2023 Best Public Schools in the Honolulu Area

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  753 reviews

Senior: As a student who's currently a senior at Mililani High School, I can proudly say that this school hasn't disappointed me in preparing me for my future. The classes they provide for students are beyond helpful and I honestly wish I had a little more time here. The staff at Mililani High are constantly striving to help the students here and for me personally, I wouldn't know where I'd be without them. If anyone is ever confused, you can ask a teacher or a counselor and they would immediately aid you. I remember all the times I had questions about taking certain classes or preparing myself for college and all I had to do was take a short walk to the counselor's room and ask them. In fact, I need to go there tomorrow morning! Returning back to the main point, Mililani High School might be amazing, but it is not perfect. Some flaws of this school would be the students that attend here as there are occasional fights. But that might be all that would need a change.... Read 753 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,620

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  573 reviews

Senior: The academic and student involvement at Moanalua is incomparable to any other public school on island. Moanalua has so much to offer it’s students. From academics, athletics, clubs, activities, and extracurriculars. Moanalua has cultivated a culture that is dedicated to providing each student with the best opportunities for success. Moanalua is a school that has culture and tradition…but It is also a progressive school that is perpetually changing to create an optimal environment for students to thrive in. I was able to capitalize on opportunities such as athletics, student government, and AP classes. All of which contributed to the positive experience I had at Moanalua.... Read 573 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,013

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.59 out of 5  69 reviews

Parent: First impressions matter. When we came to take ID photos, we were warmly greeted by each staff member. Right before classes started, we received emails from each teacher welcoming us to HTA and giving us their cell numbers if we needed help. In contrast, we came from a school where the teachers were not as available. On the first day of elementary classes, my son forgot his lunch. When I went to deliver it to the school, I was pleasantly shocked that the attendance clerk knew who I and my son was before I even told her our names. Brent was extremely shy in his previous school and had low grades but his teachers worked closely with him to be a confident, expressive and successful student within a short time. Ethan went though a tough time with the loss of two grandparents within two weeks and dealt with other hurts. His teachers gave their time, love, encouragement and humor. My kids felt valued by the staff from the time they talked and laughed with them. This is priceless!... Read 69 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,337

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  461 reviews

Alum: I loved going to Roosevelt! The staff was so caring and supportive. Of course, like every school, you had the teachers you didn't like but there were hardly any at Roosevelt. Many teachers and other faculty members gave me great advice for the future and for high school. There is also a very strong support system for the sports and music departments. Only thing that I would change is that Roosevelt students need to have more pride. I believe that most students in my school aren't very prideful in the fact that they go to Roosevelt, but it's an amazing school.... Read 461 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,464

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  148 reviews

Senior: University Laboratory School is a small public-charter school that is nearby the UH Manoa Campus. There are 8 required classes everyday (including art and music from 6-12 grade) and the average school day lasts from 7:45-3:15. I think that although the school day is long, it's refreshing to be able to participate in different classes everyday. The curriculum is different and really depends on the teacher that you receive, but learning and experimenting is encouraged. There are many different ways to learn things and with the small classroom and grade levels, it's easy to connect with other students and ask for help. The school has limited clubs and extra curricular activities, but as someone who loves to be involved, I've found myself busy with things since 6th grade. There are also many athletic opportunities for students.... Read 148 reviews

• grade A

• Students 450

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  334 reviews

Senior: Kalani High School is generally a great school! The staff are very helpful, dedicated, inclusive, and accommodating. It is evident that they truly care about the students that they are teaching. The school is especially academically successful. However, there are some downsides. Due to their focus on academics, the students don't have a homecoming party like most other schools do. Otherwise, the school is good!... Read 334 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,459

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.52 out of 5  383 reviews

Senior: I appreciate the teachers' dedication, care, and support toward the students. Teachers are the most crucial aspect of schools, and this school has many teachers who were once students. Those teachers often aim to give back to their school/community that raised them, so they're usually dedicated and very offering and willing for students. Something that could be improved is facility, the school is definitely old and lacking in areas such as no AC in many classes, no filtered and working water fountains, and even lack of working bathrooms. The classroom itself often have very old desks and many teachers improvise to use the projector or any technology as the classrooms don't suit them.... Read 383 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,180

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• PK, K-6

• grade A minus

• Students 403

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Middle School Student: I was a student at waikiki elementary school for kindergarten through 5th grade. All of the teachers are really nice and they give you a good education for you to be prepared for middle school. I felt safe and was very excited to go to school everyday. The food is like every other school and in my opinion, I didn't like it so I brought home lunch a lot. They serve breakfast too and it's actually not as bad as how school food usually is. The school is extremely small for a elementary school, but that's what makes it nice. There's a lot of parent participation when it comes to different activities and assemblies.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 575

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• PK, K-5

• grade A minus

• Students 606

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Parent: My daughter is in Kindergarten at Pauoa Elementary and we feel very fortunate that our district school is one of such high caliber. I have been impressed with the fact that all the kindergarten students know each other, across the three classes and the teachers know all the students. Class sizes are very respectable with 18-20 in each kindergarten class and I feel like my child gets a good amount of one on one interaction with her teacher. This smaller size elementary school allows your child to be known, not just by their teacher but by most of the staff on campus, making the school feel like a real family community.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 359

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  2 reviews

Middle School Student: Overall, my experience at Major Sheldon Wheeler Middle School has been a good one. I have really enjoyed my electives and have made many friends through this school. Also, my teachers have all been really nice and supportive of me as well as everyone else. There is also a wide variety of sports. At Wheeler Middle School, you can play volleyball, soccer, basketball, run cross country, run on the track team, and be a cheerleader. I love sports so being able to participate in so many and make friends while doing it was awesome!... Read 2 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 705

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Parent: I went here from kindergarten to third grade. I really enjoyed the nice teachers. In addition, we were provided with all of the resources that we needed for our learning.... Read 1 review

• grade A minus

• Students 741

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.32 out of 5  188 reviews

Sophomore: I love this school! Although there are some problems/ rough areas, overall the student life is great. The students are very connected and are always supporting each other. The teachers are amazing and care about their students very deeply. Overall great high school.... Read 188 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 827

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 3 out of 5  2 reviews

Alum: Great teacher and staff. One of the best elementary schools in district and island. Staff and teacher there were very friendly and prepared me for the person that I am today. Attending Noelani a public school, today I am a college student and it shows that you don't need to go to a private school in order to succeed in life.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 428

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• 7-8

• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  5 reviews

Middle School Student: As an alumnus of MMS, I can tell you that this school is amazing. The teachers care about students and are very knowledgeable, and extremely violent fights rarely occur. The orchestra program is fun and resourceful, according to my experience in this elective for the past 2 years. This school seems to value diversity and encourages students to be their own unique selves. I really appreciate my experience at MMS!... Read 5 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 777

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• PK, K-6

• grade A minus

• Students 208

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 4.67 out of 5  3 reviews

Alum: The school is in a nice area, and the weather is usually fairly nice too. The school feels safe and teaches students not only academics, but basic morals and manners. Students all come out well-rounded.... Read 3 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 536

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• PK, K-6

• grade A minus

• Students 400

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 4.25 out of 5  8 reviews

Alum: Maemae Elementary School is a very great school. I am now a college student but looking back now, I can say that maemae prepared me very well for middle school. The academics were great. I moved to a different middle school outside of the district which was a little lower ranked acedemic school, but compared to how my classmates were prepared by their elementary school could not compared to how maemae prepared me. I also enjoyed how it was family oriented. Having family fun nights are definitely the highlights of my childhood!... Read 8 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 671

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 3 out of 5  3 reviews

Parent: Overall this school has been great. The campus is well kept. Teacher and faculty are easily accessible, friendly, and professional.... Read 3 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 451

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• PK, K-6

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Works Here: Ka'ohao School is definitely one of the best schools in the nation. From its incredible parent support to highly qualified teachers and staff everything is top tier. The evidence is in the students actions as some of the kindest and most thoughtful students around.... Read 1 review

• grade A minus

• Students 330

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4.31 out of 5  16 reviews

Niche User: SEEQS is a really excellent school in terms of both academics and social-emotional climate. It seems like teachers really embrace students for who they are, the way they learn, and how they want to see themselves grow. The curriculum is not your everyday textbook-and-worksheet kind of class. Students are always engaged in challenging, thoughtful projects that help them learn about real-world issues. There are also a lot of opportunities for student to get out into the community by going on field trips, partnering with community organizations, and participating in volunteer work! Overall, I would highly recommend this school for anyone looking to push their student beyond the old ways of going to school and aim for a modern, progressive, and exciting new style of learning.... Read 16 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 180

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• PK, K-6

• grade A minus

• Students 327

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Hawaii Department of Education, HI•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  4 reviews

Niche User: The teachers, staff, students, and families are very respectful, caring, and supportive. The school priorities safety and well-being of everyone. The school sets high expectations for everyone and works well together as a team.... Read 4 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 319

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1