Grading the Public Schools: 2010 Database

Why is it, that the higher in grade one goes, the lower the ranking?

Elementary schools, then middle schools, then high schools???

What is the DOE doing to address this obvious problem?

Is there a high ranking High School at all?? Or are us lower and middle class who can't afford a private school stuck with a bad education for our kids, this is ridiculous!

Stop electing the same old politicians into office. if we elect the same people, we can only expect the same outcome. don't condemn private schools, they are alleviating the education burden placed on an already burdened public school system. BOE, principals, teachers and the teachers union need to be held accountable for the substandard education of our keiki. one word, decentralize!!!

I know many people who have graduated from Kekaulike and moved on to highly ranked Universities. Therefore I believe it IS possible to get a decent education if the student puts forth the effort and gets involved. I've seen it happen. Unfortunately this leaves academic success up to only the students who decide to take the initiative. The DOE needs to start taking the initiative themselves and step it up in order to yield positive results for our youth upcountry and across the state. Good education shouldn't be left to only those who can afford it.

I used to go to this school and honestly it is 100% deserving of an F. It's got an attractive campus and that's about it, it does have some great teachers..It does have some amazing students, but most of the kids don't put forth the effort to get decent grades, and they fall behind. There were a few teachers that come to mind, it's hard to believe they ever got their degree(s), and there are some students that make you think, "how did you ever make it past the 5th grade."

i agree with the above comment. thats all they have to offer, is a nice campus. but othe than that booooooo for anuenue!

Look on Greatschools.org - lots of 10's for highschools in the Honolulu area. How to reconcile a 10 from that website with a C- on this review? I'm trying to figure it out.

I am a public high school teacher in Honolulu. I was born and raised on the mainland, taught in California for over 6 years, then relocated to Hawaii 5 years ago. I have over 10 years of teaching experience and am a darn good teacher. I thoroughly enjoy my job and am passionate about my students. That being said, I have to admit that I am SICK and TIRED of people blaming public school teachers for Hawaii's public school problems. The fact that I have to somehow live off of $60 a day after taxes, insurance, statutory dues, etc., is the least of my frustrations. If you ask any teacher, and they feel comfortable enough to answer without getting pounced on - we will gladly tell you what the problem is...uninvolved parents and poor leadership (both at the top-heavy DOE, as well as at individual school sites).
I invite you to attend Open House night at both the elementary level and at the high school level. Come, and you will witness the depressing numbers of parents who attend high school open house. I invite ALL parents to come into my classroom, any time. In 5 years, I have not been taken up on that offer once. I offer recess/lunch/after-school tutoring, the students who need it do not come. I will never give up, but when I make appointments with students for tutoring sessions (free of charge), I will stay after school, and the student doesn't show up. I can only do so much without parental support from home. Parents who really care tend to have students who really care.
As for our leadership - well, I could go on for hours about the monstrosity that is our DOE and terrible administration I have to deal with on a daily basis, but I'm tired and have papers to grade. If you get anything from this, please know that as a whole, public school teachers work VERY hard and get the short end of the stick more often than not. Despite a few "bad eggs" (as in every profession), we wouldn't be here if we didn't believe that what we're doing matters.

To the individual who posted on Jan 21, 2011 12:46 pm, you must have been one of those students who made everyone think "how did you ever make it past the 5th grade." Are you sure you went to this school? For one this is an unattractive school in dire need of renovations. Second, I am a 2010 graduate and proud to say that my class had one fouth of the Regent Scholarship awards from UHM. If you did not put in the effort yourself to get educated, do not blame others of why you are a failure. I admit that I could have done more to be successful in high school but you just have to deal with the present. There is no way to get a true rating on any school. Its what you, as a student, make out of it.

As a Leeward District teacher, I gave my administration a very low ranking during our annual poll. I was very aware of what it would do for our ranking in the Honolulu magazine. I have been verbally abused repeatedly by a male administrator at my school, along with other female teachers and at least one aide. He also lied to me during our private meetings in his office and ordered a coworker of mine out of his office, when I attempted to bring her with me as a witness. I have spoken to various HSTA reps at my school and also emailed Wil Okabe regarding this administrator's inappropriate behavior.