If you're moving to Hawaii or house-hunting with kids in mind, school quality is usually right behind price and location on the list of questions. To help, we pulled together the public schools across the islands that consistently earn the strongest marks, drawing on Hawaii Department of Education performance data, Smarter Balanced state test scores, and thousands of ratings and reviews from parents and students on sites like Niche and GreatSchools. Here's a look at some of the state's most highly rated public schools, island by island, with an extra-close look at the elementary schools that keep coming out on top.

Waimea High School, Kauai

Waimea High School on Kauai, one of the state's top-rated public campuses. Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Oahu's Top-Rated Schools

Mililani High School tops the statewide list, earning an A+ overall grade on Niche and a 9 out of 10 rating on GreatSchools. Students there posted 72.65% proficiency in English Language Arts and 49.41% in math on the Smarter Balanced Assessment, both well above the state averages of 59% and 25%, alongside a 94% graduation rate. Parents and students also point to Moanalua High School and Kalani High School as standouts, both earning A grades on Niche, with reviewers consistently praising teachers who go out of their way to support students and a wide range of clubs and activities.

Big Island Standouts

On Hawaii Island, Waiakea High School in Hilo holds an A grade on Niche, with students describing an energetic school community and a student government that helps set the tone from freshman year on.

Maui's Highly Rated Schools

Maui High School in Kahului stands out for its four-year engineering program, giving students hands-on experience with robotics, CAD, and even TIG welding and 3D printing well before graduation. King Kekaulike High School in Pukalani is another Maui favorite, with alumni frequently highlighting the close relationships built with teachers and counselors over four years on campus. Both schools carry a B+ Niche grade.

Kauai's Top Public School

Waimea High School is Kauai's highest-rated public high school, earning a B+ on Niche, with students describing teachers and counselors who are consistently willing to help.

A Closer Look: Hawaii's Highest-Rated Elementary Schools

Elementary schools set the tone for a child's entire relationship with school, and Hawaii has several public elementary campuses that consistently rise to the top of the rankings, with strong test scores, glowing parent reviews, and a real sense of neighborhood identity. Here's a more detailed look at five of the state's standouts.

Momilani Elementary School — Pearl City, Oahu

Momilani Elementary sits at the top of Pearl City, a well-established central Oahu community just above Pearl Harbor, at 2130 Ho'okiekie Street. The school has served the neighborhood since 1972 and today enrolls about 407 students in grades PK-6 with an 18:1 student-teacher ratio. Momilani holds an A grade on Niche and a 9 out of 10 rating on GreatSchools, and it's currently ranked #1 among all elementary schools in Hawaii. On state testing, roughly 82% of students are proficient in math and 84% in reading, putting Momilani in the top 5% of Hawaii schools for both subjects and the top 1% overall. The school has also been recognized three times with the National Blue Ribbon Schools Award, with honors in 2004 and 2010.

Mililani Ike Elementary School — Mililani Mauka, Oahu

Mililani Ike Elementary is located at 95-1330 Lehiwa Drive in Mililani Mauka, the upper, newer section of the master-planned Mililani community in central Oahu. The school enrolls about 409 students in grades PK-5 with a comfortable 14:1 student-teacher ratio, and it holds an A grade on Niche, currently ranked #5 among Hawaii's public elementary schools. Test scores show roughly 80% of students proficient in math and 82% in reading. Parents highlight the school's community feel: one GreatSchools reviewer wrote, "Mililani Ike is such a friendly school. The teachers are great and the office staff are very helpful. The campus is beautiful and well maintained. The school encourages family involvement and my children enjoy going to school each day."

Maunawili Elementary School — Kailua, Oahu

Maunawili Elementary is tucked into the Maunawili valley at 1465 Ulupi'i Street, a quiet residential area inland from Kailua town on Oahu's Windward side, not far from the trailhead for the popular Maunawili Falls hike. With about 338 students in grades PK-6 and a 13:1 student-teacher ratio, the school earns an A grade on Niche and a 9 out of 10 on GreatSchools, ranking #12 among Hawaii's public elementary schools. Academically, about 74% of students are proficient in math and 79% in reading, both in the top 5% of schools statewide. Parent reviews consistently mention the school's focus on the whole child: "Teachers seem interested in the whole child, not just academics... schools are only as good as the families that support them, and there is great parent involvement here." Reviewers also point to the school's enrichment courses as a highlight, with students describing being genuinely challenged by their enrichment teachers.

Ernest Bowen de Silva Elementary School — Hilo, Hawaii Island

Ernest Bowen de Silva Elementary sits at 278 Ainako Avenue in the Ainako neighborhood of upper Hilo, a residential area on the mauka (mountain) side of town near the University of Hawaii at Hilo. The school enrolls about 422 students in grades PK-6 with an 18:1 student-teacher ratio and offers a Gifted & Talented program for advanced learners. It carries an A-minus grade on Niche and is ranked #1 among public elementary schools in Hawaii County, landing at #20 out of over 200 elementary schools statewide. On recent state testing, roughly seven in ten students are proficient in both math and reading, keeping the school firmly in the upper tier of Big Island public schools.

Koloa Elementary School — Koloa, Kauai

Koloa Elementary is located at 3223 Poipu Road in Koloa, a historic former plantation town on Kauai's south shore just up the road from the Poipu resort area. It's the only public elementary school families on the south shore need to consider, and it shows in the reviews: one parent wrote, "We moved from an excellent school district on the mainland recently, as did our neighbors. This was the only elementary school we considered on the south shore," while another simply said, "Amazing school, I am so happy we are in this community!" The campus, home to about 355 students in grades PK-5 with a 15:1 student-teacher ratio, is also known for a standout hands-on program — one reviewer called it "the best" for its "hydroponics and gardening program in all grades." Koloa Elementary holds an A-minus grade on Niche, the highest mark among Kauai's public elementary schools, with about 67% of students proficient in both math and reading on recent state assessments.

10 More Highly Rated Oahu Elementary Schools

Oahu's list of standout public elementary schools runs much deeper than the ones above. Here's a closer look at ten more campuses, spanning from Waikiki to Pearl City, that consistently post strong test scores and enthusiastic reviews from the families who know them best.

Manoa Elementary School — Manoa Valley, Honolulu

Manoa Elementary sits at 3155 Manoa Road in Manoa Valley, a lush, established residential neighborhood in the hills above Waikiki, just down the road from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The school enrolls about 545 students in grades PK-5 with a 17:1 student-teacher ratio and offers a Gifted & Talented program. It carries an A grade on Niche and an 8 out of 10 on GreatSchools, ranking in the top 5% of Hawaii schools for both math and reading, with roughly 80% of students proficient in each subject. One alum summed up the experience: "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."

Noelani Elementary School — Manoa, Honolulu

Noelani Elementary is located on Woodlawn Drive in the Manoa area of Honolulu, a few blocks from Manoa Elementary in the same green, mauka valley. With about 419 students in grades PK-5 and a 17:1 student-teacher ratio, Noelani holds an A grade on Niche and an 8 out of 10 on GreatSchools. Recent state testing shows roughly 81% of students proficient in English Language Arts, 79% in math, and 84% in science, putting the school in the top 5% of Hawaii campuses for overall test scores. A reviewer described it simply: "This school has a great learning environment with amazing and friendly teachers."

Mililani Mauka Elementary School — Mililani Mauka, Oahu

Mililani Mauka Elementary shares the upper Mililani community with nearby Mililani Ike, serving a similarly master-planned, family-oriented central Oahu neighborhood. The school enrolls about 652 students in grades PK-5 with a 14:1 student-teacher ratio and holds an A grade on Niche along with a 9 out of 10 GreatSchools rating, among the highest on the island. State test scores show roughly 82% of students proficient in math and 80% in reading, both in the top 5% statewide. Parents rave about the staff: "Mililani Mauka is a wonderful school in every way. My children receive the best quality of instruction and they are challenged every day. I have had such positive interactions with all staff on campus. They truly care about all of their students."

Waikiki Elementary School — Waikiki, Honolulu

Waikiki Elementary serves families in and around Waikiki, Oahu's best-known resort neighborhood, which is also home to a close-knit residential community away from the beachfront hotels. The school enrolls about 571 students in grades PK-5, holds an A grade on Niche, and has been honored as a National Blue Ribbon School three times — in 2007, 2013, and 2020. On recent testing, about 84% of students were proficient in math, 81% in reading, and 79% in science, each well above the statewide averages. As one alum put it, "Waikiki is the best public school in Hawaii, by far — the teachers there are amazing."

Palisades Elementary School — Pearl City, Oahu

Palisades Elementary is located at 2306 Auhuhu Street in Pearl City, a hillside neighborhood in central Oahu overlooking Pearl Harbor, not far from Momilani Elementary. The campus enrolls about 403 students in grades PK-6 with an 18:1 student-teacher ratio, holds an A-minus grade on Niche, and posts a strong 9 out of 10 GreatSchools rating. It's currently ranked #9 among all Hawaii elementary schools, with about 74% of students proficient in math and 79% in reading — both well ahead of the statewide averages of 41% and 49%.

Koko Head Elementary School — East Honolulu, Oahu

Koko Head Elementary is located on Lunalilo Home Road in East Honolulu, near Aina Haina and Niu Valley on Oahu's southeast coast. The school enrolls about 301 students in grades PK-5 with a 14:1 student-teacher ratio, offers both a Gifted & Talented program and an International Baccalaureate track, and holds an A-minus grade on Niche with an 8 out of 10 on GreatSchools. Recent testing shows roughly 74% proficiency in English Language Arts and 76% in science, with the school ranking in the top 10% of Hawaii campuses for overall test scores.

Mayor John H. Wilson Elementary School — Kaimuki/Kahala area, Honolulu

Mayor Wilson Elementary sits at 4945 Kilauea Avenue near Kaimuki and Kahala in East Honolulu, a well-established residential stretch between Diamond Head and Waialae. The school enrolls about 519 students in grades PK-5 with a 14:1 student-teacher ratio and carries an A-minus grade on Niche. About 76% of students are proficient in math and 78% in reading, placing the school in the top 5% of Hawaii schools for overall test scores. One parent described a strong first-grade experience: "They had some difficulties adjusting initially, but the teacher and staff were very supportive... In the end they excelled in all their subjects and their reading level took off!"

Hokulani Elementary School — Kaimuki, Honolulu

Hokulani Elementary is located on Kamakini Street in Kaimuki, a longtime residential Honolulu neighborhood near Diamond Head. With about 250 students in grades PK-5 and a 14:1 student-teacher ratio, it's one of the smaller, closer-knit campuses on this list. Hokulani holds an A-minus grade on Niche and an impressive 9 out of 10 on GreatSchools, with roughly 82% of students proficient in math and the school ranking in the top 1% of Hawaii campuses for overall test scores. A recent reviewer wrote, "The teachers, staff, students, and families are very respectful, caring, and supportive. The school prioritizes safety and well-being of everyone."

Pauoa Elementary School — Pauoa Valley, Honolulu

Pauoa Elementary sits on Pauoa Road in Pauoa Valley, a quiet inland neighborhood near downtown Honolulu and Nuuanu. The school enrolls about 357 students in grades PK-5 with a 15:1 student-teacher ratio and earns an A-minus grade on Niche, with roughly three-quarters of students proficient in math and reading on recent state testing — well above statewide averages. A parent described the close community feel: "My daughter is in Kindergarten at Pauoa Elementary and we feel very fortunate that our district school is one of such high caliber... 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."

Ma'ema'e Elementary School — Nuuanu, Honolulu

Ma'ema'e Elementary serves the Nuuanu and Pacific Heights area above downtown Honolulu, a historic, tree-lined valley neighborhood near Punchbowl. It's one of the larger campuses on this list, enrolling about 667 students in grades PK-5 with a 14:1 student-teacher ratio, and it carries an A-minus grade on Niche and an 8 out of 10 on GreatSchools. State testing shows about 78% of students proficient in English Language Arts and 77% in math, ranking the school in the top 10% statewide, with especially strong results across a diverse student body. One alum, now in college, looked back fondly: "Maemae prepared me very well for middle school. The academics were great... I also enjoyed how it was family oriented. Having family fun nights are definitely the highlights of my childhood!"

What These Schools Have in Common

Across all four counties, a few themes show up again and again in the data and the reviews: engaged teachers who build real relationships with students, strong extracurricular and enrichment programs, active parent communities, and in several cases, test scores that outpace the state average by a wide margin. None of this means other public schools in Hawaii aren't doing great work for their students, too. It simply means these are the schools where the numbers and the reviews line up especially well right now.

School ratings are a great starting point, but they're only one piece of the picture. If you're house-hunting with a particular school in mind, it's worth confirming your exact attendance zone with the Hawaii Department of Education, since boundaries can be specific to a street or neighborhood. And if you'd like help finding a home zoned for one of these schools, or in any Hawaii neighborhood, we're happy to point you in the right direction.

Sources

Ratings, rankings, enrollment figures, student-teacher ratios, and test-score data referenced above come from Niche.com and GreatSchools.org school profile pages, current as of September 2026. Parent and student quotes are drawn from reviews published on those same sites.