Big Island High Schools Among ‘Most Improved’

Four Big Island high schools have significantly boosted student performance in benchmark test scores, according to the Hawai`i State Department of Education.

Based on the 2014 Hawai`i State Assessment Bridge tests, which rate student proficiency in reading and math using a “1% to 100%” scale, Hilo High School student test scores in math proficiency increased from 25% to 40% year-over-year.

Honoka`a High and Intermediate School students saw significant improvements in reading proficiency, with test scores increasing from 59% to 69% from 2013 to 2014.

Meanwhile, students from two other Big Island high schools managed much improved performance on their 11th grade ACT “College Readiness Benchmarks.”

Konawaena High School students ACT scores increased from 24% to 32% year-over-year, while Kohala High School students ACT scores improved from 13% to 23% from 2013 to 2014.

Another island school, West Hawai`i Explorations Academy, was among the top-scoring charter schools to take the ACT test in 2014, with an average score of 45%.

Graduation Rates and College Attendance Improve

Pahoa High School graduation rates increased from 82% to 89% from 2013 to 2014, while Konawaena High School “grad” rates improved from 79% to 86% year-over-year.

Laupahoehoe Community Public Charter School, meanwhile, was ranked among the highest graduation rates for charter schools, at 87%. The Hawai`i Academy of Arts and Sciences was among the most-improved charter schools when it came to graduation rates, managing an increase from 68% to 85% from 2013 to 2014.

Waiakea High School had one of the highest college attendance rates in the state of Hawai`i, with 78% of its students moving on to higher education settings after graduation.

Hawai`i Tech Academy improved its college attendance rates significantly, from 50% to 70% year-over-year, while Connections Charter School saw college attendance increase from 40% in 2013 to 59% in 2014.