Hawaii
U.S.
Rank
Rank
#31
Overall PPI Score: 65.1%
Parent power in the land of Aloha is limited, with little growth among charter schools and no other choice options. However, the climate for personalized learning is sunny, with many students able to access place-based learning opportunities and dual enrollment options in traditional public schools, which gave the state a small boost in the 2024 PPI ranking.
Opportunity
Innovation
Policy Environment
Charter Schools
Score
72%
Grade: C
Rank: #30
A small but robust and diverse array of schools are highly prized but heavily regulated, limiting their autonomy and potential for growth, making Hawaii the fifteenth weakest charter law in the nation.
Transformational Learning
Score
68%
Grade: D
Rank: #44
Students in Hawaii are able to participate in dual enrollment and a robust CTE program; they can pursue career pathways in various fields and earn industry-recognized certifications. The state’s focus on place-based learning is unique and there’s an emphasis...
Leadership
Josh Green, elected in 2022, picked up where Governor David Ige left off and not much has changed for families opportunity wise. While he did increase funding for Pre-K facilities, it may be time to take a more serious review of innovative approaches and...
Choice Programs (Scholarships, Vouchers, Tax Credits, etc.)
Score
50%
Grade: F
Rank: #35
Hawaii has no private school choice programs.
DID YOU KNOW?
States whose opportunity programs ensure more equitable per-pupil funding and do not restrict eligibility to certain groups of students score higher on PPI!. There are only 3 states - Florida, Arizona, and Indiana - where this applies.
Transparency
School report cards are easily accessible on their Department of Education homepage by clicking “Vision for Success.” The ‘Strive HI’ platform provides lots of information, individual school reports are comprehensive, clear and easy to read, providing a...
Teacher Quality
One of many data points to assess whether a state has the right policies in place to ensure teacher quality is the "use of student achievement data in teacher preparation accountability." How empty or full the fuel tank above is will give you the answer for your state.
Fast Facts:
4th Grade Math Proficiency: 37%
8th Grade Math Proficiency: 22%
4th Grade Reading Proficiency: 35%
8th Grade Reading Proficiency: 31%
Average SAT Score: 1114 / 1600
Average ACT Score: 17.9 / 36
Graduation Rate: 85.4%
Constitutional Issues
Hawaii's Supreme Court has interpreted the state's Blaine Amendment broadly and restrictively.