Puu Kukui Elementary School

Q: Is Puu Kukui Elementary School a good school?

Puu Kukui Elementary School ranks 94 th of 207 Hawaii elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Puu Kukui Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Wailuku, Hawaii, serving grades PK-5 with a student population of 696. 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.

Puu Kukui Elementary has a diverse student population, with a significant percentage of students identifying as two or more races (26.58%), Pacific Islander (21.98%), Asian (20.69%), and Hispanic (18.68%). The school's overall proficiency rates in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics have been around 50-60% in recent years, but it has struggled in Science, with only 24.19% proficiency in 2023-2024. While the school's performance in ELA and Mathematics is generally on par with or slightly above the state averages, its Science scores are below the state average. Puu Kukui Elementary's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, ranking highly for Asian students (4 out of 5 stars) but struggling with Hispanic students (1 out of 5 stars) and English Language Learners (1 out of 5 stars). The school also has a relatively high chronic absenteeism rate of 25.4%, which is higher than the state average and several of the nearby schools.

Compared to nearby schools, Pomaikai Elementary has significantly higher proficiency rates in ELA, Mathematics, and Science, while Puu Kukui Elementary's struggles with Hispanic and English Language Learner students are more pronounced. Additionally, Puu Kukui Elementary's spending per student ($14,352 in 2018-2019) is lower than some of the nearby schools, which may be a factor in its academic performance.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

3700 Kehalani Mauka Parkway
Wailuku, HI 96793

(808) 727-3000

District: Hawaii Department of Education

SchoolDigger Rank:
94^th of 207 Hawaii Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,352

Students who attend Puu Kukui Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Maui Waena Intermediate School
High:	Maui High School

Student/teacher ratio: 17.1

Number of students: 719

Racial breakdown:

Two or more races:

27.3%

Asian:

21.0%

Pacific Islander:

20.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 37.3%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Puu Kukui Elementary School ranks better than 54.6% of elementary schools in Hawaii. It also ranks 91^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 58.16. (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 Puu Kukui Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: two or more races (27.3%), Asian (21%), Pacific Islander (20.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 37.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Puu Kukui Elementary School is 17.1. 169 elementary schools in the Hawaii Department of Education School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Puu Kukui Elementary School employs 42 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Puu Kukui Elementary School is $14,352. 168 elementary schools in the Hawaii Department of Education School District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Puu Kukui Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Puu Kukui Elementary School 94^th of 207 Hawaii public elementary schools. (See Puu Kukui 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:

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.)

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Rank History for Puu Kukui Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Puu Kukui Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	HI State Percentile
2015	47.40	105^th	194	45.9%
2016	41.81	116^th	195	40.5%
2017	53.72	104^th	207	49.8%
2018	67.75	57^th	193	70.5%
2019	69.42	59^th	196	69.9%
2021	65.42	62^nd	196	68.4%
2022	57.35	77^th	193	60.1%
2023	55.53	83^rd	195	57.4%
2024	58.16	94^th	207	54.6%

See the entire list of Hawaii Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Puu Kukui Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	HI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	31.01	168^th	198	15.2%

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

Rank History for Special Education students at Puu Kukui Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	HI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	54.16	105^th	207	49.3%

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

Rank History for Asian students at Puu Kukui Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	HI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	75.72	60^th	203	70.4%

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

Rank History for African American students at Puu Kukui Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	HI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	65.30	73^rd	160	54.4%

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

Rank History for Hispanic students at Puu Kukui Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	HI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	24.91	135^th	165	18.2%

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

Rank History for Pacific Islander students at Puu Kukui Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	HI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	41.14	130^th	196	33.7%

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

Rank History for White students at Puu Kukui Elementary School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	HI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2024	58.61	102^nd	202	49.5%

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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Enrollment information for Puu Kukui Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2014	60	1	156	68	2	176	127	590
2015	66	0	169	87	3	178	157	660
2016	63	3	153	114	2	174	187	696
2017	62	2	156	150	1	161	213	745
2018	67	1	145	162	0	168	246	789
2019	76	3	143	156	1	165	230	774
2020	86	5	150	155	2	156	216	770
2021	77	4	148	160	1	155	205	750
2022	84	3	148	130	1	140	188	694
2023	79	4	144	130	1	153	185	696
2024	82	3	151	142	0	145	196	719

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 Puu Kukui Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	590	28.0	21.0	38
2015	660	34.0	19.4	40.2
2016	696	39.0	17.8	42.2
2017	745	42.5	17.5	38.4
2018	789	43.0	18.3	37.5
2019	774	44.0	17.5	31.9
2020	770	45.0	17.1	31.7
2021	750	45.0	16.6	32.4
2022	694	45.0	15.4	29
2023	696	41.0	16.9	32.6
2024	719	42.0	17.1	37.3

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 Puu Kukui Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	590	28.0	21.0	38
2015	660	34.0	19.4	40.2
2016	696	39.0	17.8	42.2
2017	745	42.5	17.5	38.4
2018	789	43.0	18.3	37.5
2019	774	44.0	17.5	31.9
2020	770	45.0	17.1	31.7
2021	750	45.0	16.6	32.4
2022	694	45.0	15.4	29
2023	696	41.0	16.9	32.6
2024	719	42.0	17.1	37.3

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 Puu Kukui Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$805 (5.6%)	$13,547 (94.4%)	$14,352

Data source: Hawaii Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Puu Kukui 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 59^th of 196 Elementary schools	Ranks 83^rd of 195 Elementary schools	12.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Puu Kukui Elementary School)	66	59	7%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Hawaii)	53	49	4%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Puu Kukui Elementary School)	66	67	1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Hawaii)	56	52	4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Puu Kukui Elementary School)	57	51	6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Hawaii)	52	51	1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Puu Kukui Elementary School)	52	49	3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Hawaii)	49	50	1%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Puu Kukui Elementary School)	70	58	12%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Hawaii)	57	55	2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Puu Kukui Elementary School)	51	38	13%
5th Grade Mathematics (Hawaii)	44	44
All Grades English Language Arts (Puu Kukui Elementary School)	64	56	8%
All Grades Mathematics (Puu Kukui Elementary School)	56	51	5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	774	696	10.1%
African American	3	4	33.3%
American Indian	1	1
Asian	143	144	0.7%
Hispanic	156	130	16.7%
Pacific Islander	165	153	7.3%
White	76	79	3.9%
Two or More Races	230	185	19.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	31.9%	32.6%	0.7%

Schools Near Puu Kukui 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
Puu Kukui Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3700 Kehalani Mauka Parkway	Wailuku	96793	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 727-3000	719	42	17.1	37.3%	82 (11.4%)	3 (0.4%)	142 (19.7%)	151 (21.0%)	0 (0.0%)	145 (20.2%)	196 (27.3%)	58.2	94^th of 207 public elementary schools	54.6%		55.5	83^rd of 195 public elementary schools	57.4%	11	24.2	54.6	46.6	$14,352	$805	$13,547
Wailuku Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	355 S High St	Wailuku	96793	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 984-5622	559	32	17.4	59.0%	24 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	146 (26.1%)	88 (15.7%)	1 (0.2%)	190 (34.0%)	110 (19.7%)	18	180^th of 207 public elementary schools	13.0%		29.8	140^th of 195 public elementary schools	28.2%	40	23.0	30.2	27.2	$16,965	$1,443	$15,522
Lihikai Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	335 S Papa Ave	Kahului	96732	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 873-3033	697	44	15.8	63.7%	16 (2.3%)	2 (0.3%)	113 (16.2%)	298 (42.8%)	0 (0.0%)	195 (28.0%)	73 (10.5%)	41	134^th of 207 public elementary schools	35.3%		41.9	115^th of 195 public elementary schools	41.0%	19	29.8	43.6	41.1	$16,212	$1,580	$14,632
Pomaikai Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4650 S Kamehameha Ave	Kahului	96732	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	No	(808) 876-7610	585	35	16.7	27.2%	77 (13.2%)	1 (0.2%)	125 (21.4%)	134 (22.9%)	0 (0.0%)	63 (10.8%)	185 (31.6%)	83.4	43^rd of 207 public elementary schools	79.2%		71.8	54^th of 195 public elementary schools	72.3%	11	56.5	66.3	62.6	$15,889	$1,504	$14,385
Kahului Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	410 S Hina Ave	Kahului	96732	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 873-3055	814	54	15.0	60.1%	22 (2.7%)	3 (0.4%)	123 (15.1%)	446 (54.8%)	0 (0.0%)	180 (22.1%)	40 (4.9%)	35.5	144^th of 207 public elementary schools	30.4%		32.7	133^rd of 195 public elementary schools	31.8%	11	40.2	40.2	36.0	$14,823	$1,257	$13,566
Waihee Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2125 Kahekili Hwy	Wailuku	96793	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 984-5644	585	39	15.0	59.5%	23 (3.9%)	2 (0.3%)	103 (17.6%)	76 (13.0%)	1 (0.2%)	284 (48.5%)	96 (16.4%)	38.2	137^th of 207 public elementary schools	33.8%		30.2	138^th of 195 public elementary schools	29.2%	1	25.9	41.2	40.1	$16,736	$1,497	$15,239
Paia Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	955 Baldwin Ave	Paia	96779	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 579-2100	423	20	21.1	61.7%	21 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	120 (28.4%)	5 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	225 (53.2%)	52 (12.3%)	34.7	145^th of 207 public elementary schools	30.0%		42	113^th of 195 public elementary schools	42.1%	32	36.8	41.2	35.4	$14,717	$1,314	$13,403
Kihei Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	250 E Lipoa St	Kihei	96753	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 875-6818	733	58	12.6	64.1%	100 (13.6%)	5 (0.7%)	188 (25.6%)	161 (22.0%)	2 (0.3%)	136 (18.6%)	141 (19.2%)	45.3	130^th of 207 public elementary schools	37.2%		38.7	122^nd of 195 public elementary schools	37.4%	8	43.9	42.8	42.9	$16,149	$1,485	$14,664
Princess Nahienaena Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	816 Niheu St	Lahaina	96761	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 662-4020	515	46	11.1	55.0%	17 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	85 (16.5%)	191 (37.1%)	0 (0.0%)	142 (27.6%)	80 (15.5%)	15.9	184^th of 207 public elementary schools	11.1%		19.2	168^th of 195 public elementary schools	13.8%	16	27.8	30.4	23.2	$14,848	$1,042	$13,806
Pukalani Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2945 Iolani St	Makawao	96768	Maui County	Hawaii Department of Education	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(808) 573-8760	440	34	12.9	42.7%	47 (10.7%)	0 (0.0%)	105 (23.9%)	42 (9.5%)	0 (0.0%)	114 (25.9%)	132 (30.0%)	70.6	78^th of 207 public elementary schools	62.3%		63.7	69^th of 195 public elementary schools	64.6%	9	60.9	53.2	56.2	$16,960	$1,640	$15,320

Frequently Asked Questions about Puu Kukui Elementary School

How many students attend Puu Kukui Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 719 students attended Puu Kukui Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Puu Kukui Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Puu Kukui Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Maui Waena Intermediate School
High : Maui High School

What is the racial makeup of Puu Kukui Elementary School?

Students at Puu Kukui Elementary School are 27% Two or more races, 21% Asian, 20% Pacific Islander, 20% Hispanic, 11% White.

What district is Puu Kukui Elementary School in?

Hawaii Department of Education

Is Puu Kukui Elementary School a good school?

Puu Kukui Elementary School ranks 94^th of 207 Hawaii elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Puu Kukui Elementary 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.