (21.0%)								(n/a)	29.0	21.0	10.0	$10,316	$1,747	$8,569

Frequently Asked Questions about Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science PCS

Is Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science PCS a good school?

Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science PCS ranks 110^th of 203 Hawaii alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science PCS in?

Hawaii Department of Education

How many students attend Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science PCS?

In the 2024-25 school year, 738 students attended Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science PCS.

What is the racial makeup of Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science PCS?

Students at Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science PCS are 42% White, 22% Hispanic, 20% Two or more races, 14% Pacific Islander, 2% Asian.

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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.