The top reported proficiency rate is 45% in English language arts. The lowest is 25% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Kealakehe Intermediate School
Kealakehe Intermediate School sits in Kailua-Kona on the west side of Hawaii island, serving grades six through eight as a regular public school in the Hawaii Department of Education. It is part of a cluster of Kealakehe schools in the area, alongside the elementary and high schools, plus Kahakai Elementary. Kailua-Kona is the commercial and tourism center of the island's west side, and the school sits in a community that has grown rapidly over recent decades, transitioning from a small fishing village into a resort and visitor hub. The town's oceanfront core runs along Ali'i Drive, a designated Hawaii Scenic Byway lined with historic sites, shops, and hotels, though the broader area spreads well beyond that walkable strip.
The school's enrollment is moderate for a middle school, with roughly even distribution across the three grade levels. Its student body reflects the character of west Hawaii: the largest group by far is Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students, followed by a substantial Hispanic population, then students of two or more races and Asian students. White students make up a small minority. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on English learners and students with individualized education programs was not available, which leaves a gap in understanding the full scope of student needs. A parent considering this school may want to ask the administration directly about those populations and the services supporting them.
On state assessments from the most recent year, English language arts is the relative bright spot. Across all three grades, approaching half of tested students reached proficiency, with the seventh grade posting the strongest result. Science, tested only in eighth grade under the Hawaii NGSS assessment, landed in a similar range. Mathematics is the softer area. Proficiency rates across the three grades sit well below the English results, with the seventh grade dipping lowest and the eighth grade recovering somewhat. Participation rates were strong across every subject and grade, indicating that nearly all enrolled students were tested. Only one year of data was available, so trend information is absent, and a parent looking for whether these results are improving or declining would need to seek that from the school or the state report card directly.
Because this is a middle school serving grades six through eight, there is no graduation rate to report. That metric applies to high schools, not here. The school does not have a graduation figure because of its grade band.
The housing market in the surrounding zip code is among the more expensive in the state, which itself runs well above the national median. Typical home values sit far above the national figure, and rents have been climbing sharply year over year. The price-to-income ratio is very high, meaning a family buying here would need a large income relative to the purchase price. Rents consume a large portion of typical household income as well. This is the context families face in Kailua-Kona, where tourism and construction have driven a real estate boom and the cost of living is steep.
Several categories where a parent might want more information were not available. No course access data was provided, so the narrative cannot speak to which electives, advanced coursework, or enrichment programs the school offers. Staffing data was absent, meaning class sizes and teacher qualifications are not characterized here. Discipline, attendance, and civil-rights data were also missing. No program offerings were listed. We looked for recent district-level changes through the Hawaii Department of Education but found little of lasting impact to report, so that section was left out rather than filled with generalities. A parent weighing Kealakehe Intermediate would benefit from asking the school directly about its academic support structures, particularly in mathematics, and about the programs and staffing that sit behind these assessment results.
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