Average
#149 of 292 schools in HI
Waiakea Elementary School
Elementary School · Hawaii Department of Education · Hilo, HI
A Hawaii Department of Education elementary school where students score 8 points above what's typical for similar communities.
180 W Puainako St, Hilo, HI 96720
- Math 46% proficient (2022)
- Reading 51% proficient (2022)
- 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Waiakea Elementary School score 48% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 40%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. HI average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 12 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 49% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 50% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 56% (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 scoreFree/reduced lunch
54.1%
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Waiakea 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 48Car-Dependent
- Bike 42Somewhat Bikeable
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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
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waiakeawaena Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.5 | PK–5 | 0.9 mi | 672 | Compare → |
| Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 2.8 | PK–6 | 1.3 mi | 384 | Compare → |
| St Joseph SchoolPrivate · tuition | 8.3private | PK–12 | 1.4 mi | 185 | Compare → |
| Admiral Chester W Nimitz Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 9.2 | PK–6 | Not available | 583 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
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
- #149 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
Waiakea Elementary School is listed in Hawaii Department of Education; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Waiakea Elementary School
Waiakea Elementary School is a public elementary school in Hilo, HI, part of Hawaii Department of Education, serving approximately 725 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 out of 10 and ranks #149 of 292 schools in HI. State assessment records show 50% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 56% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Waiakea Elementary School
What grades does Waiakea Elementary School serve?
Waiakea Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Waiakea Elementary School?
Waiakea Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 725 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Waiakea Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Waiakea Elementary School is 14.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Waiakea Elementary School rank in HI?
Waiakea Elementary School ranks #149 of 292 schools in HI.
What is Waiakea Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Waiakea Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 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 Waiakea Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Waiakea Elementary School has 50% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 56% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Waiakea Elementary School a charter school?
No, Waiakea Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Waiakea Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Waiakea Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Waiakea Elementary School?
54.1% of students at Waiakea 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 – 5th
- Enrollment
- 725
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 51
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Town
- County
- Hawaii County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 44.1%
- Phone
- (808) 981-7215
- 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
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