The top reported proficiency rate is 68% in Science. The lowest is 50% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Makawao Elementary School
Makawao Elementary School sits in the upcountry town of Makawao on Maui, serving students from prekindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Hawaii Department of Education. It is a regular public school on Baldwin Avenue, and its enrollment places it in the mid-range for an elementary school on the island. The student body reflects the plural character of the community itself. Hispanic students form the largest group, followed closely by students identifying as two or more races. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students and White students each make up a comparable portion of the school. A small share of students identify as Asian. More than half the school qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, which gives a sense of the economic range within the families it serves. Data on English learners and students receiving special education services was not available, so those population figures are left out here rather than approximated.
On state assessments, Makawao Elementary shows a pattern that many parents will find encouraging. Proficiency in both math and English language arts climbs steadily from third grade through fifth grade. Third graders post modest results in both subjects, with fewer than half meeting proficiency in language arts. By fifth grade, proficiency in both math and language arts reaches a comfortably higher level, and fifth-grade science proficiency stands out as a particular strength, with a clear majority of tested students demonstrating proficiency on the Hawaii Science Assessment aligned to Next Generation Science Standards. The combined proficiency across all tested grades sits near the midpoint for language arts and somewhat above that for math, with science the strongest area. Participation rates are essentially full across every grade and subject tested. Only one year of assessment data was available, so there is no trend to report; a parent may want to ask the school how results have moved over time. Average scale scores were not reported, which limits a deeper read of where students cluster within and below proficiency.
Makawao as a place carries a distinct identity. The town sits on the slopes of Haleakala, with the Makawao Forest Reserve to the east and a civic landscape anchored by the Makawao Public Library. The Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center, publicly reported as offering classes and free gallery exhibits, gives families a nearby cultural resource. The annual Makawao Rodeo on Fourth of July weekend, a long-running upcountry tradition with a parade and rodeo competitions, reflects the paniolo heritage of the area. The Sacred Garden of Maliko is another local destination. No public transit system appears in available sources, which means getting to and from school and activities depends on private transportation.
The housing market in the school's zip code is expensive by any standard benchmark. Home values sit well above the state median and far above national figures, and the price-to-income ratio is steep. Estimated monthly mortgage costs substantially exceed typical rent, and rent itself consumes a large share of median household income. Home values in the zip code have eased slightly year over year, while state and national benchmarks have moved in different directions, but the overall cost picture remains demanding for families considering a move into the attendance area. Rental data was not available for this zip code, so a complete rental comparison could not be drawn.
The Hawaii Department of Education, the statewide district that governs Makawao Elementary, had no specific recent policy changes, curriculum reforms, referenda, or budget actions surfaced in the available search. That does not mean nothing is happening; it means nothing of broad parent relevance was found to report here. A parent wanting current district-level initiatives would do well to check directly with the school or the department.
For a family weighing Makawao Elementary, the academic picture is one of a school where the upper elementary grades produce stronger results than the lower ones, where science is a bright spot, and where participation in testing is near-universal. The community is culturally rich and rooted in upcountry Maui tradition. The cost of living is high, and transportation options are limited to private vehicles. The missing data on special populations and trend lines means some questions remain open, and asking the school directly is the right next step.
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