Enrollment
422
Hawaii · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Hilo, HI
Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 150003000027
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 16
📋 Attendance 27
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Hawaii schools.
- #11 of 12
- schools in Hilo · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.6:1
- large classes for Hawaii
- 22.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School has class sizes larger than 93% of Hawaii schools. Computed live against every Hawaii school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School ranks #11 of 12 schools in Hilo, HI.
School address
District: Hawaii Department of Education · Hawaii
NCES ID 150003000027 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
24.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.6:1
vs 14.1:1 Hawaii avg
+25% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
22.8%
vs 40.0% Hawaii avg
-43% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School compares with Hawaii and U.S. medians
What stands out at Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School
Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Hilo, Hawaii, enrolling 422 students.
Class loads run heavy: 17.6:1 is larger than about 93% of Hawaii schools and 25% above the 14.1:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 22.8% of students eligible for free meals.
With 422 students, its enrollment sits close to the Hawaii median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 295 scored Hawaii schools.
Among 53 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Hawaii schools statewide, it ranks #48, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Two or More (36%) and Hispanic or Latino (23%) (diversity index 76/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 422 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 29.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Hilo's public schools, it stands alongside Waiakea Elementary School (706 students): Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17.6:1 vs 13.3:1).
Hawaii Department of Education also operates James Campbell High School (2,890 students) and Waipahu High School (2,538 students) alongside Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School compares
Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Hawaii and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Hawaii | Hawaii avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.6:1 | ▲ 25% | 14.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 22.8% | ▼ 43% | 40.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 422 | top 56% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.6:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
422
Bigger than 51% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
22.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 43% below the Hawaii average of 40.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.6:1
students per teacher
- 25% above state mean
Top 93% in Hawaii - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
29.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,420
per pupil, district-wide
- above Hawaii avg of $17,420
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 422 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Two or More 35.8%
Hispanic or Latino 22.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 15.6%
Asian 14.2%
White 11.6%
Largest group: Two or More at 35.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 76.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 76.2, Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School is more mixed than the Hawaii school average of 69.6.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Hawaii Department of Education, which includes Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School.
$17,420
Per student
+0%
vs Hawaii
Avg $17,420
+5%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 0.8%
State 84.7%
Federal 14.5%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Campbell High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Waipahu High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mililani High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Governor Wallace Rider Farrington High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Moanalua High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,890
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 2,538
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 2,382
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 2,094
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,966
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
Similar other schools in Hilo
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Waiakea Elementary School
Standard public school
706 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Waiakeawaena Elementary School
Standard public school
669 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Hilo Union Elementary School
Standard public school
449 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School
Standard public school
354 students 12.6:1 students per teacher
Connections - New Century Pcs
Standard public school
352 students 12.1:1 students per teacher
Keaukaha Elementary School
Standard public school
341 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Hawaii, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~422 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Hawaii Department of Education's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School
How many students attend Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School?
Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School has 422 students enrolled. It is a public school in Hilo, HI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School is 17.6:1, which is 25% higher than the Hawaii average of 14.1:1 and 12% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School?
22.8% of students at Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Hawaii average of 40.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School is Two or More at 35.8% of enrollment, in Hilo, HI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 76.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School?
Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School rank among schools in Hilo?
By Resource Investment Index, Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School ranks #11 of 12 schools in Hilo, HI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Hilo on the city page.
Is Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School a good school?
Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Hawaii schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Hawaii Department of Education?
Besides Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School, Hawaii Department of Education also operates James Campbell High School (2,890 students), Waipahu High School (2,538 students), and Mililani High School (2,382 students). See the Hawaii Department of Education district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.