- Enrollment
- 2,890
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Hilo, HI
Waiakea High School
Federal NCES profile for Waiakea High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 150003000052
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 61
📋 Attendance 32
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Waiakea High School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of Hawaii schools.
- #5 of 16
- public schools in Hilo · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.4:1
- large classes for Hawaii
- 33.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Waiakea High School has class sizes larger than 73% of Hawaii schools. Computed live against every Hawaii school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Waiakea High School ranks #5 of 16 public schools in Hilo, HI.
School address
District: Hawaii Department of Education · Hawaii
NCES ID 150003000052 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-80 students YoY
Waiakea High School shrank from 1,297 students in 2022-23 to 1,217 in 2023-24 (-6.2%).
Teacher FTE held 77.0 → 77.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-80 students YoY 150003000052 · Hilo, HI High · MID · TRAD
1,183 enr · 15.4:1 · 33.9% lunch · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: James Campbell High School (2,890 students)
Waiakea High School shrank from 1,297 students in 2022-23 to 1,217 in 2023-24 (-6.2%). Teacher FTE held 77.0 → 77.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Hawaii schools → · Find another →
Waiakea High 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
Waiakea High School
1,183 students
What this shows Waiakea High School reports 1,183 students on the CCD universe file.
How Waiakea High School compares
Waiakea High 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 | 15.4:1 | ▲ 9% | 14.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 33.9% | ▼ 15% | 40.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,183 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,183
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
33.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 15% 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
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 73% in Hawaii - lower ratio than 27% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
27.4%
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
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 197 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 64 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 26.0%
Hispanic or Latino 23.9%
Two or More 20.5%
Asian 20.4%
White 8.6%
African American 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander at 26.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 78.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 78.4, Waiakea High School is more mixed than the Hawaii school average of 69.6.
Programs
AP courses offered 9
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 High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Campbell High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Waipahu High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mililani High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Governor Wallace Rider Farrington High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Moanalua High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Waiakea High 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 high schools in Hilo
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~1,183 students)
Frequently asked questions about Waiakea High School
How many students attend Waiakea High School?
Waiakea High School has 1,183 students enrolled. It is a high school in Hilo, HI. CCD year-over-year: 1,297 (2022-23) → 1,217 (2023-24), down 80.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Waiakea High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Waiakea High School is 15.4:1, which is 9% higher than the Hawaii average of 14.1:1 and 2% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Waiakea High School?
33.9% of students at Waiakea High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Hawaii average of 40.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Waiakea High School?
The largest demographic group at Waiakea High School is Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander at 26.0% of enrollment, in Hilo, HI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 78.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Waiakea High School?
Waiakea High School has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (typical 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 High School rank among public schools in Hilo?
By Resource Investment Index, Waiakea High School ranks #5 of 16 public 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 public schools in Hilo on the city page.
What other schools are in Hawaii Department of Education?
Besides Waiakea High 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.