Hawaii Department of Education operates 290 schools (grades PK–12). Individual school names, addresses, and attendance zone boundaries are available directly from the district.
| Metric | Hawaii Department of Education | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 180,000 | 3,700 | Much larger than avg |
| Number of Schools | 290 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $14,000/yr | $13,700/yr | ≈ Near avg |
| District Type | Suburban | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 8/10 — Good | — | Above average |
- Ewa Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 1,226 students
- Kealakehe Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 924 students
- Keoneula Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 900 students
- Kapaa Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 844 students
- Keaau Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 829 students
- Kahului Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 795 students
- Puu Kukui Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 750 students
- Elsie H Wilcox Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 743 students
- Kihei Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 727 students
- Hookele Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 717 students
- Waiakea Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 706 students
- Ewa Beach Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 701 students
- Sergeant Samuel K Solomon Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 681 students
- Kapolei Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 673 students
- Waiakeawaena Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 669 students
- Maemae Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 667 students
- Mililani Uka Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 658 students
- Mililani Waena Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 642 students
- Lihikai Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 632 students
- Mililani Mauka Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 623 students
- Major Sheldon Wheeler Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 598 students
- Daniel K Inouye Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 591 students
- Waihee Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 572 students
- Waikiki Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 553 students
- Wailuku Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 550 students
- + 66 more elementary schools
- Mililani Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 1,635 students
- Ewa Makai Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 1,221 students
- Waipahu Intermediate School — Grades 7–8 · 1,113 students
- Kaimuki Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 1,019 students
- Maui Waena Intermediate School — Grades 6–8 · 1,015 students
- Samuel Enoka Kalama Intermediate School — Grades 6–8 · 944 students
- King David Kalakaua Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 900 students
- Iao Intermediate School — Grades 6–8 · 893 students
- Waiakea Intermediate School — Grades 6–8 · 857 students
- Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 826 students
- Highlands Intermediate School — Grades 7–8 · 824 students
- Honouliuli Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 793 students
- Niu Valley Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 786 students
- Moanalua Middle School — Grades 7–8 · 768 students
- Aliamanu Middle School — Grades 7–8 · 755 students
- Kailua Intermediate School — Grades 7–8 · 749 students
- Waianae Intermediate School — Grades 7–8 · 745 students
- Major Sheldon Wheeler Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 729 students
- Kapolei Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 727 students
- Ilima Intermediate School — Grades 7–8 · 725 students
- Keaau Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 696 students
- Wahiawa Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 694 students
- Kealakehe Intermediate School — Grades 6–8 · 677 students
- Konawaena Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 614 students
- Prince David Kawananakoa Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 602 students
- + 17 more middle schools
- James Campbell High School — Grades 9–12 · 2,890 students
- Waipahu High School — Grades 9–12 · 2,538 students
- Mililani High School — Grades 9–12 · 2,382 students
- Governor Wallace Rider Farrington High School — Grades 9–12 · 2,094 students
- Moanalua High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,966 students
- Kapolei High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,836 students
- Maui High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,725 students
- Waianae High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,551 students
- Leilehua High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,521 students
- Pearl City High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,481 students
- Kalani High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,455 students
- Kealakehe High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,401 students
- President Theodore Roosevelt High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,336 students
- Henry Perrine Baldwin High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,266 students
- President William McKinley High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,245 students
- Admiral Arthur W Radford High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,227 students
- King Kekaulike High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,217 students
- Waiakea High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,183 students
- Hilo High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,170 students
- Henry J Kaiser High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,073 students
- Keaau High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,041 students
- Kauai High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,016 students
- Kapaa High School — Grades 9–12 · 1,005 students
- Castle High School — Grades 9–12 · 997 students
- Konawaena High School — Grades 9–12 · 955 students
- + 10 more high schools
- Hawaii Technology Academy - PCS — Grades K–12 · 1,924 students
- Kahuku High & Intermediate School — Grades 7–12 · 1,433 students
- August Ahrens Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 1,152 students
- Holomua Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 1,107 students
- Nanakuli High & Intermediate School — Grades 7–12 · 928 students
- Kamaile Academy PCS — Grades PK–12 · 919 students
- Waipahu Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 827 students
- Mokapu Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 805 students
- Leihoku Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 756 students
- Pahoa High & Intermediate School — Grades 7–12 · 745 students
- Hawaii Academy of Arts & Science PCS — Grades K–12 · 738 students
- Kanoelani Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 735 students
- Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School — Grades PK–8 · 732 students
- Kaleiopuu Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 727 students
- Ka Waihona o ka Naauao - PCS — Grades K–8 · 707 students
- Kanu o ka Aina - New Century PCS — Grades K–12 · 696 students
- Honokaa High & Intermediate School — Grades 7–12 · 695 students
- Nanaikapono Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 688 students
- Kaimiloa Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 677 students
- Kihei Charter School — Grades K–12 · 670 students
- Laie Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 662 students
- Moanalua Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 661 students
- Aliamanu Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 650 students
- Salt Lake Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 643 students
- Maili Elementary School — Grades PK–6 · 609 students
- + 103 more other schools
About Hawaii Department of Education
ZIP 96821 in Honolulu, Hawaii in Honolulu County falls within the boundaries of Hawaii Department of Education. Its 8/10 rating sits above the typical Hawaii district on the funding and enrollment measures NCES reports. The district operates 290 schools and serves roughly 180,000 students (one of the larger districts in the state), covering Pre-K – 12th. Review the funding and enrollment data above, then contact the district to confirm which schools serve your exact address before you commit to a move.
Funding and Resources
According to NCES 2024–2025, Hawaii Department of Education spends approximately $14,000 per student per year, placing it 15% below the Hawaii state average of approximately $16,500 and near the national average nationally (U.S. average: $13,700/year). Near-average districts typically provide core academic programs with adequate staffing, though program breadth may be more limited than in higher-funded systems. Per-pupil spending directly affects teacher compensation, class sizes, elective course offerings, technology access, and the depth of student support services — making it one of the most meaningful structural indicators of district capacity.
District Scale and Program Breadth
At 290 schools serving grades Pre-K – 12th, Hawaii Department of Education qualifies as a major metropolitan district serving students from Pre-K – 12th. The district enrolls approximately 180,000 students in total. Major metropolitan districts operate dozens to hundreds of schools across wide geographic areas. They often include magnet schools, gifted programs, dual-language academies, and career and technical education pathways not available in smaller systems. Within-district quality variation is significant: a school two miles from your address might be rated very differently from your assigned school.
Understanding the 8/10 Rating
With a rating of 8/10 (above average), Hawaii Department of Education ranks among Hawaii’s above average-rated school systems. Our ratings are built from NCES Common Core of Data and measure structural factors: per-pupil expenditure, student-teacher ratio, enrollment stability, and school count. They do not incorporate test scores or graduation rates, which are not consistently available across all 13,500+ US districts in the NCES dataset.
Hawaii Department of Education earns an above-average rating, reflecting stronger-than-typical resource levels and stable enrollment trends for Hawaii. Above-average districts generally offer solid program variety, adequate staffing, and a track record of organizational stability. Families considering this area will find a district with meaningful strengths. Research the specific schools assigned to your address — even above-average districts have variation between individual buildings.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 96821
Children in zip code 96821 are assigned to Hawaii Department of Education for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K – 12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 96821, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Hawaii Department of Education at (808)586-3310 or visit doe.k12.hi.us. Typical enrollment documents include proof of address, a government-issued birth certificate, immunization records, and any existing school records or IEP documentation. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Hawaii districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Honolulu
For families considering a purchase in the Honolulu area, district assignment matters financially. Because Hawaii Department of Education serves zip code 96821, homes in and around zip code 96821 often carry a measurable premium over comparable properties in adjacent lower-rated districts. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Hawaii, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Hawaii Department of Education programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 96821.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Hawaii Department of Education before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 96821 data.