Kohala Middle School

Located at 53-4155 Akoni Pule Hwy, in Kapaau, Hawaii, Kohala Middle School is a very small junior high that works with 172 students (grades 6 through 8), operated by Hawaii Department of Education. That puts it 74% leaner than the typical public school in Hawaii, which averages around 665 students.

Hawaii Department of Education comprises 296 schools with combined enrollment of 167,071 students; Kohala Middle School is among them.

On demographics, Kohala Middle School reports that 31% of students identify as Hispanic, with the remaining enrollment distributed across several groups. Beyond that, the school lists 22% Pacific Islander, 18% multiracial, 16% Asian, 12% White. The wider county runs roughly 12% Hispanic, putting the school's mix considerably more Hispanic than the area baseline.

Looking at the economic backdrop, On paper, Kohala Middle School has 10 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 17.2:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 14.5:1, putting Kohala Middle School higher than the state norm the norm. An estimated 49% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment. That share is lower than Hawaii County's rate of about 59%.

Across the wider county, census data for Hawaii County shows the typical household earns roughly $78,639 per year, 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 10%. Across Hawaii County's 55 public schools (combined enrollment of about 27,129 students), Kohala Middle School is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Kohala High School, roughly 2.7 miles away. 2 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius.

Geographically, the school is in a rural area.

Over the past 7-year window. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Kohala Middle School has edged down 4%, going from 179 students in 2018 to 172 in 2025. The Hispanic share of enrollment rose from 10% to 31% over that span. Class-load math has grew: from 12.8:1 in 2018 to 17.2:1 in 2025.

Inside the community feed, posts here usually surface around pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. The community welcomes input from current and former families.