By Victoria Budiono

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Hawaii’s public schools are not only bouncing back from the pandemic but also showing consistent academic gains, according to the state Department of Education’s 2024-25 Strive HI Performance System report released Thursday.

The statewide snapshot shows improvements across science, math and language arts, alongside higher attendance and a boost in college enrollment rates.

“These results are a clear signal that Hawai‘i’s public schools are on the rise,” DOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi said in a statement. “Our students are gaining ground in every core subject and more students are showing up to school ready to learn.”

Hayashi said that, building on last year’s gains, Hawaii is on track to achieve academic recovery from the pandemic this year. While not the ultimate goal, that milestone puts the state ahead of many others, reflecting both the hard work in classrooms and the resilience of students. He added the state will continue investing in evidence-based practices and supports that boost student success.

Science proficiency in Hawaii public schools rose two points to 43%, while language arts proficiency increased by one point to 53% and math proficiency climbed one point to 41%. Regular attendance improved to 76%, with gains seen across all student groups. Postsecondary enrollment for the Class of 2024 reached 53%, breaking a four-year plateau, and on-time graduation rates held steady at 86%.

The department said
Hawaii is now the closest of seven states reporting 2024-25 results to fully recovering from pandemic learning loss. Earlier this year, a joint Harvard-Stanford study ranked Hawaii fourth in the nation for math recovery and second for reading recovery since COVID-19 school disruptions.

“Many states have released their assessment
results this year. Some saw improved performance, while others saw declines,” said Scott F. Marion, executive director of the Center for Assessment.

Marion noted that Hawaii students’ consistent progress over the past several years is notable and relatively rare. Hawaii students have now surpassed 2019 proficiency rates in English language arts, and they are approaching 2019 levels in mathematics.

While statewide averages show steady progress, individual campuses highlight how different approaches are driving gains.

Waipahu Intermediate School has posted steady growth over the past three years, with an 11-point jump in language arts, a 5-point gain in math, an 8-point rise in science and a 4-point increase in attendance compared to last year.

Principal Alvan Fukuhara credited the progress to a “whole school effort” that integrates core learning into all classes and expands elective options. The school’s adoption of a pre-academy model aligned with Waipahu High School’s career academies has given students access to electives such as business and marketing, health services and teacher education.

Waianae High School
saw some of the most dramatic gains, with language arts proficiency jumping
20 points — to 46% from 26% — and math climbing 13 points — to 21% from 8%. Principal Ray Pikelny-Cook said the school focused on three core strategies including daily learning targets, academic conversations and formative assessments.

“Our demographics aren’t going to change, so we had to change something we were doing,” Pikelny-Cook said. “I don’t want my teachers to discuss the reasons why we cannot; I want them to discuss the possible ways we can.”