The top reported proficiency rate is 71% in Math. The lowest is 62% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on King Kaumualii Elementary School
King Kaumualii Elementary School sits on Hanamaulu Road in Lihue, the government and commercial hub of Kauai. As a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, it is part of the Hawaii Department of Education, the single statewide district that administers all of Hawaii's public schools. The school draws from a community that functions as the island's administrative center, hosting the county building, the island's only commercial airport, its only deep-water port, and the largest shopping center on Kauai. Lihue blends plantation-era history with mid-century suburban spread, and the built environment leans auto-oriented. The Kauai Bus provides island-wide public transit, and the town's civic anchors include the Lihue Public Library and the Kauai Museum.
The school's enrollment sits in a comfortable mid-range for an elementary campus on Kauai. Its student body reflects the island's mixed heritage. Students identifying as two or more races form the largest single group, followed by Asian and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students in roughly similar proportions. A smaller Hispanic population and a small White population round out the demographics. Just over half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, which gives a sense of the economic mix the school serves. Data on English learners and special-education enrollment was not available, so those population sizes are not known here.
Academic results from the most recent state assessments are a clear strength. In math, proficiency rates across third, fourth, and fifth grade all land well above a majority threshold, with fourth grade the strongest performer. English language arts results are solid across the board, with fifth grade posting the highest rate. Science, tested only in fifth grade, also shows a majority of students proficient. Participation was near-universal across every grade and subject, which means these results reflect nearly the entire tested population rather than a self-selected subset. Average scale scores were not reported, so the depth of performance beyond the proficiency cut cannot be characterized here, but the proficiency picture alone is strong.
Multi-year trend data was not available, so it is not possible to say whether these results represent improvement, stability, or decline from prior years. A parent interested in direction over time may want to ask the school directly.
The housing context around the school is demanding. Typical home values in the school's zip code sit far above the national benchmark and modestly above the state-level benchmark, reflecting Kauai's broader cost patterns. The price-to-income ratio is steep, and estimated monthly mortgage costs dwarf estimated rent costs, which means families weighing purchase versus rental face a market where ownership carries a heavy premium. Lihue's steady population growth over recent decades, coupled with its role as the island's commercial draw, sustains pressure on housing. The town's transition from a sugar-plantation economy to one centered on tourism and government has shaped what land is available and how it is used.
Some data layers parents might look for were absent. The school's Title I status was not reported. Information on course offerings, extracurricular programs, staffing ratios, attendance patterns, and discipline was not available in the provided data, so those dimensions of school life are not covered here. Civil-rights data was also not reported. The Hawaii Department of Education district brief returned no specific recent policy, curriculum, or budget changes that would affect this campus in the near term.
What the available picture does show is a solidly performing elementary school in an island hub town, with math results that stand out and literacy and science results that hold their own. The community around it carries real housing-cost pressure and an auto-dependent layout, but also offers civic and cultural resources within reach. For a family weighing this school, the academic evidence is encouraging, and the gaps in the record are the kind a direct conversation with the school's front office can help fill.
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