Moanalua Elementary School

1337 Mahiole Street

School District

Hawaii Department Of Education
Grade

PK, K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
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 February 06, 2019

Moanalua has decent academics and the teachers try to teach the best programs however, the VP and the Principal are undeniably the worst thing that has ever happened to this school! This used to be one of the better public schools but in recent years this school is just really lacking. Our teacher always has tried to help when our child was bullied and bashed in the head with visible bruising and scarring. The teacher was very concerned the 4 times that this has happened. The principal never addressed the problem the 9 times I complained and she had a 2 minute talk with the other student. She also kept saying she was out on "vacation".
Submitted by other on September 14, 2016

After attending shafter elementary school for 2 years. Moanalua elementary school offers way more academically. It all comes down to the teacher your child ends up getting. There (1) 2nd grade teacher thats excellent and is new to the school.In kindergarten i had friend child attend Moanalua Elementary School and the teacher her daughter got 2 years ago yelled at kids in the classroom a lot. She saw first hand volunteering in the classroom.
Submitted by parent on September 13, 2016

This school is a bit overrated. It appears they are identifying themselves based on an old reputation of excellence. Besides having a child attending there, and volunteering in many facets of the schools operations, I've come to learn some very eye opening facts that are unfortunately contrary to the hype most will hear. The principal is extremely progressive with a very "everyone's a winner" mentality, and falls extremely shy in actual leadership and successful ideas. She's a micro manager in the most over-bearing, unqualified, and condescending manner imaginable. Just last year the VP, music director with 27 years at Moanalua, and a handful of teachers along with the DOE administrator at the school have left. The food is just HORRIBLE. The children are thrown a great deal of information but the school does very little in actually training them to be efficient and avid students, thus making the ability to retain and use the knowledge extremely difficult and very disappointing when put to the test. The children are denied skills training like speaking in front of the class as individuals or anything for that matter that may embarrass, upset, or potentially make them feel unintellegent for their age, all for the sake of political correctness; not an assumption, it was actually admitted to me by admin. employees. The teaching staff that remains is great, but the curriculum, principal, and overall functionality of the school has much to be desired, and quite frankly, I wish I sent my child elsewhere. In almost all rankings they don't even make it into the top 100; that's right, one-hundred! In some they even bomb into the 300s. Over $80,000 was spent on A/C units while the students lack essential supplies and technology that most schools see as standard. For example they had at one point 2 ipads per 26 kids on average, and it hasn't improved much. Seems like the leadership at this school is more concerned with how the students "feel," rather than looking after their actual educational needs. Personally I'd rather have a heat burdened educated child than a cooled down dumb one. The communication between the school and the parents SUCKS! Maybe admin. wants to leave parents in the dark in regards to how under developed and ill equipt their children will be in their very near future due to the horrid display of educational leadership these kids get...so sad.
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2016

Since moving to Hawaii almost a year ago my children have been embraced by Moanalua. They have made many friends and have been truly blessed with amazing teachers. They are thriving at Moanalua and while I'd like to make some claim to their success I have to offer up thanks to their teachers and the caring administration that sets high, yet achievable standards.
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2013

My son attended this school for the first half of kindergarden and we ended up moving west to buy a new home. I strongly believe it's the teacher that makes the difference. We loved his old teacher because she went beyond what was expected and cared for her students. We weren't able to have him return because they do a lottery for students with a GE and he didn't get chosen. Hopefully next year.
Submitted by parent on April 26, 2012

This school may have been good at one time but ever since my child has been here, I have been disgusted and frustrated with a lot of the administration and staff, especially the VP. My child's 2nd grade teacher was lazy and a scatterbrain, losing homework and our payment for the yearbook. I heard a lot of complaints about the VP but never had a run in with her until this year, she talks nice but is very condescending and seems to have a power trip. Thank goodness they finally found a good principal after all the turn overs. Maybe he can help the people get better character and educate them on people skills.
Submitted by parent on January 18, 2012

Teachers at Moanalua learn everyones names even the parents, great curriculum, and dedication of teachers. This school goes on many fun field trips too! This school was awesome- I am so sad we had to go to Fort Shafter Elementry- which is no where near the great experience of Moanalua
Submitted by parent on July 16, 2011

Awesome school for my two daughters. The Hawaii public school system isn't the greatest, but there are great school such as Moanalua Elementary that raises the bar. The staff, teachers, and administrators are great. Like anything else, if you get involved as a parent then the school will become better. I highly recommend getting involved in the PTA. My kindergarten and 2nd grader really love the school. With respect to academic achievement, we work with our children on their homework which is very appropriate and challenging for the respective grade levels. We have nothing but praise for the school.
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2011

Not too impressed with this school. This school gets great ratings because the children retake the state and Aims tests 3 times and the highest score is counted. Many teachers are too old to keep up with their class and the demands of this generation. Which creates a boring learning enviroment, bullies, and lots of lost library books even when you turn them in. Lunch staff is horribly mean and will allow bullying because children aren't allowed to speak up. The A+ (before and after school care) program is great but terribly expensive. There is only band/choir for the A+ students.