- Enrollment
- 2,890
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Hilo, HI
Waiakea Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Waiakea Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 150003000051
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 29
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Waiakea Elementary School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Hawaii median.
- #9 of 12
- schools in Hilo · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13.3:1
- students per teacher
- 47.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Waiakea Elementary School has class sizes near the Hawaii median. Computed live against every Hawaii school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Waiakea Elementary School ranks #9 of 12 schools in Hilo, HI.
School address
District: Hawaii Department of Education · Hawaii
NCES ID 150003000051 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-64 students YoY
Waiakea Elementary School shrank from 789 students in 2022-23 to 725 in 2023-24 (-8.1%).
Teacher FTE lost 53.0 → 51.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-64 students YoY 150003000051 · Hilo, HI Other · MID · TRAD
706 enr · 13.3:1 · 47.7% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: James Campbell High School (2,890 students)
Waiakea Elementary School shrank from 789 students in 2022-23 to 725 in 2023-24 (-8.1%). Teacher FTE lost 53.0 → 51.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Hawaii schools → · Find another →
Waiakea Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- James Campbell
James Campbell High School
2,890 students
- Waipahu High S
Waipahu High School
2,538 students
- Mililani High
Mililani High School
2,382 students
- Governor Walla
Governor Wallace Rider Farrington High School
2,094 students
- Moanalua High
Moanalua High School
1,966 students
- This school 706
Waiakea Elementary School
706 students
What this shows Waiakea Elementary School reports 706 students on the CCD universe file.
How Waiakea Elementary School compares
Waiakea Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Hawaii and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Hawaii | Hawaii avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.3:1 | ▼ 6% | 14.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 47.7% | ▲ 19% | 40.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 706 | top 25% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
706
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
47.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 19% 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
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 36% in Hawaii - lower ratio than 64% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
54.1%
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
$20,056
per pupil, district-wide
- above Hawaii avg of $20,056
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 353 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
22
in-school suspensions + 29 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 29.5%
Two or More 28.9%
Hispanic or Latino 23.5%
Asian 14.7%
White 3.4%
Largest group: Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander at 29.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.1, Waiakea Elementary School is more mixed than the Hawaii school average of 69.6.
Programs
District finance for Hawaii Department of Education reports $20,056 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Waiakea 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 | Lower 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 Waiakea Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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.
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
Ernest Bowen Desilva Elementary School
Standard public school
422 students 17.6:1 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
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~706 students)
Frequently asked questions about Waiakea Elementary School
How many students attend Waiakea Elementary School?
Waiakea Elementary School has 706 students enrolled. It is a public school in Hilo, HI. CCD year-over-year: 789 (2022-23) → 725 (2023-24), down 64.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Waiakea Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Waiakea Elementary School is 13.3:1, which is 6% lower than the Hawaii average of 14.1:1 and 15% 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 Waiakea Elementary School?
47.7% of students at Waiakea Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Hawaii average of 40.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Waiakea Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Waiakea Elementary School is Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander at 29.5% of enrollment, in Hilo, HI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Waiakea Elementary School?
Waiakea Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Waiakea Elementary School rank among schools in Hilo?
By Resource Investment Index, Waiakea Elementary School ranks #9 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.
What other schools are in Hawaii Department of Education?
Besides Waiakea 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.