Summary:
The 96748 zip code area in Hawaii is home to two public elementary schools: Kaunakakai Elementary School and Kilohana Elementary School, both under the Hawaii Department of Education district. While Kaunakakai Elementary School performs better academically, both schools face significant challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates and high poverty levels among their student populations.
Kaunakakai Elementary School has a larger enrollment of 274 students and ranks higher in the statewide school rankings, though still in the bottom half of Hawaii elementary schools. The school has higher test scores across English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science compared to Kilohana Elementary School, which has an enrollment of only 79 students and ranks in the bottom 10% of Hawaii elementary schools. However, both schools have alarmingly high chronic absenteeism rates, with Kaunakakai at 37.0% and Kilohana at 32.0%.
The high poverty levels in the area are reflected in the schools' free/reduced lunch rates, with Kaunakakai Elementary School at 78.1% and Kilohana Elementary School at an even higher 91.14%. While Kilohana Elementary School spends more per student ($24,576) compared to Kaunakakai Elementary School ($19,132), this higher spending has not translated into better academic performance, suggesting that addressing the root causes of the schools' challenges may require a more comprehensive approach.
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