West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Summary:

West Hawaii Explorations Academy is a public charter high school serving grades 6-12 in Kailua Kona, Hawaii, with a student population of 274. The school stands out for its diverse student body, strong academic performance, and high graduation rates compared to nearby public high schools.

With a more diverse student population than Konawaena High School and Kealakehe High School, West Hawaii Explorations Academy has consistently high academic achievement. In the 2022-2023 school year, 59% of students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, and 27% were proficient or better in Mathematics, both exceeding state averages. The school's 11th-grade students, in particular, demonstrated exceptional performance, with 74% proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 59%. Additionally, 54% of students were proficient or better in Biology I, significantly higher than the state average of 33%.

West Hawaii Explorations Academy also boasts a strong four-year graduation rate of 87.8% for the 2023-2024 school year, outpacing the nearby public high schools. However, the school faces some challenges, including a relatively high chronic absenteeism rate of 28.1% and uneven performance among student subgroups, with Hispanic and Pacific Islander students performing exceptionally well, but Asian, African American, English Language Learner, and Special Education students performing relatively poorly. Despite these challenges, West Hawaii Explorations Academy remains a standout public charter school in the region, offering a diverse and high-quality educational experience for its students.


Detail:

Public, Charter 6-12

 73-4500 Kahilihili St
       Kailua Kona, HI  96740


(808) 327-4751

District: Hawaii Department of Education

SchoolDigger Rank:
18th of 67 Hawaii High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $8,444 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  10.9 Help
Number of students:  274

Racial breakdown:

White:
44.2%
Two or more races:
18.2%
Pacific Islander:
15.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  41.6% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details West Hawaii Explorations Academy ranks better than 76.4% of middle schools in Hawaii. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 59.66. (See more...)
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Compare Details West Hawaii Explorations Academy ranks better than 73.1% of high schools in Hawaii. It also ranks 15th 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 59.66. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy 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
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Compare Details West Hawaii Explorations Academy has the largest high school student body size in the Hawaii Department of Education School District.  (See more...)
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at West Hawaii Explorations Academy is $8,444, which is the lowest among 44 high schools in the Hawaii Department of Education School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

West Hawaii Explorations Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks West Hawaii Explorations Academy 21st of 89 Hawaii public middle schools. (See West Hawaii Explorations Academy in the ranking list.)

Middle 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:

SchoolDigger ranks West Hawaii Explorations Academy 18th of 67 Hawaii public high schools. (See West Hawaii Explorations Academy 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 West Hawaii Explorations Academy?

Rank History for West Hawaii Explorations Academy

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Compare

Rank History for all middle school students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 87.71 5th 69 92.8%
2007 81.47 7th 71 90.1%
2009 79.55 8th 68 88.2%
2010 74.16 9th 65 86.2%
2011 78.62 9th 71 87.3%
2012 72.87 14th 73 80.8%
2013 64.71 20th 76 73.7%
2015 56.08 24th 72 66.7%
2016 66.13 19th 73 74.0%
2017 48.96 22nd 82 73.2%
2018 69.55 15th 67 77.6%
2019 59.41 23rd 70 67.1%
2021 60.72 20th 73 72.6%
2022 59.98 21st 72 70.8%
2023 51.55 27th 73 63.0%
2024 59.66 21st 89 76.4%
See the entire list of Hawaii High School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school English Language Learner students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 18.31 64th 81 21.0%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for middle school Special Education students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 0.00 76th 89 14.6%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for middle school Asian students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 36.13 58th 87 33.3%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for middle school African American students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 48.98 38th 71 46.5%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for middle school Hispanic students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 80.41 8th 68 88.2%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for middle school Pacific Islander students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 84.28 7th 81 91.4%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii High Schools for Pacific Islander Students!

Rank History for middle school White students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 44.64 40th 86 53.5%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii High Schools for White Students!

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

Rank History for West Hawaii Explorations Academy

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Compare

Rank History for all high school students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 45.46 31st 56 44.6%
2007 88.20 5th 60 91.7%
2009 98.12 1st 55 98.2%
2010 67.76 16th 56 71.4%
2011 51.50 27th 56 51.8%
2012 94.10 1st 58 98.3%
2013 62.06 19th 56 66.1%
2015 36.81 35th 51 31.4%
2016 33.05 40th 53 24.5%
2017 48.96 18th 63 71.4%
2018 39.35 34th 53 35.8%
2019 78.50 9th 52 82.7%
2021 71.11 14th 48 70.8%
2022 49.45 30th 52 42.3%
2023 77.76 10th 53 81.1%
2024 59.66 18th 67 73.1%
See the entire list of Hawaii High School Rankings!

Rank History for high school English Language Learner students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 18.31 48th 59 18.6%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for high school Special Education students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 0.00 56th 67 16.4%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for high school Asian students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 36.13 50th 65 23.1%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for high school African American students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 48.98 35th 55 36.4%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for high school Hispanic students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 80.41 5th 52 90.4%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for high school Pacific Islander students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 84.28 6th 61 90.2%
See the entire list of Best Hawaii High Schools for Pacific Islander Students!

Rank History for high school White students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools HI State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 44.64 38th 64 40.6%
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.

West Hawaii Explorations Academy Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: Hawaii Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a teacher
Thursday, March 5, 2009

Open Quote It is a public charter school, and not a private school.
www.whea.info Close Quote



Enrollment information for West Hawaii Explorations Academy

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2001 82 0 33 3 3 n/a n/a 0 121
2002 76 0 35 3 2 n/a n/a 0 116
2003 76 0 35 3 2 n/a n/a 0 116
2004 66 0 42 3 3 n/a n/a 0 114
2005 80 1 49 4 1 n/a n/a 0 135
2006 86 2 56 11 2 n/a n/a 0 157
2007 81 1 47 8 6 n/a n/a 0 143
2008 71 1 47 8 4 n/a n/a 0 131
2009 116 1 37 11 1 n/a n/a 0 166
2010 129 2 40 8 1 n/a n/a 0 180
2011 114 2 24 8 3 41 4 0 196
2012 117 2 26 11 5 34 0 0 195
2013 116 3 23 7 3 53 15 0 220
2014 119 4 22 9 5 60 15 0 234
2015 127 4 22 10 4 66 15 0 248
2016 151 4 26 9 6 72 18 0 286
2017 134 5 25 13 3 63 23 0 266
2018 132 5 15 12 2 63 23 0 252
2019 148 6 13 19 2 51 27 0 266
2020 159 4 14 24 1 46 32 0 280
2021 140 4 15 31 1 44 40 0 275
2022 145 3 11 32 2 40 43 0 276
2023 121 2 16 41 2 42 50 0 274

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 West Hawaii Explorations Academy

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2001 121 6.0 20.2 27.3
2002 116 9.5 12.2 15.5
2003 116 9.5 12.2 15.5
2004 114 6.5 17.5 17.5
2005 135 7.0 19.3 18.5
2006 157 11.0 14.3 14.6
2007 143 12.0 11.9 7
2008 131 14.0 9.4 1.5
2009 166 16.0 10.4 5.4
2010 180 15.0 12.0 2.8
2011 196 15.5 12.6 7.1
2012 195 17.0 11.4 9.2
2013 220 14.0 15.7 35.9
2014 234 16.0 14.6 35.9
2015 248 16.0 15.5 43.1
2016 286 18.0 15.8 40.9
2017 266 19.0 14.0 38.7
2018 252 18.0 14.0 31.7
2019 266 18.5 14.3 42.9
2020 280 20.5 13.6 41.4
2021 275 20.5 13.4 45.8
2022 276 20.5 13.4 37
2023 274 25.0 10.9 41.6

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 West Hawaii Explorations Academy

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2001 121 6.0 20.2 27.3
2002 116 9.5 12.2 15.5
2003 116 9.5 12.2 15.5
2004 114 6.5 17.5 17.5
2005 135 7.0 19.3 18.5
2006 157 11.0 14.3 14.6
2007 143 12.0 11.9 7
2008 131 14.0 9.4 1.5
2009 166 16.0 10.4 5.4
2010 180 15.0 12.0 2.8
2011 196 15.5 12.6 7.1
2012 195 17.0 11.4 9.2
2013 220 14.0 15.7 35.9
2014 234 16.0 14.6 35.9
2015 248 16.0 15.5 43.1
2016 286 18.0 15.8 40.9
2017 266 19.0 14.0 38.7
2018 252 18.0 14.0 31.7
2019 266 18.5 14.3 42.9
2020 280 20.5 13.6 41.4
2021 275 20.5 13.4 45.8
2022 276 20.5 13.4 37
2023 274 25.0 10.9 41.6

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 West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $619 (7.3%) $7,825 (92.7%) $8,444

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

Impact of COVID-19 on West Hawaii Explorations Academy

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 23rd of 70 Middle schoolsRanks 27th of 73 Middle schools
 4.1%
Ranks 9th of 52 High schoolsRanks 10th of 53 High schools
 1.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (West Hawaii Explorations Academy)6162
 1%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Hawaii)5351
 2%
6th Grade Mathematics (West Hawaii Explorations Academy)5038
 12%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Hawaii)4139
 2%
7th Grade English Language Arts (West Hawaii Explorations Academy)4750
 3%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Hawaii)5351
 2%
7th Grade Mathematics (West Hawaii Explorations Academy)3226
 6%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Hawaii)3834
 4%
8th Grade English Language Arts (West Hawaii Explorations Academy)7254
 18%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Hawaii)5250
 2%
8th Grade Mathematics (West Hawaii Explorations Academy)3121
 10%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Hawaii)3831
 7%
11th Grade English Language Arts (West Hawaii Explorations Academy)7274
 2%
   11th Grade English Language Arts (Hawaii)5959
11th Grade Mathematics (West Hawaii Explorations Academy)3422
 12%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Hawaii)3025
 5%
All Grades English Language Arts (West Hawaii Explorations Academy)6359
 4%
All Grades Mathematics (West Hawaii Explorations Academy)3727
 10%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students266274
 3%
African American62
 66.7%
American Indian22
Asian1316
 23.1%
Hispanic1941
 115.8%
Pacific Islander5142
 17.6%
White148121
 18.2%
Two or More Races2750
 85.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients42.9%41.6%
 1.3%


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Frequently Asked Questions about West Hawaii Explorations Academy

Students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy are 44% White, 18% Two or more races, 15% Pacific Islander, 15% Hispanic, 6% Asian.

In the 2022-23 school year, 274 students attended West Hawaii Explorations Academy.

West Hawaii Explorations Academy ranks 18th of 67 Hawaii high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 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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