Home > State DOE > Superintendent's Annual Report > 2002

State DOE:

Superintendent's Annual Report

• Annual Report Home
• 2010 Report
• 2009 Report
• 2008 Report
• 2007 Report
• 2006 Report
• 2005 Report
• 2004 Report
• 2003 Report
• 2002 Report
• 2001 Report
• 2000 Report
• 1999 Report
• 1998 Report
• 1997 Report
• 1996 Report

Download the Report Full Report (651 KB) Presentation (3.4 MB)

Published July 2003

13th Annual Report - Selected Highlights

Scope

The report for school year 2001-02 covers public education in kindergarten through 12th grade in Hawaii, including data from 255 regular public schools and 22 public charter schools in the seven administrative districts, now organized into 15 complex areas. (Tables 1 and 2, Page 3)

Enrollment

Overall enrollment, which had grown at better than 1.5% between 1991-92 and 1995-96, has been declining or stable since. However, schools have still experienced pressure from population shifts, especially the westward movement of population on Oahu. (Tables 3-5, Pages 3-4)

Special Needs

Over the last 14 years, the numbers of students in need of special services has increased 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 50 to 120 percent since 1988-89. This means that the task facing public schools is steadily becoming more difficult and more costly. Nearly one-third of all children born in Hawaii are now born to single mothers. (Tables 6-8, Pages 5-6)

Stability

Despite the "conventional wisdom" about supposedly highly mobile students in Hawaii, very large majorities of students at all levels stay in the same school for the entire school year. (Table 9, Page 6)

Staffing

Hawaii has a relatively high pupil-to-teacher ratio in comparison to other states. Overall pupil-to-staff ratios have improved over the last decade, but Hawaii remains among the bottom quarter of states on this measure. Hawaii has fewer of its professional staff performing administrative functions than comparison states. (Tables 10 and 11, Page 7)

Finance

The state's commitment to public education has persistently lagged behind that of other states. Hawaii ranks last among the states in the percentage of state and local expenditures allocated to public schools. Its per pupil expenditures are about 10% below the national average. Hawaii is the only state that funds its public schools from state revenues and does not require or permit using local government funds. (Tables 12-14, Pages 8-9)

Facilities

Hawaii has made great progress in easing classroom shortages in the last six years; classroom shortages are largely confined to the Leeward and Maui Districts. However, schools' library facilities remain chronically underdeveloped; almost half of our schools have inadequate library space. The state's schools remain among the largest in the nation. (Tables 15-18, Pages 9-10)

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 18%. Of students who entered high school in Hawaii in fall 1998, just under 80% graduated from high school within four years. School completion rates for seniors have improved over the last decade. Almost 80% of public school seniors plan to continue their education. (Tables 23-26, Pages 13-14)

Student Discipline

Overall incidence rates of disciplinary offenses have decreased since 1995-96, both overall and in each category of threat to safety. Incidence rates of the most serious (Type A) offenses remained stable while incidence rates of Type B, C, and D offenses decreased markedly. (Tables 27 and 28, Pages 14-15)