Enrollment
827
Hawaii · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Waipahu, HI
Waipahu Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Waipahu Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 150003000159
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 59
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Waipahu Elementary School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 88% of Hawaii schools.
- #4 of 7
- schools in Waipahu · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.2:1
- small classes for Hawaii
- 66.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Waipahu Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 88% of Hawaii schools. Computed live against every Hawaii school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Waipahu Elementary School ranks #4 of 7 schools in Waipahu, HI.
School address
District: Hawaii Department of Education · Hawaii
NCES ID 150003000159 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
74.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.2:1
vs 14.1:1 Hawaii avg
-21% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
66.7%
vs 40.0% Hawaii avg
+67% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Waipahu Elementary School compares with Hawaii and U.S. medians
What stands out at Waipahu Elementary School
Waipahu Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Waipahu, Hawaii, enrolling 827 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 11.2:1, Waipahu Elementary School is leaner than roughly 88% of Hawaii schools and 21% under the state's 14.1:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need is high: 66.7% of students qualify for free meals, 67% above the Hawaii average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 827 puts it in the larger third of Hawaii schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 295 scored Hawaii schools.
Against 23 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #10.
Its student body is led by Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander (43%) and Asian (37%) (diversity index 66/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 207 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 64.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Waipahu's public schools, it stands alongside Hawaii Technology Academy - Pcs (1,924 students): Waipahu Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.2:1 vs 22.1:1).
Hawaii Department of Education also operates James Campbell High School (2,890 students) and Waipahu High School (2,538 students) alongside Waipahu 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 Waipahu Elementary School compares
Waipahu 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 | 11.2:1 | ▼ 21% | 14.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 66.7% | ▲ 67% | 40.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 827 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.2:1
Leaner classes than 82% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
827
Bigger than 86% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
66.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 67% above the Hawaii average of 40.0%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.2:1
students per teacher
- 21% below state mean
Top 12% in Hawaii - lower ratio than 88% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
64.0%
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 207 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.8 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
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 43.3%
Asian 36.6%
Two or More 9.9%
Hispanic or Latino 9.7%
White 0.2%
African American 0.2%
Largest group: Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander at 43.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.9, Waipahu 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 Waipahu 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 Waipahu 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 | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Moanalua High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Waipahu 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 Waipahu
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Hawaii Technology Academy - Pcs
Standard public school
1,924 students 22.1:1 students per teacher
August Ahrens Elementary School
Standard public school
1,152 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Kanoelani Elementary School
Standard public school
735 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Kaleiopuu Elementary School
Standard public school
727 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Honowai Elementary School
Standard public school
568 students 12.6:1 students per teacher
Waikele Elementary School
Standard public school
515 students 15.1:1 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 (~827 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Waipahu Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Waipahu 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 Waipahu Elementary School
How many students attend Waipahu Elementary School?
Waipahu Elementary School has 827 students enrolled. It is a public school in Waipahu, HI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Waipahu Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Waipahu Elementary School is 11.2:1, which is 21% lower than the Hawaii average of 14.1:1 and 29% 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 Waipahu Elementary School?
66.7% of students at Waipahu Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Hawaii average of 40.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Waipahu Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Waipahu Elementary School is Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander at 43.3% of enrollment, in Waipahu, HI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Waipahu Elementary School?
Waipahu Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Waipahu Elementary School rank among schools in Waipahu?
By Resource Investment Index, Waipahu Elementary School ranks #4 of 7 schools in Waipahu, HI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Waipahu on the city page.
Is Waipahu Elementary School a good school?
Waipahu Elementary School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 88% 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 Waipahu 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.