DOE: Strive HI Results Show Improvement

Hawai’i public and public charter schools showed improvements in the 2014-15 Strive HI Performance System, based on results announced by the Hawai’i State Department of Education on Tuesday.

Schools in Hawai’i are rated in four areas as indicators for success, including achievement, growth, readiness, and the achievement gap.

Seven schools in the state moved to the top-tier “Recognition” status by meeting or exceeding performance targets.

Twenty additional schools, including seven on the Big Island, were pulled out of the lower “Focus” tier by improving their index scores and/or reducing their achievement gap in half.

Hawai’i Academy of Arts & Sciences, Hilo High, Konawaena Middle, Laupahoehoe Commuity Public Charter School, Waiakea Elementary, Waiakea High, and West Hawai’i Explorations Academy PCS are among the schools to have gained recent momentum, improving index scores and cutting the achievement gap.

“Schools are doing an excellent job of looking at all of the different indicators and making strategic changes to make an impact for their students,” said Deputy Superintendent Stephen Schatz. “We are especially pleased to see our increases in ACT scores, as it means more and more of our students are prepared for the rigor of college.”

Eleventh grade ACT scores were up by three points, meaning that 374 more students in the 2016 graduating class are already ready for college as they complete their senior year. Hawai’i Academy of Arts and Sciences was the lone Big Island school to make the top scores list, while Pahoa Intermediate & High, Kea’au High, and Kohala High were among the most improved.

“The data shows that as a state, our schools are maintaining recent gains, and the Strive HI reports provide important feedback to our schools and the state offices to support our students’ success,” said Tammi Oyadomari-Chun, Assistant Superintendent, Office of Strategy, Innovation, and Performance.

E.B. de Silva Elementary School was ranked as one of the Outstanding Strive HI Schools with a score of 349 out of 400.

Big Island Schools listed as most improved in science include Honaunau Elementary, Naalehu Elementary, and West Hawai’i Explorations. Kohala High was ranked as one of the top growing schools in English language arts, and Ka Umeke Kaeo was ranked on the same list as one of the most improved.

In the mathematics category, several Big Island schools made the most improved list, including Paauilo Elementary & Intermediate, Ehunuikaimalino, Ka Umeke Kaeo, and Kona Pacific Public Charter School.

Eighth graders taking the ACT Explore test on the Big Island at Innovations Public Charter School, Kona Pacific Public Charter School, Waikoloa Elementary & Middle, and Volcano School were among the top scorers, while Innovations Public Charter School, Volcano School, Kona Pacific Public Charter School, and Nawahiokalaniopuu Iki test scores were among those ranked as most improved.

On-time graduation rates across the state were at 82 percent. West Hawai’i Explorations, Ehunuikaimalino, Kohala High, and Connections Public Charter School were the Big Island schools who had improved the most.

Waiakea High made the top college-going rate, the lone Big Island school to make the list. Four Big Island schools also improved in their rates: Ehunuikaimalino, West Hawai’i Explorations, Kealakehe High, and Hawai’i Academy of Arts & Sciences.

Statewide, 62 percent of high school graduates are enrolled in college within 16 months of graduation.