Aina Haina Elementary School

801 West Hind Drive

School District

Hawaii Department Of Education
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
Type

public

School Map for Hawaii Department Of Education

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on June 05, 2024

My kid was in kinder with the best teacher. The class size was doable (about 20 kids) and there were some aids for certain students. This school is considered a IB School (International Baccalaureate) which means they have some high quality programs to help create a better world. In kindergarten they learned math, reading, writing, arts and crafts, physical education, Hawaiian studies, nihongo, and STEM projects. Can’t wait for the years to come! I love our school! If the school stays on this path, I think it will be the #1 school on the island ~
Submitted by parent on November 22, 2021

This school develops strong character in its students, like integrity, compassion, and respect. This school effectively supports students with learning differences offers a family environment that makes it a great school I would recommend Aina Haina to any fiend or family member
Submitted by parent on May 27, 2021

Teachers were excellent with our kids. The amount of effort they put into their work was especially notable with classes being entirely virtual into the second semester. We would listen into the virtual classes and they truly tried to get all students to stay interested and in a learning state of mind. When the kids went back to in person classes, they were excited to go in the morning and showed how much they learned when they got home. Some of the learning material is dated, but teachers made adjustments as needed. There seems to be a good balance of subjects, as our kids' previous school had concentrated mainly on reading and math. Here, science and social studies were also given attention, and the Hawaiian and Japanese language classes were a bonus. The teachers went to great lengths to try and maintain a cohesive class environment, with one even organizing a movie watching party where everyone started a movie at the same time on their computer at home, and they could chat with each other online about the movie while they were watching it; the kids loved it! As someone mentioned previously, there is a very engaging vice principal at the school who was open to dialogue all year. Aina Haina Elementary has been a good fit for our family.
Submitted by parent on March 17, 2015

Does not seem to be any accountability for what takes place in the classroom. Principal seems to be very passive and has no idea what is going on in his school. Positive note....excellent vice-principal who has a great rapport with parents.Definitely not the awesome school it used to be.
Submitted by parent on December 28, 2014

I would give this school a 4 1/2 star rating but the choices are 4 or 5. I chose Aina Haina as the area to live in when we moved here 11 months ago because it is a beautiful area, but one of the prerequisites was an elementary school with exceptional ratings. Aina Haina Elementary carries a 9/10 Great School rating and so we chose this school. We have LOVED it so far! Our daughter's kindergarten teacher is great with the kids; it is a class of 19 students. I love the parents of the other students I have met, and the parent involvement definitely makes a good school "great". I appreciate that as we walk through the school when I pick my daughter up, other faculty (librarian, teacher's assistants, PE teacher, etc) know her name...it is because they take the time to get to know each student and make them feel important. I have enjoyed everything from the after-school programs available, level and creativity of their projects/homework, and the organization of communication to the child's family (daily correspondence through a folder program, communication through an online classroom page on Shutterfly, etc). My daughter is thriving and I am so happy I have found this school.
Submitted by parent on November 13, 2013

We loved this school! Our son had two of the best teachers any of our children have ever had. This is a school with high parent involvement and high standards.
Submitted by parent on February 26, 2012

My childs class consists of 19 students this year. Last year, 2011, there were, at the most, 23 students in his class (with a teacher, and an aide). There are two parents helping out in the classroom each day, and throughout the day certain students report to other teachers for help (ESL, G/T, SPED, etc.). I guess some reviewers consider this a problematic class size. I don't. There are high expectations at this school. If you don't want your child to be challenged and pushed to their highest potential, you may need to find a more lax school. They build future competitors and leaders, and believe each child is one.
Submitted by parent on February 26, 2012

I wish my child had 19 students and a aid at Aina Haina. She has 27 with no aid. The teacher though nice simply cannot handle all of the students. After reading your review I am going to have to talk to other parents in my class to see about getting an aide and less students. Maybe the aid in the other parents class could come and help our teacher. She is drowning!!!
Submitted by parent on November 22, 2011

I was hoping to leave a good review here but sadly, as the years pass, this school gets progressively worse and worse. My son has gone here since Jr. Kindergarten. Though the teachers for the most part are nice, they lack effectiveness. Large class size and perhaps laziness are not a good combination for a child who needs a teacher to actually TEACH! Fourth grade has been the worst year of them all. My son's current teacher treats them like they're in college as far as placing responsibilities on them. They're in 4th grade, they still need to be taught & need guidance. It's like this school would rather pin any non-genius kid as "special" even if they're not so they can fill the school with only exceptionally smart kids & get a higher rating. Sorry, you're only as good as your worse student and in my son's class at least 1/3 of the kids are barely passing to failing many assignments. That speaks volumes. Giving a week full of tests and then a week of no tests is not conducive to learning or growing or retaining knowledge. This school leaves a LOT to be desired. The principal is rather lazy. The school doesn't do enough to combat & stop bullying either. Sad but true.
Submitted by parent on May 04, 2011

Class size is over sized, teachers seem stressed, campus is dry and dusty. Not at all what I expected especially passive was the principle. He walked with his head down and didn't seem like a true leader. I would have preferred to leave an encouraging review but I was forced to pull my child out and place her in Lihiloho elem which is an exceptional public school.
Submitted by parent on September 22, 2010

Well beyond anything I expected from a public school. My child has gotten superior attention from the teachers and faculty. Yes, the class sizes are relatively larger... with so many famiilies trying to get their kids into such a great school. But, the teachers are energized and enthusiastic about their job! Similarly, the couselors and resource/support staff are amazing! The curriculum is rigorous, but inspiring. My child's knowledge of the world is expanding while learning Japanese, Chinese, and Hawaiian! And to top it all off... the PTA is hands-down the most innovative and unified network of parents and community leaders I've ever heard of.
Submitted by parent on April 15, 2008

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