Summary:
ZIP code 96817 includes 10 public schools in the Hawaii Department of Education—eight elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, with no alternative schools—serving 5,402 students in the Kalihi/Kapalama area. Farrington High is by far the largest with 2,094 students, while SEEQS is the smallest with 177. Most students attend elementary schools, which together enroll 3,131 students, about 58% of the ZIP total.
Among standout schools, Nuuanu Elementary is the clear flagship, ranked #2, #2, and #1 among Hawaii elementary schools over the past three years, with 2025–26 proficiency of 83% ELA, 87% math, and 83% science, 7.0% chronic absenteeism, and a 14.01% free/reduced-lunch rate. Maemae Elementary also performs strongly at the 91st percentile, with 71% ELA, 74% math, and 69% science despite serving more low-income students. SEEQS ranks at the 86th percentile and has strong ELA and science (66% and 61%) but lower math (37%), plus the lowest FRL rate, student-teacher ratio, and historical spending in the group. Lanakila Elementary is improving, rising from the 61st to 76th percentile with gains in all three subjects.
At Farrington High, the only high school, enrollment is 2,094, the graduation rate is 70.0%, chronic absenteeism is 28.0%, and 2025–26 proficiency is 52% ELA, 18% math, and 31% Biology I, ranking at the 52nd percentile statewide. By contrast, Princess Victoria Kaiulani Elementary, Kauluwela Elementary, and Princess Miriam K Likelike Elementary are the lowest-ranked schools here, all with 1-star ratings, high chronic absenteeism, high FRL rates, and low test proficiency. Across the ZIP, average 2025–26 proficiency was 53.8% ELA, 48.3% math, and 50.7% science/Biology; average chronic absenteeism was 21.5%, and average FRL was 52.66%. The lowest-FRL schools averaged much higher scores and lower absenteeism than the highest-FRL schools, while student-teacher ratios and 2018–19 spending did not show a simple relationship with outcomes.
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