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Waiakea High School

Summary:

Waiakea High School is a public high school located in Hilo, Hawaii, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,297 students. The school is part of the Hawaii Department of Education district, which is ranked 1 out of 1 in the state and rated 5 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Waiakea High School consistently performs well academically, ranking among the top high schools in Hawaii. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school ranked 6th out of 67 Hawaii high schools and received a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school also excels in the academic performance of specific student subgroups, ranking highly for Asian, Hispanic, White, and Pacific Islander students. Waiakea High School has a strong four-year graduation rate of 90.6%, significantly higher than the state average, and its students consistently perform above the state average on standardized tests.

When compared to nearby schools, Waiakea High School's academic performance and student outcomes stand out. For instance, Pahoa High & Intermediate School, located 16.81 miles away, has significantly lower test scores, graduation rates, and overall SchoolDigger rankings compared to Waiakea High School. While Waiakea High School faces some challenges, such as a chronic absenteeism rate of 16.2%, the school's overall success and positive trajectory make it a standout educational institution in the region.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 155 W Kawili St
       Hilo, HI  96720

(808) 974-4888

District: Hawaii Department of Education

SchoolDigger Rank:
6th of 67 Hawaii High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $16,204 Help


Feeder schools for Waiakea High School:

Elementary:    Waiakea Elementary School
    Waiakeawaena Elementary School
Middle:    Waiakea Intermediate School

Student/teacher ratio:  15.8 Help
Number of students:  1,217

Racial breakdown:

Pacific Islander:
26.3%
Hispanic:
23.2%
Two or more races:
20.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  44% Help


 See top rated Hawaii high schools

 Compare Waiakea High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Waiakea High School ranks better than 91% of high schools in Hawaii. It also ranks 5th among 44 ranked high schools in the Hawaii Department of Education School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 78.12. (See more...)
Help
The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Waiakea High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Student population at Waiakea High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: Pacific Islander (26.3%), Hispanic (23.2%), two or more races (20.5%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 44% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Waiakea High School is 15.8. 29 high schools in the Hawaii Department of Education School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Waiakea High School employs 77 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Waiakea High School is $16,204, which is the 19th highest among 44 high schools in the Hawaii Department of Education School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Waiakea High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Waiakea High School 6th of 67 Hawaii public high schools. (See Waiakea High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Asian students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
Pacific Islander students:
White students:


Hawaii Department of Education:

SchoolDigger ranks Hawaii Department of Education 1st of 1 Hawaii school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Waiakea High School?

Rank History for Waiakea High School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Waiakea High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 81.89 8th 56 85.7%
2007 59.43 25th 60 58.3%
2008 64.23 12th 39 69.2%
2009 68.32 12th 55 78.2%
2010 68.57 15th 56 73.2%
2011 62.62 21st 56 62.5%
2012 59.42 24th 58 58.6%
2013 72.28 12th 56 78.6%
2015 58.92 20th 51 60.8%
2016 69.92 13th 53 75.5%
2017 53.34 15th 63 76.2%
2018 78.24 9th 53 83.0%
2019 81.84 8th 52 84.6%
2021 81.01 9th 48 81.3%
2022 88.06 6th 52 88.5%
2023 91.13 3rd 53 94.3%
2024 78.12 6th 67 91.0%
See the entire list of Hawaii High School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Waiakea High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 43.59 24th 59 59.3%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Waiakea High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 31.67 47th 67 29.9%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Waiakea High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 73.89 10th 65 84.6%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Waiakea High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 29.34 44th 55 20.0%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Waiakea High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 82.56 4th 52 92.3%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for Pacific Islander students at Waiakea High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 64.70 13th 61 78.7%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii High Schools for Pacific Islander Students!

Rank History for White students at Waiakea High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 79.20 3rd 64 95.3%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Hawaii State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Waiakea High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
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Data source: Hawaii Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Waiakea High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 455 2 1223 40 3 n/a n/a 0 1723
1989 441 6 1263 48 3 n/a n/a 0 1761
1990 472 10 1278 48 4 n/a n/a 0 1812
1991 476 51 1342 11 6 n/a n/a 0 1886
1992 410 12 1428 162 6 n/a n/a 0 2018
1993 461 15 1495 171 5 n/a n/a -1 2146
1994 497 17 1542 169 7 n/a n/a 0 2232
1995 462 14 1607 167 8 n/a n/a 0 2258
1996 462 14 1607 167 8 n/a n/a 0 2258
1997 369 16 192 506 8 n/a n/a 1208 2299
1998 528 11 1669 179 5 n/a n/a 0 2392
1999 559 10 1727 173 6 n/a n/a 0 2475
2000 470 10 1535 156 9 n/a n/a 0 2180
2001 372 9 1310 111 8 n/a n/a 0 1810
2002 235 12 965 75 13 n/a n/a 0 1300
2003 235 12 965 75 13 n/a n/a 0 1300
2004 226 7 953 95 11 n/a n/a 0 1292
2005 225 5 958 87 9 n/a n/a 0 1284
2006 229 6 991 83 4 n/a n/a 0 1313
2007 224 3 990 85 1 n/a n/a 0 1303
2008 202 7 975 89 3 n/a n/a 0 1276
2009 194 4 986 88 5 n/a n/a 0 1277
2010 193 12 911 102 8 n/a n/a 0 1226
2011 129 11 464 29 6 451 78 0 1168
2012 130 10 449 45 8 446 84 0 1172
2013 109 11 409 63 3 451 113 0 1159
2014 127 8 417 86 1 444 114 0 1197
2015 120 9 392 90 2 466 140 0 1219
2016 113 10 357 105 2 467 143 0 1197
2017 112 5 379 107 6 510 134 0 1253
2018 114 5 370 118 4 489 156 0 1256
2019 113 2 373 140 2 442 169 0 1241
2020 118 3 379 139 2 468 173 0 1282
2021 112 3 323 190 1 396 208 0 1233
2022 117 4 309 230 2 371 233 0 1266
2023 128 5 299 256 0 365 244 0 1297
2024 113 3 248 282 1 320 250 0 1217

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Waiakea High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1723 87.0 19.8 19.7
1989 1761 83.5 21.0 17.3
1990 1812 90.0 20.1 15.3
1991 1886 95.0 19.8 19.6
1992 2018 100.0 20.1 10.6
1993 2146 112.5 19.1 14.8
1994 2232 116.0 19.2 6.9
1995 2258 122.0 18.5 8.9
1996 2258 122.0 18.5 8.9
1997 2299 119.5 19.2 60.5
1998 2392 122.5 19.5 29.6
1999 2475 124.5 19.9 38.3
2000 2180 115.0 19.0 35.6
2001 1810 100.0 18.1 34.6
2002 1300 75.0 17.3 26.6
2003 1300 75.0 17.3 26.6
2004 1292 72.5 17.8 29
2005 1284 71.5 18.0 30.4
2006 1313 74.5 17.6 32.5
2007 1303 78.0 16.7 31.9
2008 1276 75.5 16.9 31.9
2009 1277 73.0 17.5 35.6
2010 1226 72.0 17.0 35.6
2011 1168 71.0 16.4 44.9
2012 1172 70.0 16.7 45.3
2013 1159 69.5 16.6 46.3
2014 1197 73.0 16.3 47.5
2015 1219 74.0 16.4 48.2
2016 1197 76.0 15.7 48.8
2017 1253 80.0 15.6 45.7
2018 1256 80.0 15.7 48
2019 1241 78.0 15.9 43.8
2020 1282 79.0 16.2 41.3
2021 1233 76.5 16.1 45.7
2022 1266 76.5 16.5 41.5
2023 1297 77.0 16.8 42.7
2024 1217 77.0 15.8 44

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Waiakea High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1723 87.0 19.8 19.7
1989 1761 83.5 21.0 17.3
1990 1812 90.0 20.1 15.3
1991 1886 95.0 19.8 19.6
1992 2018 100.0 20.1 10.6
1993 2146 112.5 19.1 14.8
1994 2232 116.0 19.2 6.9
1995 2258 122.0 18.5 8.9
1996 2258 122.0 18.5 8.9
1997 2299 119.5 19.2 60.5
1998 2392 122.5 19.5 29.6
1999 2475 124.5 19.9 38.3
2000 2180 115.0 19.0 35.6
2001 1810 100.0 18.1 34.6
2002 1300 75.0 17.3 26.6
2003 1300 75.0 17.3 26.6
2004 1292 72.5 17.8 29
2005 1284 71.5 18.0 30.4
2006 1313 74.5 17.6 32.5
2007 1303 78.0 16.7 31.9
2008 1276 75.5 16.9 31.9
2009 1277 73.0 17.5 35.6
2010 1226 72.0 17.0 35.6
2011 1168 71.0 16.4 44.9
2012 1172 70.0 16.7 45.3
2013 1159 69.5 16.6 46.3
2014 1197 73.0 16.3 47.5
2015 1219 74.0 16.4 48.2
2016 1197 76.0 15.7 48.8
2017 1253 80.0 15.6 45.7
2018 1256 80.0 15.7 48
2019 1241 78.0 15.9 43.8
2020 1282 79.0 16.2 41.3
2021 1233 76.5 16.1 45.7
2022 1266 76.5 16.5 41.5
2023 1297 77.0 16.8 42.7
2024 1217 77.0 15.8 44

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Waiakea High School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,517 (9.4%) $14,687 (90.6%) $16,204

Data source: Hawaii Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Waiakea High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Ranks 8th of 52 High schoolsRanks 3rd of 53 High schools
 9.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
11th Grade English Language Arts (Waiakea High School)6873
 5%
   11th Grade English Language Arts (Hawaii)5959
11th Grade Mathematics (Waiakea High School)4044
 4%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Hawaii)3025
 5%
All Grades English Language Arts (Waiakea High School)6873
 5%
All Grades Mathematics (Waiakea High School)4044
 4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students12411297
 4.5%
African American25
 150%
American Indian20
 100%
Asian373299
 19.8%
Hispanic140256
 82.9%
Pacific Islander442365
 17.4%
White113128
 13.3%
Two or More Races169244
 44.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients43.8%42.7%
 1%

Schools Near Waiakea High School








Frequently Asked Questions about Waiakea High School

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,217 students attended Waiakea High School.

Yes. Waiakea High School ranks in the top 9.0% of Hawaii high schools.

Students at Waiakea High School are 26% Pacific Islander, 23% Hispanic, 21% Two or more races, 20% Asian, 9% White.

Waiakea High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Waiakea Elementary School
Elementary : Waiakeawaena Elementary School
Middle : Waiakea Intermediate School


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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.




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