Enrollment
476
Hawaii · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Honolulu, HI
Kapalama Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Kapalama Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 150003000207
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 52
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Kapalama Elementary School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Hawaii median.
- #44 of 53
- schools in Honolulu · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.2:1
- students per teacher
- 41.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Kapalama Elementary School has class sizes near the Hawaii median. Computed live against every Hawaii school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Kapalama Elementary School ranks #44 of 53 schools in Honolulu, HI.
School address
District: Hawaii Department of Education · Hawaii
NCES ID 150003000207 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
36.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.2:1
vs 14.1:1 Hawaii avg
-6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
41.9%
vs 40.0% Hawaii avg
+5% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Kapalama Elementary School compares with Hawaii and U.S. medians
What stands out at Kapalama Elementary School
Kapalama Elementary School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Honolulu, Hawaii, enrolling 476 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.2:1 puts it in the smaller third of Hawaii schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 41.9% lands close to the Hawaii typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 476 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.
Against 77 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #37.
Its student body is led by Asian (61%) and Two or More (16%) (diversity index 58/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 238 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 42.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Honolulu's public schools, it stands alongside Maemae Elementary School (667 students): Kapalama Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.2:1 vs 16.7:1).
Hawaii Department of Education also operates James Campbell High School (2,890 students) and Waipahu High School (2,538 students) alongside Kapalama 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 Kapalama Elementary School compares
Kapalama 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 | 13.2:1 | ▼ 6% | 14.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 41.9% | ▲ 5% | 40.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 476 | top 47% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.2:1
Leaner classes than 65% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
476
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
41.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 5% above the Hawaii average of 40.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.2:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 33% in Hawaii - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
42.2%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 238 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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
Asian 61.1%
Two or More 15.5%
Hispanic or Latino 12.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 10.5%
White 0.6%
Largest group: Asian at 61.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.7, Kapalama Elementary School is less mixed than the Hawaii school average of 69.6.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Hawaii Department of Education, which includes Kapalama 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 Kapalama Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Campbell High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Waipahu High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mililani High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Governor Wallace Rider Farrington High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Moanalua High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Kapalama 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 Honolulu
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Maemae Elementary School
Standard public school
667 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Moanalua Elementary School
Standard public school
661 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Aliamanu Elementary School
Standard public school
650 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Salt Lake Elementary School
Standard public school
643 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Admiral Chester W Nimitz Elementary School
Standard public school
587 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Makalapa Elementary School
Standard public school
579 students 17:1 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 (~476 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Kapalama Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Kapalama 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 Kapalama Elementary School
How many students attend Kapalama Elementary School?
Kapalama Elementary School has 476 students enrolled. It is a public school in Honolulu, HI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Kapalama Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Kapalama Elementary School is 13.2:1, which is 6% lower than the Hawaii average of 14.1:1 and 16% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Kapalama Elementary School?
41.9% of students at Kapalama Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Hawaii average of 40.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Kapalama Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Kapalama Elementary School is Asian at 61.1% of enrollment, in Honolulu, HI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Kapalama Elementary School?
Kapalama Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (typical 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 Kapalama Elementary School rank among schools in Honolulu?
By Resource Investment Index, Kapalama Elementary School ranks #44 of 53 schools in Honolulu, HI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Honolulu on the city page.
Is Kapalama Elementary School a good school?
Kapalama Elementary School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Hawaii median. 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 Kapalama 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.