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Published June 2002

12th Annual Report - Selected Highlights

Scope

The report for school year 2000-01 covers public education in kindergarten through 12th grade, including data from all 254 regular public schools and 6 public charter schools in the seven administrative districts in Hawaii.

Enrollment

Overall enrollment growth, which had exceeded 1.5% for the five years from 1991-92 through 1995-96, has ended for now. After peaking in 1995-96, overall enrollment has declined in the last three years. However, schools are still experiencing the effects of population shifts, especially the westward movement of population on Oahu.

Special Needs

The numbers of students in need of special services are increasing much more rapidly than the population of students at large. These students are those from poor economic circumstances, those with limited English proficiency, and those who need special education services. Students with these special needs have increased in numbers by 40 to 100 percent in the last decade. This means that the task facing public schools is steadily becoming more difficult and more costly.

Staffing

Hawaii has a relatively high pupil-to-teacher ratio, which has remained stable since 1992-93 while the ratios of other states have declined. Hawaii has fewer of its professional staff performing administrative functions than comparison states. Shortages of both teachers and administrators are looming, as many certificated personnel will become eligible for retirement within a few years.

Finance

The state's commitment to public education has persistently lagged behind that of other states. Hawaii is among the top ten states in combined state and local expenditures per capital, but it ranks last in the percentage of state and local expenditures allocated to public schools. Hawaii is the only state that funds its public schools from state revenues without using local government funds.

Facilities

Hawaii has made great progress in easing classroom shortages in the last six years; only Leeward and Maui Districts still have net shortages of classrooms. However, the schools' library facilities are chronically underdeveloped; almost half of our schools have inadequate library space. The state's schools remain among the largest in the nation.

National Assessment of Educational Prograss (NAEP)

Hawaii's 4th and 8th grade students performed about the same on the 2000 NAEP mathematics assessment as they did in 1996. Their performance on the 2000 NAEP science assessment was at or near the bottom of the states participating.

Dropouts and School Completion

Dropout rates for students in grades 9-12 average about 5.1% per year. The estimated cumulative dropout rate is just under 20%, nearly twice the Hawaii and national goal of 10% or less--and increasing. School completion rates for seniors have improved over the last decade. Almost 80% of public school seniors plan to continue their education.

Student Discipline

The incidence rates of disciplinary suspension have decreased markedly since 1995-96, both overall and in each category of threat to safety. Suspensions for the most serious (Type A) offenses declined modestly while suspensions for Type C offenses (violations of department rules) decreased markedly.