How equitable is school funding in Hawaii?

The average funding equity score for Hawaii school districts is 100 out of 100, compared to the national average of 49. This score considers per-pupil spending, need-adjusted spending, funding source diversity, and student-teacher ratios.

What does the equity score measure?

The equity score (0-100) measures four dimensions: per-pupil spending level, need-adjusted spending (rewarding districts that spend more where poverty is higher), funding diversity (less reliance on local property taxes), and resource access (lower student-teacher ratios).

Hawaii · NCES F-33 finance data

School Funding Equity in Hawaii

1 districts ranked by how equitably school funding is distributed, scored from NCES F-33 school finance data covering districts in all 50 states.

Compiled by PlainSchools Editorial, Independent education-data publisher · June 10, 2026

The equity picture in one line

Hawaii Department of Education ranks first in Hawaii for funding equity at 100/100, in a state whose districts average 100 against a national average of 49.

100/100
top score (Hawaii Department of Education): $17,420
per-pupil spending in the top district: 1
districts scoring 70 or higher: 0
districts below 30

#	District	Enrollment	$/Pupil	Free Lunch	Local Rev %	Score
1	Hawaii Department of Education	170,209	$17,420	40.0%	0.8%	100

How the Equity Score Works

The equity score (0-100) evaluates four dimensions of school funding fairness. According to the National Center for Education Statistics F-33 Finance Survey (FY 2021-22, released in 2024), which covers more than 17,000 districts nationwide, local property wealth drives most of the spending differences the score captures; our methodology documents each weight:

Per-Pupil Spending (0-25)

Higher spending relative to peers

Need-Adjusted Spending (0-25)

Spending weighted by poverty level, rewards districts that spend more where need is greatest

Funding Diversity (0-25)

Less reliance on local property taxes, more state/federal support

Resource Access (0-25)

Lower student-teacher ratios = more individualized attention

National Equity Rankings → ← Back to Hawaii

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.