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Very Good

#81 of 292 schools in HI

Top 27% in state

Hilo Union Elementary School

Elementary School · Hawaii Department of Education · Hilo, HI

A Hawaii Department of Education elementary school where students score 10 points above what's typical for similar communities.

506 Waianuenue Ave, Hilo, HI 96720

  • Math 29% proficient (2022)
  • Reading 46% proficient (2022)
  • 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.1Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-1.15 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics6.9Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency29% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency46% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency38% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)27% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected+10.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile55th
Resources & Environment7.1Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.4:1
District spending per student$20,056
Chronic Absenteeism46.6%

Students at Hilo Union Elementary School score 38% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 27%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. HI average.

Math Proficiency29%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency46%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency has held near 38% across the 14-year record (2009–2022).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
29%
ELA
45%
2010
Math
43%
ELA
53%
2011
Math
51%
ELA
54%
2012
Math
46%
ELA
55%
2013
Math
41%
ELA
53%
2014
Math
28%
ELA
28%
2015
Math
31%
ELA
44%
2016
Math
30%
ELA
39%
2017
Math
29%
ELA
40%
2018
Math
33%
ELA
41%
2019
Math
33%
ELA
41%
2020*
Math
17%
ELA
37%
2021*
Math
17%
ELA
37%
2022
Math
29%
ELA
46%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 33% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 44% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 28 test records from HI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

74.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Hilo Union Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 91Walker's Paradise
  • Bike 63Bikeable

Powered byWalk Score

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$78,537

Median home value

$458,100

Median rent

$1,346/mo

College educated

33.7%

Homeownership

66%

Poverty rate

13.8%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 96720; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Mauna Loa SchoolPrivate · tuition5.1privateK–80.3 mi61Compare →
Connections - New Century PcsCharter · enrollment unverified5.1K–120.4 mi346Compare →
St Joseph SchoolPrivate · tuition8.3privatePK–120.8 mi185Compare →
Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified2.8PK–61.1 mi384Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Hawaii Department of Education

Schools in district
295
Rank in district
#81 of 292
District spending per student
$20,056NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
10.7%Census SAIPE · 2024

Hilo Union Elementary School is listed in Hawaii Department of Education; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Hilo Union Elementary School

Hilo Union Elementary School is a public elementary school in Hilo, HI, part of Hawaii Department of Education, serving approximately 446 students in grades Pre-K-6th with a 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranks #81 of 292 schools in HI. State assessment records show 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 44% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Hilo Union Elementary School

What grades does Hilo Union Elementary School serve?

Hilo Union Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Hilo Union Elementary School?

Hilo Union Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 446 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Hilo Union Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Hilo Union Elementary School is 11.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Hilo Union Elementary School rank in HI?

Hilo Union Elementary School ranks #81 of 292 schools in HI.

What is Hilo Union Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Hilo Union Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Hilo Union Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Hilo Union Elementary School has 33% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 44% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Hilo Union Elementary School a charter school?

No, Hilo Union Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Hilo Union Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Hilo Union Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Hilo Union Elementary School?

74.2% of students at Hilo Union Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
446
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
39
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Town
County
Hawaii County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
46.6%
Area population (ZIP 96720)
50,971
Area average commute
20.2 min
Area median age
42.6
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 96720; this does not measure the attendance area.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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