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Kohala Elementary School

Summary:

Kohala Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Kapaau, Hawaii, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 339 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.

Kohala Elementary School has a diverse student population, with a significant percentage of Hispanic (30.38%), Pacific Islander (25.96%), and two or more races (21.53%) students. However, the school's academic performance, as measured by Smarter Balanced Assessments and HSA/Science tests, is generally lower than the state averages, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts (40%) and Mathematics (37%) below the state averages. Additionally, the school has a high chronic absenteeism rate of 38.3%, which is significantly higher than the 34.5% rate at the nearby Waimea Elementary School. Kohala Elementary School also has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 53.98% in 2022-2023 to 65.8% in 2020-2021, indicating a higher proportion of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds compared to Waimea Elementary School, which had a 64.09% free and reduced lunch rate in 2022-2023.

Interestingly, Kohala Elementary School's performance varies significantly among different student subgroups, with the school ranking highly (3rd out of 160 HI elementary schools) for African American students but much lower for Asian students (187th out of 203) and Pacific Islander students (142nd out of 196). Additionally, the school's statewide ranking has generally declined over the years, from 132nd out of 196 Hawaii elementary schools in 2012-2013 to 142nd out of 207 in 2023-2024. By addressing these challenges and learning from the successes of nearby schools like Waimea Elementary School, Kohala Elementary School can work to improve the educational experiences and outcomes for its diverse student population.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 54-3609 Akoni Pule Hwy
       Kapaau, HI  96755

(808) 889-7100

District: Hawaii Department of Education

SchoolDigger Rank:
142nd of 207 Hawaii Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $17,377 Help


Students who attend Kohala Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Kohala Middle School
High:    Kohala High School

Student/teacher ratio:  16.2 Help
Number of students:  374

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
29.1%
Two or more races:
25.1%
Pacific Islander:
24.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  50.3% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Kohala Elementary School ranks worse than 68.6% of elementary schools in Hawaii. It also ranks 134th among 183 ranked elementary 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 37.17. (See more...)
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
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Compare Details Student population at Kohala Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (29.1%), two or more races (25.1%), Pacific Islander (24.9%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 50.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Kohala Elementary School is 16.2. 155 elementary schools in the Hawaii Department of Education School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
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Compare Kohala Elementary School employs 23 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Kohala Elementary School is $17,377, which is the 58th highest among 183 elementary schools in the Hawaii Department of Education School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Kohala Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Kohala Elementary School 142nd of 207 Hawaii public elementary schools. (See Kohala Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Asian students:
African American 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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Rank History for Kohala Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Kohala Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 17.16 177th 194 8.8%
2007 9.72 186th 192 3.1%
2008 11.49 138th 146 5.5%
2009 18.01 168th 191 12.0%
2010 24.19 150th 183 18.0%
2011 47.70 105th 191 45.0%
2012 32.17 150th 195 23.1%
2013 42.43 132nd 196 32.7%
2015 24.51 155th 194 20.1%
2016 16.66 175th 195 10.3%
2017 38.15 142nd 207 31.4%
2018 21.17 167th 193 13.5%
2019 21.01 170th 196 13.3%
2021 36.40 119th 196 39.3%
2022 16.99 169th 193 12.4%
2023 32.00 135th 195 30.8%
2024 37.17 142nd 207 31.4%
See the entire list of Hawaii Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Kohala Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 48.23 126th 198 36.4%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Kohala Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 42.97 140th 207 32.4%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Kohala Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 15.11 187th 203 7.9%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Kohala Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 95.62 3rd 160 98.1%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Pacific Islander students at Kohala Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 36.35 142nd 196 27.6%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii Elementary Schools for Pacific Islander Students!

Rank History for White students at Kohala Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 56.88 108th 202 46.5%
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.

Kohala Elementary 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 Kohala Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1995 104 1 356 28 1 n/a n/a -1 489
1996 104 1 356 28 1 n/a n/a -1 489
1997 97 2 338 30 1 n/a n/a 14 482
1998 88 1 353 29 0 n/a n/a 0 471
1999 66 2 339 30 2 n/a n/a 0 439
2000 66 4 338 31 3 n/a n/a 0 442
2001 70 2 341 32 4 n/a n/a 0 449
2002 66 0 325 35 8 n/a n/a 0 434
2003 66 0 325 35 8 n/a n/a 0 434
2004 57 2 333 32 11 n/a n/a 0 435
2005 53 2 314 28 10 n/a n/a 0 407
2006 57 1 314 32 11 n/a n/a 0 415
2007 60 1 301 25 10 n/a n/a 0 397
2008 64 2 304 26 8 n/a n/a 0 404
2009 61 2 313 24 6 n/a n/a 0 406
2010 62 0 281 26 4 n/a n/a 0 373
2011 70 0 99 16 4 163 13 0 365
2012 73 0 90 35 3 173 21 0 395
2013 72 0 78 56 1 165 40 0 412
2014 58 0 76 75 0 147 59 0 415
2015 46 0 62 31 0 140 74 0 353
2016 44 0 58 43 0 127 78 0 350
2017 40 0 50 64 0 106 85 0 345
2018 29 0 48 81 0 88 84 0 330
2019 31 0 43 96 0 84 87 0 341
2020 31 0 39 112 1 81 79 0 343
2021 31 0 42 108 0 91 76 0 348
2022 32 0 41 105 0 98 70 0 346
2023 30 2 43 103 0 88 73 0 339
2024 38 0 40 109 0 93 94 0 374

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 Kohala Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1995 489 25.0 19.6 27.1
1996 489 25.0 19.6 27.1
1997 482 26.0 18.5 38
1998 471 26.0 18.1 22.7
1999 439 23.0 19.1 48.7
2000 442 24.5 18.0 48.6
2001 449 23.5 19.1 54.1
2002 434 23.5 18.5 53.2
2003 434 23.5 18.5 53.2
2004 435 26.5 16.4 56.1
2005 407 26.0 15.7 58.7
2006 415 25.0 16.6 57.8
2007 397 26.0 15.3 56.4
2008 404 26.0 15.5 49
2009 406 28.0 14.5 53.4
2010 373 27.0 13.8 59.2
2011 365 27.0 13.5 62.2
2012 395 28.0 14.1 64.8
2013 412 25.0 16.4 71.8
2014 415 25.0 16.6 71.1
2015 353 24.0 14.7 69.1
2016 350 22.0 15.9 72
2017 345 21.0 16.4 62.9
2018 330 22.0 15.0 66.4
2019 341 23.0 14.8 62.5
2020 343 23.0 14.9 65
2021 348 24.0 14.5 65.8
2022 346 24.0 14.4 65
2023 339 25.0 13.5 54
2024 374 23.0 16.2 50.3

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 Kohala Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1995 489 25.0 19.6 27.1
1996 489 25.0 19.6 27.1
1997 482 26.0 18.5 38
1998 471 26.0 18.1 22.7
1999 439 23.0 19.1 48.7
2000 442 24.5 18.0 48.6
2001 449 23.5 19.1 54.1
2002 434 23.5 18.5 53.2
2003 434 23.5 18.5 53.2
2004 435 26.5 16.4 56.1
2005 407 26.0 15.7 58.7
2006 415 25.0 16.6 57.8
2007 397 26.0 15.3 56.4
2008 404 26.0 15.5 49
2009 406 28.0 14.5 53.4
2010 373 27.0 13.8 59.2
2011 365 27.0 13.5 62.2
2012 395 28.0 14.1 64.8
2013 412 25.0 16.4 71.8
2014 415 25.0 16.6 71.1
2015 353 24.0 14.7 69.1
2016 350 22.0 15.9 72
2017 345 21.0 16.4 62.9
2018 330 22.0 15.0 66.4
2019 341 23.0 14.8 62.5
2020 343 23.0 14.9 65
2021 348 24.0 14.5 65.8
2022 346 24.0 14.4 65
2023 339 25.0 13.5 54
2024 374 23.0 16.2 50.3

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 Kohala Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,199 (6.9%) $16,178 (93.1%) $17,377

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Kohala 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 170th of 196 Elementary schoolsRanks 135th of 195 Elementary schools
 17.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Kohala Elementary School)3436
 2%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Hawaii)5349
 4%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Kohala Elementary School)4345
 2%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Hawaii)5652
 4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Kohala Elementary School)4138
 3%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Hawaii)5251
 1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Kohala Elementary School)2633
 7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Hawaii)4950
 1%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Kohala Elementary School)4844
 4%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Hawaii)5755
 2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Kohala Elementary School)2233
 11%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Hawaii)4444
All Grades English Language Arts (Kohala Elementary School)4240
 2%
All Grades Mathematics (Kohala Elementary School)3037
 7%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students341339
 0.6%
African American02
American Indian00
Asian4343
Hispanic96103
 7.3%
Pacific Islander8488
 4.8%
White3130
 3.2%
Two or More Races8773
 16.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients62.5%54%
 8.5%

Schools Near Kohala Elementary School








Frequently Asked Questions about Kohala Elementary School

Students at Kohala Elementary School are 29% Hispanic, 25% Two or more races, 25% Pacific Islander, 11% Asian, 10% White.

Students who attend Kohala Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Kohala Middle School
High : Kohala High School

In the 2023-24 school year, 374 students attended Kohala Elementary School.

Kohala Elementary School ranks 142nd of 207 Hawaii elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.


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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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