Is Kahakai Elementary School a good school?

Kahakai Elementary School ranks 149 th of 207 Hawaii elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

How many students attend Kahakai Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 538 students attended Kahakai Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Kahakai Elementary School?

Students at Kahakai Elementary School are 31% Pacific Islander, 24% Hispanic, 19% Two or more races, 13% White, 12% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Kahakai Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Kahakai Elementary School usually go on to attend: Middle : Konawaena Middle School High : Konawaena High School

Kahakai Elementary School

Summary:

Kahakai Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Kailua Kona, Hawaii, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 581 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.

While Kahakai Elementary School has seen a decline in its statewide ranking over the past few years, dropping from a high of 67th out of 195 Hawaii elementary schools in 2015-2016 to 149th out of 207 in 2023-2024, its SchoolDigger rating has also decreased from 3 stars out of 5 in the past to only 1 star in the current school year. The school's proficiency rates in Smarter Balanced Assessments for English Language Arts and Mathematics are generally lower than the state averages, with only 37.55% and 32.84% proficiency respectively in 2023-2024. Additionally, the school's science proficiency rate on the Hawaii State Assessment (HSA) is below the state average, at 43.16% in 2023-2024. Kahakai Elementary School also has a high chronic absenteeism rate of 29.8% in the current school year, which is significantly higher than the state average.

Compared to nearby schools, such as Honaunau Elementary and Kona Pacific - PCS, Kahakai Elementary School's academic performance is generally lower, with those schools having higher proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science, as well as higher statewide rankings and SchoolDigger ratings. However, Kahakai Elementary School has a lower percentage of free and reduced lunch recipients (55.94%) compared to some of the nearby schools, such as Honaunau Elementary (86.96%) and Kealakehe Elementary (64.85%).

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

76-147 Royal Poinciana Dr
Kailua Kona, HI 96740

(808) 327-4313

District: Hawaii Department of Education

SchoolDigger Rank:
149^th of 207 Hawaii Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,424

Students who attend Kahakai Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Konawaena Middle School
High:	Konawaena High School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.8

Number of students: 538

Racial breakdown:

Pacific Islander:

31.4%

Hispanic:

24.3%

Two or more races:

19.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 52%

See top rated Hawaii elementary schools

Compare Kahakai Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Kahakai Elementary School ranks worse than 72% of elementary schools in Hawaii. It also ranks 141^st among 183 ranked elementary schools in the Hawaii Department of Education School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 32.06. (See more...)

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

Compare Details Student population at Kahakai Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: Pacific Islander (31.4%), Hispanic (24.3%), two or more races (19%). (See more...)

Compare Details 52% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Kahakai Elementary School is 16.8. 165 elementary schools in the Hawaii Department of Education School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Kahakai Elementary School employs 32 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Kahakai Elementary School is $15,424. 138 elementary schools in the Hawaii Department of Education School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Kahakai Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Kahakai Elementary School 149^th of 207 Hawaii public elementary schools. (See Kahakai Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Special Education students:

Asian students:

Hispanic students:

Pacific Islander students:

White students:

Hawaii Department of Education:

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

What do you think?

Your rating for Kahakai Elementary School?

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Rank History for Kahakai Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Kahakai Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	HI State Percentile
2006	24.23	167^th	194	13.9%
2007	27.12	154^th	192	19.8%
2008	19.93	128^th	146	12.3%
2009	19.05	166^th	191	13.1%
2010	24.65	149^th	183	18.6%
2011	30.81	149^th	191	22.0%
2012	50.54	103^rd	195	47.2%
2013	56.62	85^th	196	56.6%
2015	57.42	76^th	194	60.8%
2016	64.71	67^th	195	65.6%
2017	64.34	77^th	207	62.8%
2018	57.04	87^th	193	54.9%
2019	38.15	127^th	196	35.2%
2021	27.30	140^th	196	28.6%
2022	38.47	121^st	193	37.3%
2023	36.28	126^th	195	35.4%
2024	32.06	149^th	207	28.0%

See the entire list of Hawaii Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Kahakai Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	HI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	27.78	170^th	198	14.1%

See the entire list of Best Hawaii Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Kahakai Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	HI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	55.66	104^th	207	49.8%

See the entire list of Best Hawaii Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Kahakai Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	HI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	20.45	182^nd	203	10.3%

See the entire list of Best Hawaii Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Kahakai Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	HI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	36.36	122^nd	165	26.1%

See the entire list of Best Hawaii Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for Pacific Islander students at Kahakai Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	HI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	22.77	165^th	196	15.8%

See the entire list of Best Hawaii Elementary Schools for Pacific Islander Students!

Rank History for White students at Kahakai Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	HI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	55.36	110^th	202	45.5%

See the entire list of Best Hawaii Elementary 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.

Data source: Hawaii Department of Education

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Reviews:
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Enrollment information for Kahakai Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1989	278	9	319	14	1	n/a	n/a	0	621
1990	285	5	316	12	1	n/a	n/a	0	619
1991	278	13	375	8	1	n/a	n/a	0	675
1992	297	8	381	40	3	n/a	n/a	0	729
1993	296	12	371	35	2	n/a	n/a	-1	715
1994	307	8	374	33	4	n/a	n/a	0	726
1995	299	5	415	31	7	n/a	n/a	0	757
1996	299	5	415	31	7	n/a	n/a	0	757
1997	302	5	427	32	3	n/a	n/a	-12	757
1998	253	3	444	28	5	n/a	n/a	0	733
1999	246	2	429	31	4	n/a	n/a	0	712
2000	217	1	435	49	7	n/a	n/a	0	709
2001	202	3	427	46	7	n/a	n/a	0	685
2002	181	4	344	63	3	n/a	n/a	0	595
2003	181	4	344	63	3	n/a	n/a	0	595
2004	175	6	359	57	8	n/a	n/a	0	605
2005	184	4	384	68	15	n/a	n/a	0	655
2006	177	5	365	62	14	n/a	n/a	0	623
2007	169	2	329	59	10	n/a	n/a	0	569
2008	159	3	327	62	11	n/a	n/a	0	562
2009	169	6	362	65	12	n/a	n/a	0	614
2010	174	6	340	73	9	n/a	n/a	0	602
2011	136	12	125	77	8	249	6	0	613
2012	144	14	127	84	8	244	2	0	623
2013	143	10	134	83	8	239	9	0	626
2014	154	7	124	103	6	260	34	0	688
2015	139	8	107	122	3	261	55	0	695
2016	139	6	96	129	4	254	77	0	705
2017	131	5	98	170	3	239	96	0	742
2018	110	4	103	165	3	224	126	0	735
2019	96	6	104	175	2	233	143	0	759
2020	98	2	88	177	2	219	144	0	730
2021	81	1	77	164	4	209	125	0	661
2022	91	1	82	154	4	203	125	0	660
2023	70	0	67	138	3	174	129	0	581
2024	69	0	66	131	1	169	102	0	538

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 Kahakai Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	621	31.5	19.7	28.7
1990	619	32.0	19.3	26.2
1991	675	35.0	19.2	19.7
1992	729	36.0	20.2	26.5
1993	715	39.5	18.1	21.5
1994	726	42.0	17.3	21.2
1995	757	38.0	19.9	22.1
1996	757	38.0	19.9	22.1
1997	757	42.0	18.0	41.5
1998	733	40.5	18.1	36.6
1999	712	41.5	17.2	40.2
2000	709	41.0	17.3	43.7
2001	685	40.0	17.1	55.2
2002	595	34.5	17.2	59.5
2003	595	34.5	17.2	59.5
2004	605	40.5	14.9	56.4
2005	655	42.5	15.4	54.7
2006	623	40.5	15.4	48.8
2007	569	34.5	16.5	42.7
2008	562	33.5	16.8	41.6
2009	614	32.5	18.9	52
2010	602	33.0	18.2	51.2
2011	613	34.0	18.0	56.9
2012	623	35.0	17.8	66
2013	626	38.0	16.4	67.4
2014	688	39.0	17.6	66.7
2015	695	40.0	17.3	63.7
2016	705	39.0	18.0	61
2017	742	44.0	16.8	61.7
2018	735	42.0	17.5	57
2019	759	44.0	17.2	61.7
2020	730	45.0	16.2	57.7
2021	661	43.0	15.3	61.9
2022	660	43.0	15.3	61.5
2023	581	34.0	17.0	55.9
2024	538	32.0	16.8	52

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 Kahakai Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1989	621	31.5	19.7	28.7
1990	619	32.0	19.3	26.2
1991	675	35.0	19.2	19.7
1992	729	36.0	20.2	26.5
1993	715	39.5	18.1	21.5
1994	726	42.0	17.3	21.2
1995	757	38.0	19.9	22.1
1996	757	38.0	19.9	22.1
1997	757	42.0	18.0	41.5
1998	733	40.5	18.1	36.6
1999	712	41.5	17.2	40.2
2000	709	41.0	17.3	43.7
2001	685	40.0	17.1	55.2
2002	595	34.5	17.2	59.5
2003	595	34.5	17.2	59.5
2004	605	40.5	14.9	56.4
2005	655	42.5	15.4	54.7
2006	623	40.5	15.4	48.8
2007	569	34.5	16.5	42.7
2008	562	33.5	16.8	41.6
2009	614	32.5	18.9	52
2010	602	33.0	18.2	51.2
2011	613	34.0	18.0	56.9
2012	623	35.0	17.8	66
2013	626	38.0	16.4	67.4
2014	688	39.0	17.6	66.7
2015	695	40.0	17.3	63.7
2016	705	39.0	18.0	61
2017	742	44.0	16.8	61.7
2018	735	42.0	17.5	57
2019	759	44.0	17.2	61.7
2020	730	45.0	16.2	57.7
2021	661	43.0	15.3	61.9
2022	660	43.0	15.3	61.5
2023	581	34.0	17.0	55.9
2024	538	32.0	16.8	52

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 Kahakai Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,299 (8.4%)	$14,125 (91.6%)	$15,424

Data source: Hawaii Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Kahakai Elementary 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 127^th of 196 Elementary schools	Ranks 126^th of 195 Elementary schools	0.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Kahakai Elementary School)	35	39	4%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Hawaii)	53	49	4%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Kahakai Elementary School)	37	36	1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Hawaii)	56	52	4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Kahakai Elementary School)	44	37	7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Hawaii)	52	51	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Kahakai Elementary School)	41	40	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Hawaii)	49	50	1%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Kahakai Elementary School)	61	54	7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Hawaii)	57	55	2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Kahakai Elementary School)	48	47	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Hawaii)	44	44
All Grades English Language Arts (Kahakai Elementary School)	47	43	4%
All Grades Mathematics (Kahakai Elementary School)	42	41	1%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	759	581	23.5%
African American	6	0	100%
American Indian	2	3	50%
Asian	104	67	35.6%
Hispanic	175	138	21.1%
Pacific Islander	233	174	25.3%
White	96	70	27.1%
Two or More Races	143	129	9.8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	61.7%	55.9%	5.7%

Schools Near Kahakai Elementary School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				HSA Science (2024)	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts (2024)	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2024)	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 (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	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
Kahakai Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	76-147 Royal Poinciana Dr	Kailua Kona	96740	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 327-4313	538	32	16.8	52.0%	69 (12.8%)	0 (0.0%)	131 (24.3%)	66 (12.3%)	1 (0.2%)	169 (31.4%)	102 (19.0%)	32.1	149^th of 207 public elementary schools	28.0%		36.3	126^th of 195 public elementary schools	35.4%	23	43.2	37.6	32.8	$15,424	$1,299	$14,125
Innovations - PCS	Public, Charter	K-8	75-5815 Queen Kaahumanu Hwy	Kailua Kona	96740	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 331-3130	240	13	18.4	48.3%	75 (31.3%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (18.8%)	19 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (10.0%)	77 (32.1%)	74.5	71^st of 207 public elementary schools	65.7%		74.1	49^th of 195 public elementary schools	74.9%	22	58.2	64.4	48.2	$8,835	$951	$7,884
Holualoa Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	76-5957 Mamalahoa Hwy	Holualoa	96725	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 322-4800	437	28	15.6	47.6%	106 (24.3%)	0 (0.0%)	122 (27.9%)	29 (6.6%)	2 (0.5%)	66 (15.1%)	112 (25.6%)	48.6	117^th of 207 public elementary schools	43.5%		29.8	141^st of 195 public elementary schools	27.7%	24	42.7	47.4	42.5	$15,490	$1,362	$14,128
Kealakehe Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	74-5118 Kealakaa St	Kailua Kona	96740	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 327-4308	900	65	13.9	67.6%	55 (6.1%)	1 (0.1%)	168 (18.7%)	74 (8.2%)	0 (0.0%)	439 (48.8%)	163 (18.1%)	12.9	191^st of 207 public elementary schools	7.7%		5.5	192^nd of 195 public elementary schools	1.5%	1	19.3	22.4	24.0	$15,425	$1,328	$14,097
Kona Pacific - PCS	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	79-7595 Mamalahoa Hwy	Kealakekua	96750	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 322-4900	178	20	8.9	50.0%	88 (49.4%)	1 (0.6%)	40 (22.5%)	3 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (5.1%)	37 (20.8%)	46.3	125^th of 207 public elementary schools	39.6%		52.4	87^th of 195 public elementary schools	55.4%	38	50.0	49.5	33.3	$9,540	$1,357	$8,183
Konawaena Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	81-901 Onouli Rd	Kealakekua	96750	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 323-4555	530	36	14.7	54.5%	51 (9.6%)	1 (0.2%)	171 (32.3%)	38 (7.2%)	0 (0.0%)	145 (27.4%)	124 (23.4%)	45.3	129^th of 207 public elementary schools	37.7%		46.1	102^nd of 195 public elementary schools	47.7%	27	32.3	44.9	43.8	$16,620	$1,851	$14,769
Honaunau Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	83-5360 Mamalahoa Hwy	Captain Cook	96704	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 328-2727	145	10	14.5	76.6%	14 (9.7%)	0 (0.0%)	61 (42.1%)	5 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (29.0%)	23 (15.9%)	67.9	84^th of 207 public elementary schools	59.4%		36.8	125^th of 195 public elementary schools	35.9%	41	44.4	54.6	56.1	$18,198	$1,976	$16,222
Hookena Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	86-4355 Mamalahoa Hwy	Captain Cook	96704	Hawaii County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 328-2710	99	7	14.1	55.6%	16 (16.2%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (26.3%)	2 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (41.4%)	14 (14.1%)	24	163^rd of 207 public elementary schools	21.3%		29.9	139^th of 195 public elementary schools	28.7%	24	27.3	28.0	34.0	$19,003	$1,241	$17,762

Kahakai Elementary School

Kahakai Elementary School:

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Hawaii Department of Education:

What do you think?

Rank History for Kahakai Elementary School

Rank History for all students at Kahakai Elementary School

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Kahakai Elementary School

Rank History for Special Education students at Kahakai Elementary School

Rank History for Asian students at Kahakai Elementary School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Kahakai Elementary School

Rank History for Pacific Islander students at Kahakai Elementary School

Rank History for White students at Kahakai Elementary School

Enrollment information for Kahakai Elementary School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Kahakai Elementary School

Student/Teacher Ratio Kahakai Elementary School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Kahakai Elementary School

Impact of COVID-19 on Kahakai Elementary School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Kahakai Elementary School