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Kua o ka La - NCPCS

Public, Charter, Alternative Grades PK, KG-9

162^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 204 Hawaii Alternative Schools

Better than 21% of Hawaii alternative schools

Summary

Kua o ka La - NCPCS is a public charter elementary school serving grades PK-8 in Hilo, Hawaii, with 185 students. While the school is part of the highly-ranked Hawaii Department of Education district, it faces several significant challenges.

One of the most pressing issues is the school's high chronic absenteeism rate, which reached 39.0% in the 2024-2025 school year, far exceeding the 12.0% to 35.0% range of nearby public schools. This chronic absenteeism likely contributes to the school's underperformance on academic measures, with proficiency rates in the 2023-2024 school year falling below state averages in English Language Arts (39% vs. 50%), Mathematics (18.81% vs. 53%), and Science (25% vs. 48%). The school's performance also varies across different student subgroups, ranking highly for African American and English Language Learner students but much lower for Pacific Islander and White students.

Additionally, Kua o ka La - NCPCS serves a high-need population, with 79.05% to 82.16% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, significantly higher than the 28.17% to 74.22% range of nearby public schools. Addressing the root causes of chronic absenteeism, improving academic outcomes, and ensuring equitable support for all students will be crucial for the school's success.

185

Students ?

14.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,711

Per pupil spending ?

74.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

345 Makalika
Hilo, HI 96720

(808) 981-5866

District: Hawaii Department of Education

Racial breakdown:

Pacific Islander:

35.1%

Hispanic:

26.5%

Two or more races:

20.5%

See top rated Hawaii elementary schools

Compare Kua o ka La - NCPCS to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 9th percentile in 2018 → 37th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 28 percentile points since 2018

Worth a look

!In the lower quartile statewide (21st percentile)

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school31%

Elementary school

162^nd of 204

Hawaii public elementary schools ?

Bottom 21%▲ up 20 pts since 2015

From bottom 1% (2015) to bottom 21% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Hawaii Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

53^rd of 84

Hawaii public middle schools ?

Bottom 37%▼ down 5 pts since 2017

From bottom 41% (2017) to bottom 37% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Hawaii Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

10^th of 22Alternative 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
2025	21.8	162 of 204	20.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	21.2	172 of 207	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.1	154 of 195	21.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	31.1	138 of 193	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	17.4	168 of 196	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	22.3	166 of 196	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	28.3	152 of 193	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	23.9	169 of 207	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	3.3	193 of 194	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	5.0	193 of 196	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	1.7	193 of 195	1.0%	☆☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	95.6	3 of 160	98.1%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	82.6	38 of 203	81.3%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	99.9	2 of 198	99.0%	★★★★★

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	0.0	183 of 196	6.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	40.5	145 of 207	30.0%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	40.9	115 of 171	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	42.7	138 of 202	31.7%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	21.8	53 of 84	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	21.2	60 of 89	32.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	30.6	53 of 73	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	11.8	61 of 67	9.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	23.9	48 of 82	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2013	11.1	72 of 76	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	4.9	70 of 73	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	8.2	68 of 71	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	1.0	65 of 65	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	13.1	66 of 71	7.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	25.0	55 of 69	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	95.6	1 of 71	98.6%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	82.6	4 of 87	95.4%	★★★★★

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	99.9	2 of 81	97.5%	★★★★★

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	0.0	75 of 81	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	40.5	42 of 89	52.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2025	40.9	31 of 74	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	42.7	43 of 86	50.0%	★★★☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2017	23.9	37 of 63	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2016	3.9	52 of 53	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	4.4	54 of 56	3.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	3.3	58 of 58	0.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	27.4	44 of 56	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	10.2	52 of 55	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2007	6.4	58 of 60	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆

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

English Language Learner (2024)99th percentile+82 vs school

African American (2024)98th percentile+81 vs school

Asian (2024)81st percentile+64 vs school

White (2025)33rd percentile+12 vs school

Special Education (2024)30th percentile+13 vs school

Pacific Islander (2024)7th percentile-10 vs school

Middle school

African American (2024)99th percentile+66 vs school

English Language Learner (2024)98th percentile+65 vs school

Asian (2024)95th percentile+63 vs school

White (2025)58th percentile+21 vs school

Special Education (2024)53rd percentile+20 vs school

Pacific Islander (2024)7th percentile-25 vs school

By subject vs Hawaii (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts47%

Mathematics24%

Science22%

★

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Schools Near Kua o ka La - NCPCS

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				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 ()	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
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)	22.0	47.0	24.0	$17,711	$6,696	$11,015
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)	26.0	23.0	7.0	$10,316	$1,747	$8,569
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)	27.0	24.0	19.0	$18,455	$9,187	$9,268
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)	41.0	48.0	26.0	$9,655	$1,209	$8,446

Frequently Asked Questions about Kua o ka La - NCPCS

What is the racial makeup of Kua o ka La - NCPCS?

Students at Kua o ka La - NCPCS are 35% Pacific Islander, 26% Hispanic, 21% Two or more races, 15% White, 3% Asian.

How many students attend Kua o ka La - NCPCS?

In the 2024-25 school year, 185 students attended Kua o ka La - NCPCS.

What district is Kua o ka La - NCPCS in?

Hawaii Department of Education

Is Kua o ka La - NCPCS a good school?

Kua o ka La - NCPCS ranks in the bottom 20.6% of Hawaii alternative schools.

Rate Kua o ka La - NCPCS!

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Schools in Hilo, 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.