Enrollment
286
Hawaii · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Kailua-Kona, HI
West Hawaii Explorations Academy
Federal NCES profile for West Hawaii Explorations Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 150003000265Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 54
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Hawaii Explorations Academy earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 86% of Hawaii schools.
- #1 of 3
- schools in Kailua-Kona · Resource Index
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.4:1
- small classes for Hawaii
- 31.0%
- free-lunch eligible
West Hawaii Explorations Academy has class sizes smaller than 86% of Hawaii schools. Computed live against every Hawaii school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Hawaii Explorations Academy ranks #1 of 3 schools in Kailua-Kona, HI.
School address
District: Hawaii Department of Education · Hawaii
NCES ID 150003000265 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.4:1
vs 14.1:1 Hawaii avg
-19% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
31.0%
vs 40.0% Hawaii avg
-23% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Hawaii Explorations Academy compares with Hawaii and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Hawaii Explorations Academy
West Hawaii Explorations Academy is a mid-sized charter combined-grade school in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, enrolling 286 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 11.4:1, West Hawaii Explorations Academy is leaner than roughly 86% of Hawaii schools and 19% under the state's 14.1:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 31.0% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 286 puts it in the smaller third of Hawaii schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 90% of the 295 Hawaii schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 41 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Hawaii schools statewide, it ranks #3, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (39%) and Two or More (24%) (diversity index 74/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 28.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Kailua-Kona's public schools, it stands alongside Kealakehe Elementary School (924 students): West Hawaii Explorations Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.4:1 vs 16.8:1).
Hawaii Department of Education also operates James Campbell High School (2,890 students) and Waipahu High School (2,538 students) alongside West Hawaii Explorations Academy.
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 West Hawaii Explorations Academy compares
West Hawaii Explorations Academy on the metrics families compare, against Hawaii and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Hawaii | Hawaii avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.4:1 | ▼ 19% | 14.1:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 31.0% | ▼ 23% | 40.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 286 | top 77% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.4:1
Leaner classes than 80% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
286
Bigger than 30% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
31.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% 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
11.4:1
students per teacher
- 19% below state mean
Top 14% in Hawaii - lower ratio than 86% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
28.0%
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.5 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
White 39.2%
Two or More 24.1%
Hispanic or Latino 17.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 12.6%
Asian 5.6%
African American 0.7%
Largest group: White at 39.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 73.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 73.8, West Hawaii Explorations Academy is more mixed than the Hawaii school average of 69.6.
Programs
AP courses offered 2
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Hawaii Department of Education, which includes West Hawaii Explorations Academy.
$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 West Hawaii Explorations Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Campbell High School | Larger | Similar 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 | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Moanalua High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Hawaii Explorations Academy'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 Kailua-Kona
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~286 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Hawaii Explorations Academy's federal record.
- Compare West Hawaii Explorations Academy 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 West Hawaii Explorations Academy
How many students attend West Hawaii Explorations Academy?
West Hawaii Explorations Academy has 286 students enrolled. It is a public school in Kailua-Kona, HI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Hawaii Explorations Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at West Hawaii Explorations Academy is 11.4:1, which is 19% lower than the Hawaii average of 14.1:1 and 27% 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 West Hawaii Explorations Academy?
31.0% of students at West Hawaii Explorations Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Hawaii average of 40.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Hawaii Explorations Academy?
The largest demographic group at West Hawaii Explorations Academy is White at 39.2% of enrollment, in Kailua-Kona, HI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 73.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Hawaii Explorations Academy?
West Hawaii Explorations Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 51/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does West Hawaii Explorations Academy rank among schools in Kailua-Kona?
By Resource Investment Index, West Hawaii Explorations Academy ranks #1 of 3 schools in Kailua-Kona, HI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Kailua-Kona on the city page.
Is West Hawaii Explorations Academy a good school?
West Hawaii Explorations Academy earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 86% 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 West Hawaii Explorations Academy, 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.