The top reported proficiency rate is 64% in Science. The lowest is 57% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hanalei Elementary School
Hanalei Elementary School sits in the heart of Hanalei, a small north-shore Kauaʻi town reached by a historic one-lane bridge over the Hanalei River. The school serves pre-kindergarten through sixth grade and is part of the Hawaii Department of Education, the single statewide district that administers all of Hawaiʻi's public schools. Enrollment is small, with roughly two dozen students per grade level, which gives the school an intimate feel. The student body reflects the mixed character of the community: white students make up the largest single group, about half, while a substantial portion identify as two or more races. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students and Hispanic students each form a meaningful share, and a small number of Asian students round out the enrollment. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on English learners and students receiving special-education services was not reported, so those population sizes are unknown here.
On state assessments, Hanalei Elementary's youngest tested students stand out. Third graders posted strong proficiency in both math and English language arts, with most students meeting or exceeding standards. Fourth and fifth graders continued to perform well in English language arts, with a solid majority proficient, and fifth-grade science results were also strong on the Hawaii Science Assessment. The clearest soft spot is in the upper grades. Sixth-grade proficiency dropped sharply in both math and English language arts, falling well below the levels seen in third and fourth grade. Math results across the tested grades showed a gradual decline from third through sixth, and the sixth-grade numbers in both subjects are the weakest the school reports. A parent weighing this school for an upper-elementary child may want to look into how the school supports academic transition in those later grades and what drives the drop-off. Only one year of assessment data was available, so there is no trend to show whether this pattern is consistent or a one-year snapshot.
The town itself is compact and rooted. Hanalei Center and Ching Young Village hold the shops, galleries, and dining that line Kūhiō Highway, and the Hanalei Pier at the bay has long been a gathering place for fishing, swimming, and music. Taro farms in the Hanalei Valley surround the town, and the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge sits nearby, though it is closed to the public. The community has seen minimal growth and a slight population decline over recent census cycles. Development is constrained by geography, narrow roads, and land-use designations that protect agricultural and refuge lands. Most visitor lodging sits in the adjacent Princeville resort area rather than in Hanalei proper, which preserves the town's low-key residential character. We searched for major employer data and found none, but the local economy runs on small visitor-serving businesses, taro farming, and the nearby Princeville resort complex.
Housing here is expensive even by Hawaiʻi standards. Typical home values in the school's zip code run far above the state benchmark and multiples above the national figure, and the estimated monthly mortgage on a typical home is substantial. Rent data was not available for this area. The price-to-income ratio is very high, which means buying a home requires considerable income relative to most mainland markets. Recent values have come down somewhat year over year, but the cost of living remains a defining feature of the area.
After sixth grade, students from Hanalei and the entire north shore commute south to Kapaʻa for middle and high school. That is a meaningful transition, as the next campus is a separate community some miles away rather than a neighboring school in town. Families considering Hanalei Elementary should think about both the tight-knit early-grade environment the school provides and the commute and adjustment that follow when their children age out.
We looked for district-level changes that might affect families, such as policy shifts, curriculum updates, or budget actions from the Hawaii Department of Education, and found little specific to report. No neighbor comparison data was available for positioning this school against nearby schools, and data on staffing, attendance, discipline, course access, and Title I status was not provided, so those dimensions could not be assessed.
See more original research from School Decision →