Total enrollment
27,129
-322 (-1%) vs SY 2017-18
Hawaii County
Hawaii · Public K-12
Hawaii County, Hawaii's 55 public schools span elementary through high school (28 elementary, 7 middle, and 10 high). Total enrollment is roughly 27,129 students.
7-year change in Hawaii County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
55
-1 (-2%) vs SY 2017-18
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
55
1 districts
Enrollment
27,129
NCES CCD
Median income
$78,639
Below Hawaii avg
Free/reduced lunch
58.9%
Above Hawaii avg
Elementary
28
11,759 students
Middle
7
3,764 students
High
10
7,768 students
Combined / other
10
3,838 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Hawaii Department of Education
27,129 students · 1 district in Hawaii County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Hawaii County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
31.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
10.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.0%
civilian labor
Median age
44
20.6% under 18
Test scores in Hawaii County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 54 schools ranked. Hawaii state average: 52.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Ernest Bowen DeSilva Elementary School· 75.0%
- Kaumana Elementary School· 71.0%
- Kealakehe High School· 67.0%
- Innovations - PCS· 66.0%
- Haaheo Elementary School· 61.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
Cities in Hawaii County
About Hawaii County
In Hawaii, Hawaii County is a mid-sized county of about 205,769 residents. 55 public schools across the county instructs about 27,129 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show median household income runs near $78,639, 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 10% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 13% below the Hawaii median.
In terms of grade levels, Hawaii County is made up of 28 elementary schools (11,759 students), 7 middle schools (3,764), 10 high schools (7,768), and 10 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Hawaii County is Hawaii Department of Education, which alone enrolls about 27,129 students.
Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Hawaii County has held roughly steady since SY 2017-18, moving from about 27,451 students to 27,129. The school count fell from 56 to 55 across the same 7-year window.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Hawaii County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
Hawaii County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data