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Puu Kukui Elementary School

Q: Is Puu Kukui Elementary School a good school?

Puu Kukui Elementary School ranks 43 rd of 203 Hawaii elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

43^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 203 Hawaii Elementary Schools

Better than 79% of Hawaii elementary schools

Summary

Puu Kukui Elementary School is a PK–5 school in Wailuku, HI, serving about 750 students as part of the Hawaii Department of Education, and it currently ranks 43rd out of 203 Hawaii elementary schools — the 79th percentile — with a 4-star rating. That is the strongest statewide rank among the nearby comparison schools.

In 2025–2026, 67% of students were proficient in English Language Arts, 59% in Math, and 62% in Science — the top ELA and Math results in the local group. Those scores exceed Kamalii Elementary School by 7 points in ELA and 3 points in Math, and top Pomaikai Elementary School by 10 points in Math; Science is tied with Pukalani Elementary School at 62%. Notably, the school achieves this with a student-teacher ratio of 15.9 — higher than most nearby schools — and the lowest reported per-student spending in the group, $14,352 (from 2018–2019). Scores have climbed sharply: ELA rose from 54.55% to 67%, Math from 46.56% to 59%, and Science from 24.19% to 62% between 2023–2024 and 2025–2026.

Chronic absenteeism was 23.0% in 2024–2025, down from 25.4%, and lower than most nearby schools — including Wailuku Elementary School at 37.0% — though higher than Kamalii (20.0%) and Pomaikai (21.0%). About one in four students is still chronically absent, making attendance the clearest area to watch. The school also showed strong gains in effectiveness for English Language Learner students, moving from the 19th percentile in 2024–2025 to the 76th in 2025–2026. Keep in mind the spending figure is several years old, and the district rank of 1 of 1 isn't useful for comparison since Hawaii has one statewide district.

750

Students ?

15.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

33.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3700 Kehalani Mauka Parkway
Wailuku, HI 96793

(808) 727-3000

District: Hawaii Department of Education

Students who attend Puu Kukui Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Maui Waena Intermediate School
High:	Maui High School

Racial breakdown:

Two or more races:

27.3%

Pacific Islander:

20.9%

Hispanic:

20.7%

See top rated Hawaii elementary schools

Compare Puu Kukui Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 41st percentile in 2016 → 79th in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranks in the top 21% of Hawaii elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 38 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school63%

43^rd of 203

Hawaii public elementary schools ?

Top 21%▲ up 38 pts since 2016

From bottom 41% (2016) to top 21% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Hawaii Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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
2026	82.7	43 of 203	78.8%	★★★★☆
2025	75.6	63 of 204	69.1%	★★★★☆
2024	58.2	94 of 207	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.5	83 of 195	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.3	77 of 193	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	65.4	62 of 196	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.4	59 of 196	69.9%	★★★★☆
2018	67.7	57 of 193	70.5%	★★★★☆
2017	53.7	104 of 207	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2016	41.8	116 of 195	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2015	47.4	105 of 194	45.9%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	65.3	73 of 160	54.4%	★★★☆☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	86.3	18 of 130	86.2%	★★★★☆
2025	76.3	40 of 125	68.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	75.7	60 of 203	70.4%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	80.9	28 of 116	75.9%	★★★★☆
2025	32.5	100 of 123	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.0	168 of 198	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2024	24.9	135 of 165	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	56.2	97 of 202	52.0%	★★★☆☆

Pacific Islander

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	90.3	13 of 115	88.7%	★★★★☆
2025	57.2	50 of 110	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	41.1	130 of 196	33.7%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	61.8	54 of 155	65.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	65.9	54 of 153	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.2	105 of 207	49.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Hawaii percentile	Rating
2026	87.9	20 of 173	88.4%	★★★★☆
2025	76.8	46 of 171	73.1%	★★★★☆
2024	58.6	102 of 202	49.5%	★★★☆☆

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)

Pacific Islander (2026)89th percentile+10 vs school

White (2026)88th percentile+10 vs school

Asian (2026)86th percentile+7 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)76th percentile-3 vs school

Special Education (2026)65th percentile-14 vs school

African American (2024)54th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)52nd percentile-27 vs school

Hispanic (2024)18th percentile-36 vs school

By subject vs Hawaii (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts67%

Science62%

Mathematics59%

★

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Schools Near Puu Kukui Elementary School

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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 (2026)				Ranking (2025)				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/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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
Puu Kukui Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3700 Kehalani Mauka Parkway	Wailuku	96793	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 727-3000	750	47	15.9	33.6%	84 (11.2%)	1 (0.1%)	155 (20.7%)	148 (19.7%)	0 (0.0%)	157 (20.9%)	205 (27.3%)	82.7	43^rd of 203 public elementary schools	78.8%		75.6	63^rd of 204 public elementary schools	69.1%	20	62.0	67.0	59.0	$14,352	$805	$13,547
Wailuku Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	355 S High St	Wailuku	96793	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 984-5622	550	37	14.8	59.8%	20 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	137 (24.9%)	88 (16.0%)	0 (0.0%)	202 (36.7%)	103 (18.7%)	26	163^rd of 203 public elementary schools	19.7%		21.6	163^rd of 204 public elementary schools	20.1%		31.0	37.0	36.0	$16,965	$1,443	$15,522
Lihikai Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	335 S Papa Ave	Kahului	96732	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 873-3033	632	43	14.6	61.6%	11 (1.7%)	3 (0.5%)	105 (16.6%)	273 (43.2%)	0 (0.0%)	169 (26.7%)	71 (11.2%)	52.4	103^rd of 203 public elementary schools	49.3%		40.5	126^th of 204 public elementary schools	38.2%	23	45.0	50.0	47.0	$16,212	$1,580	$14,632
Pomaikai Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4650 S Kamehameha Ave	Kahului	96732	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 876-7610	545	37	14.7	25.9%	64 (11.7%)	1 (0.2%)	116 (21.3%)	126 (23.1%)	0 (0.0%)	68 (12.5%)	170 (31.2%)	71.5	65^th of 203 public elementary schools	68.0%		83.5	41^st of 204 public elementary schools	79.9%	24	61.0	59.0	49.0	$15,889	$1,504	$14,385
Kahului Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	410 S Hina Ave	Kahului	96732	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 873-3055	795	58	13.7	59.6%	17 (2.1%)	3 (0.4%)	124 (15.6%)	424 (53.3%)	0 (0.0%)	186 (23.4%)	41 (5.2%)	38.3	135^th of 203 public elementary schools	33.5%		27.2	153^rd of 204 public elementary schools	25.0%	18	44.0	42.0	37.0	$14,823	$1,257	$13,566
Waihee Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2125 Kahekili Hwy	Wailuku	96793	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 984-5644	572	38	15.0	57.7%	21 (3.7%)	1 (0.2%)	101 (17.7%)	87 (15.2%)	0 (0.0%)	257 (44.9%)	105 (18.4%)	37.7	136^th of 203 public elementary schools	33.0%		32	145^th of 204 public elementary schools	28.9%	9	42.0	39.0	41.0	$16,736	$1,497	$15,239
Paia Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	955 Baldwin Ave	Paia	96779	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 579-2100	406	22	18.4	61.8%	21 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	124 (30.5%)	8 (2.0%)	1 (0.2%)	202 (49.8%)	50 (12.3%)	35.7	141^st of 203 public elementary schools	30.5%		51.7	103^rd of 204 public elementary schools	49.5%	38	60.0	31.0	25.0	$14,717	$1,314	$13,403
Kihei Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	250 E Lipoa St	Kihei	96753	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 875-6818	727	59	12.3	65.7%	98 (13.5%)	0 (0.0%)	196 (27.0%)	158 (21.7%)	2 (0.3%)	156 (21.5%)	117 (16.1%)	37.7	137^th of 203 public elementary schools	32.5%		30.5	146^th of 204 public elementary schools	28.4%	9	42.0	44.0	36.0	$16,149	$1,485	$14,664
Princess Nahienaena Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	816 Niheu St	Lahaina	96761	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 662-4020	433	40	10.8	51.5%	14 (3.2%)	1 (0.2%)	61 (14.1%)	171 (39.5%)	0 (0.0%)	117 (27.0%)	69 (15.9%)	20.2	173^rd of 203 public elementary schools	14.8%		14.2	179^th of 204 public elementary schools	12.3%	6	35.0	30.0	28.0	$14,848	$1,042	$13,806
Pukalani Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2945 Iolani St	Makawao	96768	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 573-8760	455	35	13.0	43.7%	51 (11.2%)	0 (0.0%)	96 (21.1%)	48 (10.5%)	0 (0.0%)	116 (25.5%)	144 (31.6%)	69.4	71^st of 203 public elementary schools	65.0%		72.1	70^th of 204 public elementary schools	65.7%	1	62.0	52.0	54.0	$16,960	$1,640	$15,320

Frequently Asked Questions about Puu Kukui Elementary School

Is Puu Kukui Elementary School a good school?

Puu Kukui Elementary School ranks 43^rd of 203 Hawaii elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Puu Kukui Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Puu Kukui Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Maui Waena Intermediate School
High : Maui High School

What district is Puu Kukui Elementary School in?

Hawaii Department of Education

What is the racial makeup of Puu Kukui Elementary School?

Students at Puu Kukui Elementary School are 27% Two or more races, 21% Pacific Islander, 21% Hispanic, 20% Asian, 11% White.

How many students attend Puu Kukui Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 750 students attended Puu Kukui Elementary School.

Rate Puu Kukui Elementary School!

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HIHawaii Elementary School Rankings

HIHawaii District Rankings

Schools in Wailuku, HI

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Latest Hawaii data All new data »

2025–26 graduation ratesNewSep 19, 2026

2025–26 HSA & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresNewSep 19, 2026

2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 18, 2025

2024–25 HSA & Smarter Balanced Assessments scoresSep 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.