Public School Rankings

Thought this was worthy of mentioning here, especially since it's been awhile since I posted. The May 2003 issue of Honolulu Magazine has rated 256 public schools in Hawai`i based on surveys and Hawai`i DOE results.

Top Five Elementary Schools:
Noelani Elementary
'Aina Haina Elementary
'Aikahi Elementary
Nu'uanu Elementary
Momilani Elementary

Top Five Intermediate/Middle Schools:
Kaimuki Middle
Kawananakoa Middle
Mililani Middle
Moanalua Middle
Kona Waena Middle

Top Five High Schools:
Moanalua High
Roosevelt High
Baldwin High
Kaiser High
Mililani High

You can pick up a magazine for all the results (none of their articles are available on their website) and I assume you can go to the DOE site for more detailed info. Interestingly, I graduated from Waipahu High which ranked as a BOTTOM five high school. I really wasn't surprized.

Comments

Ah, the Hawaii public school education. They did an excellent job of crushing my idealism and childhood potential into a tiny ball of bitter cynicism and apathy.

I'm still confused as to why my school isn't on that list. I had some inspirational teachers that did a wonderful job in completely destroying my desire to achieve.

I guess my dad was right.

"Why you no get one job already? You only go school for lunch anyway."

I went to public school, and turned out completely normal.

I went to public school, and turned out completely normal.

I haven't gotten my copy of Honolulu Magazine yet, but have been hearing a lot about the issue. An interesting idea, but probably one that will annoy more people than educate.

And Mililani High in the top five? Hmm. It was a good school, to be sure, but if it's in fact near the top of the scale? I have to rework my impression of the school system.

I went to public school, and turned out completely normal.

Completely normal.

Hmmn, interesting. My elementary school (Nu'uanu) made the top 5. Interestingly, the middle school I should have gone to (Kawananakoa) and the high school I should have gone to (Roosevelt) are also on the list (mind you this is over 20 years ago so things have probably changed). But I didn't go to those schools. My parents (rightly or wrongly we'll never know) didn't think public education would be good enough and sent me to private. And honestly, having experienced enough "kill haole days" in elementary, I was more than happy to go to a private! :)

I don't know about this survey gang...did you see how they ranked everyone? The first three percentage scores were based upon whether teachers, students and parents agreed with the statements: "I would send my own child to this school", "If I could I would go to a different public school", and "I would recommend my child's school to other parents." The rest of the survey included percentages of students whose proficiency meets or exceeds Hawaii Content and Performance Standards in reading and math but other than that, it appears to be based on opinions and not facts. In a nutshell, a good chunk of this public school ranking was based on just asking people "Do you like this school or not?"

And for the record, I am kinda upset that Maui High School got ranked 164th. It's a better school than that.

However they are ranked, this (from the Advertiser) is bad news:

5 children arrested at O'ahu schools

Honolulu police have arrested five children 12 years or younger on suspicion of felony offenses committed at O'ahu schools since April 24. The cases include allegations of second-degree assault, third-degree sex assault and first-degree terroristic threatening.

Kids on Oahu get arrested everyday for assault and terroristic threatening. Surprised it made it into the newspaper. Third degree sex assault is fondling under the clothes I believe. How can you arrest a child younger than 12 for that? Do they even know what they're doing at that age? Must be more to the story than that.

Albert: note that the Advertiser's article simply says these offenses were at O'ahu schools, and doesn't specify whether they were public or private. Since this thread is about public schools, I thought it important to note that there are violent kids in private schools, too -- until the private schools expel them so the public school system has to deal with them.

i went to aikahi elem. and i am not suprised that it made top 5! i love that school and i have very fond memories of my childhood there! they have some really good teachers and i never had a teacher that i didnt like. i went there from 2nd grade through 6th. and there is nothing i can complain about the school! way to go Aikahi!!!

Good grief!

Boy, 6, arrested in assault case

Police on Monday arrested a 6-year-old boy on suspicion that he sexually assaulted another boy in the restroom of a Leeward O'ahu school.

[Maybe I should just stop looking at the "Police Beat" entry on the Advertiser's website in the afternoon's late-breaking stories.]

SIX YEARS OLD? I surely was a late developer. :)

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