Pāhoa High and Intermediate School earns National Schools of Distinction award

Pāhoa High and Intermediate School was named a 2026 “School of Distinction” by the Association for Middle Level Education, placing it among 39 schools nationwide recognized this year for excellence in middle-grades education.

Aiea Intermediate, ʻīao Intermediate, Niu Valley Middle and Pāhoa High & Intermediate schools were selected through the association’s rigorous Schools of Distinction program, which evaluates how schools apply research-based practices to support students during the middle grades.

The program focuses on five characteristics of effective middle-level schools: being responsive, challenging, empowering, equitable and engaging.

Schools seeking the distinction complete a schoolwide assessment and submit a continuous improvement plan based on more than five decades of research on middle-level education.
Hawai‘i Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi said the recognition reflects the work educators are doing to create supportive school communities.

“The recognition is a powerful statement that our school leaders and teachers are creating learning environments where every student feels like they belong,” Hayashi said.

“These thriving school communities are rooted in aloha and driven by purpose, guiding students on a path to achieve their full potential.”

Pāhoa High & Intermediate School, Grounded in traditional Hawaiian values, serves as a “kīpuka” of safety and learning for its diverse rural community. Student-developed dress and school ID policies empower students through voice and choice.

Serving as a stable “home base,” traditions like the annual Trunk or Treat and Hoʻolauleʻa welcome families to build strong pilina with staff and thrive together.

Pāhoa High & Intermediate Principal Kim Williamson said the honor recognizes ongoing efforts by the school’s staff to strengthen its support for students and families.

“Earning the recognition of the AMLE is a testament to the hard work of the staff of Pāhoa High and Intermediate School,” Williamson said.

“We are always working to grow and support our community, and earning the School of Distinction is an endorsement of the changes we have made and will continue to make for our students and families.”

The four schools bring the number of Hawai‘i public schools receiving the national designation since 2023 to nine. Hawai‘i has earned more Schools of Distinction honors than any other state during that period.

The 2026 honorees will be recognized and have an opportunity to present their work at AMLE26, the Association for Middle Level Education’s 53rd annual conference, scheduled for November in Nashville.

Click here for more information about the Schools of Distinction program, which is available from the Association for Middle Level Education.