Average
#217 of 292 schools in HI
Waiakea Intermediate School
Middle School · Hawaii Department of Education · Hilo, HI
A Hawaii Department of Education middle school where students score 6 points below what's typical for similar communities.
200 W Puainako St, Hilo, HI 96720
- Math 27% proficient (2022)
- Reading 45% proficient (2022)
- 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Waiakea Intermediate School score 36% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. HI average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 10 points since 2019, to 36% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 44% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 58% (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
50.9%
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 Intermediate 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 24Car-Dependent
- Bike 37Somewhat Bikeable
Powered by
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.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Joseph SchoolPrivate · tuition | 8.3private | PK–12 | 1.3 mi | 185 | Compare → |
| Hilo Intermediate SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.4 | 7–8 | 2.1 mi | 486 | Compare → |
| Connections - New Century PcsCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.1 | K–12 | 2.2 mi | 346 | Compare → |
| Ka Umeke Kaeo - PcsCharter · enrollment unverified | 4.9 | PK–12 | 3.8 mi | 275 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment 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
- #217 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 Intermediate School is listed in Hawaii Department of Education; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Waiakea Intermediate School
Waiakea Intermediate School is a public middle school in Hilo, HI, part of Hawaii Department of Education, serving approximately 854 students in grades 6th-8th with a 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 out of 10 and ranks #217 of 292 schools in HI. State assessment records show 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Waiakea Intermediate School
What grades does Waiakea Intermediate School serve?
Waiakea Intermediate School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Waiakea Intermediate School?
Waiakea Intermediate School has an enrollment of approximately 854 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Waiakea Intermediate School?
The student-teacher ratio at Waiakea Intermediate School is 15.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Waiakea Intermediate School rank in HI?
Waiakea Intermediate School ranks #217 of 292 schools in HI.
What is Waiakea Intermediate School's MySchoolScout rating?
Waiakea Intermediate School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 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 Intermediate School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Waiakea Intermediate School has 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 58% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Waiakea Intermediate School a charter school?
No, Waiakea Intermediate School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Waiakea Intermediate School a Title I school?
No, Waiakea Intermediate School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Waiakea Intermediate School?
50.9% of students at Waiakea Intermediate 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
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 854
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 55
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Town
- County
- Hawaii County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 21.3%
- Phone
- (808) 981-7231
- 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.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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