Public schools in Hilo, HI
16 open public schools with an address in Hilo, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
16
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
7,933
16 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.3:1
Hawaii median 14.1:1
Charter schools
4
0 virtual
An overview of Hilo public schools
The federal directory lists 16 public schools in Hilo, HI: 8 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high, 3 combined or other. The 16 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 7,933 students, an average of 496 per school. The largest campus is Waiakea High School (1,183 students), and the largest elementary school is Waiakea Elementary School (706).
Every listed school belongs to Hawaii Department of Education. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 14.3:1, similar to the statewide school median of 14.1:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 4 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 5 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 5 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 53% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Hilo
Elementary schools in Hilo
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School Hawaii Department of Education | PK–06 | 354 | 14.2:1 | |
| Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School Hawaii Department of Education | PK–06 | 422 | 18.3:1 | |
| Haaheo Elementary School Hawaii Department of Education | PK–06 | 122 | 11.1:1 | |
| Hilo Union Elementary School Hawaii Department of Education | PK–06 | 449 | 12:1 | |
| Kaumana Elementary School Hawaii Department of Education | PK–06 | 238 | 15.9:1 | |
| Keaukaha Elementary School Hawaii Department of Education | PK–06 | 341 | 12.2:1 | |
| Waiakea Elementary School Hawaii Department of Education | PK–05 | 706 | 15:1 | |
| Waiakeawaena Elementary School Hawaii Department of Education | PK–05 | 669 | 12.9:1 |
Middle schools in Hilo
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilo Intermediate School Hawaii Department of Education | 07–08 | 560 | 14.4:1 | |
| Waiakea Intermediate School Hawaii Department of Education | 06–08 | 857 | 15.4:1 |
High schools in Hilo
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilo High School Hawaii Department of Education | 09–12 | 1,170 | 15.8:1 | |
| Ke Ana Laahana - PCS Hawaii Department of Education · Charter | 07–12 | 33 | 8.3:1 | |
| Waiakea High School Hawaii Department of Education | 09–12 | 1,183 | 15.4:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Hilo
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connections - New Century PCS Hawaii Department of Education · Charter | KG–12 | 352 | 11.9:1 | |
| Ka Umeke Kaeo - PCS Hawaii Department of Education · Charter | PK–12 | 292 | 12.7:1 | |
| Kua o ka La - NCPCS Hawaii Department of Education · Charter | PK–09 | 185 | 14.8:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White6.7%
- Hispanic25%
- Black0.2%
- Asian12.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander32.1%
- Multiracial23.8%
Enrollment-weighted across 16 Hilo schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (7,933 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Hilo
How many public schools are in Hilo, HI?
The current NCES directory lists 16 open public schools with a location address in Hilo: 8 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high, 3 combined or other. Together they reported 7,933 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Hilo?
All listed public schools with an address in Hilo belong to Hawaii Department of Education. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Hilo?
Waiakea High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Hilo, with 1,183 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Hilo?
Yes. 4 of the 16 public schools in Hilo are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Connections - New Century PCS, Ka Umeke Kaeo - PCS, Ke Ana Laahana - PCS. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Hilo schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Hilo public schools is 14.3:1, similar to the Hawaii school median of 14.1:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Hilo guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Hawaii cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Hawaii cities