Enrollment
669
Hawaii · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Hilo, HI
Waiakeawaena Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Waiakeawaena Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 150003000054
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 33
📋 Attendance 22
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Waiakeawaena Elementary School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Hawaii median.
- #5 of 12
- schools in Hilo · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.1:1
- students per teacher
- 41.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Waiakeawaena Elementary School has class sizes near the Hawaii median. Computed live against every Hawaii school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Waiakeawaena Elementary School ranks #5 of 12 schools in Hilo, HI.
School address
District: Hawaii Department of Education · Hawaii
NCES ID 150003000054 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
51.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.1:1
vs 14.1:1 Hawaii avg
-7% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
41.7%
vs 40.0% Hawaii avg
+4% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Waiakeawaena Elementary School compares with Hawaii and U.S. medians
What stands out at Waiakeawaena Elementary School
Waiakeawaena Elementary School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Hilo, Hawaii, enrolling 669 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of Hawaii schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 41.7% lands close to the Hawaii typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 669 puts it in the larger third of Hawaii schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 295 scored Hawaii schools.
Against 78 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #39.
Its student body is led by Two or More (34%) and Hispanic or Latino (27%) (diversity index 74/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 335 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 31.2% 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): Waiakeawaena Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.1:1 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 Waiakeawaena 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 Waiakeawaena Elementary School compares
Waiakeawaena 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 | 13.1:1 | ▼ 7% | 14.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 41.7% | ▲ 4% | 40.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 669 | top 29% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.1:1
Leaner classes than 66% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
669
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
41.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 4% 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
13.1:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 32% in Hawaii - lower ratio than 68% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
31.2%
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 335 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.8 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 34.1%
Hispanic or Latino 27.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 23.2%
Asian 12.0%
White 3.4%
African American 0.1%
Largest group: Two or More at 34.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 74.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 74.0, Waiakeawaena 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 Waiakeawaena 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 Waiakeawaena 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 Waiakeawaena 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
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
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 (~669 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Waiakeawaena Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Waiakeawaena 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 Waiakeawaena Elementary School
How many students attend Waiakeawaena Elementary School?
Waiakeawaena Elementary School has 669 students enrolled. It is a public school in Hilo, HI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Waiakeawaena Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Waiakeawaena Elementary School is 13.1:1, which is 7% lower than the Hawaii average of 14.1:1 and 17% 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 Waiakeawaena Elementary School?
41.7% of students at Waiakeawaena Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Hawaii average of 40.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Waiakeawaena Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Waiakeawaena Elementary School is Two or More at 34.1% of enrollment, in Hilo, HI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 74.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Waiakeawaena Elementary School?
Waiakeawaena Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (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 Waiakeawaena Elementary School rank among schools in Hilo?
By Resource Investment Index, Waiakeawaena Elementary School ranks #5 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 Waiakeawaena Elementary School a good school?
Waiakeawaena Elementary School earns 33/100 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 Waiakeawaena 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.