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Public middle school · Hawaii Department of Education · Hilo, Hawaii

Waiakea Intermediate School

Waiakea Intermediate School rates 8.1, among the strongest middle schools in Hawaii Department of Education, where the rated median is 6.8.

Middle schools, 1 to 10This campus against public middle schools around it that are rated on verified state test data.
8.1this school

8.1 on a one-to-ten scale; the Hawaii Department of Education median is 6.8.

#35 of 292 schools in Hawaii · Hawaii Department of Education: 42 middle schools rated, median 6.8

The brief

A Hawaii Department of Education middle school serving grades 6th – 8th.

Students at Waiakea Intermediate School score 48% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).

It ranks 35 of 292 schools in Hawaii and 35 of 292 in Hawaii Department of Education.

Math41%2 points above the Hawaii average of 39%Grades 6–8 · 2025 SBAC
Reading55%1 point above the Hawaii average of 54%Grades 6–8 · 2025 SBAC
Proficiency has improved 5 points since 2024, reaching 48% in 2025, across a 2-year record (2024–2025).2025 SBAC; 40 test records from HI state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

What the rating is made of, each out of 10

Student Progress
9.1
40% of the rating
Academics
6.9
35% of the rating
Resources & Environment
8.0
25% of the rating
About this school's data1 correction under review · rating: low confidence · 7 sources, 2019–2025

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

Attendance data is under correction. This existing Resources & Environment score and overall rating may still reflect an unverified attendance input.

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 42% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

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 · 2025 SBAC · Medium confidence
  • 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 · 2025 SBAC · Medium confidence
  • 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)
State assessments · 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, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24

The neighborhood

Where it sits, and what the area looks like.
Waiakea Intermediate School and the 13 nearest middle schools, each pin colored by its score.Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Verify the enrollment path with the district.

The area

Median income
$78,537
Median home value
$458,100
Median rent
$1,346/mo
College educated
33.7%
Homeownership
66%
Poverty rate
13.8%

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

Getting around

Walk Score
24
Car-Dependent
Bike Score
37
Somewhat Bikeable
County reported crime
2,201/100K
Reported Part-1 offenses (violent + property + arson) per 100,000 county residents, counting every city police department, sheriff's office and county police department that reported a full year to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program. Shown only where those agencies cover at least 80% of the county's residents. Not a school safety rating.

Walk, transit and bike scores byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2025 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Programs and who goes here

What the campus offers, and who it enrolls.

Programs

Gifted and talented
Available
A program for qualifying students · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Who goes here

Free or reduced lunch
50.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance. Shown separately, never in the score.

NCES Common Core of Data (CCD).

Compare nearby

Grade-compatible schools using the same rating model.
Public-school ratings. Grade-compatible schools within 5 miles, best rated first.
  1. Waiakea Intermediate Schoolthis school
    8.1
  2. 7.5Compare →
  3. Ka Umeke Kaeo - Pcs3.8 mi · charter
    5.5Compare →
  4. 4.3Compare →
Three grade-compatible schools using the same rating model sit within 5 miles, and none rates higher than Waiakea Intermediate School.Public-school ratings. Straight-line distance from this campus. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries; verify the enrollment path with the district.

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

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.

The record

What is on file, and where each number came from.

Questions families ask

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 #35 of 292 schools in HI.

What is Waiakea Intermediate School's MySchoolScout rating?

Waiakea Intermediate School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 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 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

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 facts

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
854
Student-teacher ratio
15.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
55
Type
Regular
Title I
No
Setting
Remote Town
County
Hawaii County
Rank in district
#35 of 292
Schools in district
295
District spending per student
$20,056
NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
10.7%
Census SAIPE · 2024
Area population (ZIP 96720)
50,971
Area average commute
20.2 min
Area median age
42.6

NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24).

Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Hawaii Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.