Waiakea Elementary School

Set in Hilo, Hawaii, Waiakea Elementary School is a substantial elementary-level community, one of the schools within Hawaii Department of Education. It enrolls 706 students across grades pre-K through 5. That puts it 61% bigger than the typical public school in Hawaii, which averages around 438 students.

Waiakea Elementary School is one of 296 schools operated by Hawaii Department of Education, a district that works with 167,071 students overall.

Demographically, Waiakea Elementary School logs that the most-represented group is Pacific Islander (29%), with the rest of the student body spread across multiple groups. The remainder breaks down as 29% multiracial, 24% Hispanic, 15% Asian, 3% White.

Looking at the economic backdrop, The school employs 47 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 15.0:1. The state averages around 13.8:1, so this campus is higher than the state norm typical. Roughly 53% of students at Waiakea Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator.

Across the wider county, census data for Hawaii County shows median household income runs about $78,639, roughly 31% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 10% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Across Hawaii County's 55 public schools (combined enrollment of about 27,129 students), Waiakea Elementary School is one campus in the mix.

Waiakea Intermediate School is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.1 miles from this campus. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Waiakea Elementary School.

Waiakea Elementary School operates from a town-based location.

Over the past 7-year window. Over the past 7-year window, the student count declined 19%: 873 students in 2018 compared to 706 in 2025.

Inside the community feed, the feed for Waiakea Elementary School typically covers pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.