I have 3 kids in school here and have experience with the Moanalua schools from preschool to High school. We are a military family and were warned about the schools here. But to be honest, up until the recent furlough days were implemented this month, I was very happy with Red Hill Elementary, Moanalua Middle and Moanalua High. My youngest qualified for the preschool program because of speech and social delays and within the first 2 months he was speaking so much better. Now in kindergarten it is if there were never a problem. My now 2nd grader was reading before he finished kindergarten! My oldest never had any of the problems with the local kids that were in the school with him that we were warned about and is doing very well. With the furlough days I wonder how the military will eventually respond, this is a very new situation. The teachers are giving kids large packets of schoolwork for the weekend to keep up with their education. Education is something that must be important to parents and parents need to get involved with their kids education and the schools. Parents can add education at home if they feel their kids are lagging or not getting enough education. So pay for private schools if you want but if you're willing to get involved you can bridge any gaps. We have never regretted putting our kids in these particular public schools.
It is so odd that Hawaii is full of asians who are historically known for valuing education, but they have the worst public ed test scores! Why? What is going on there?
Poorly. About one third of secondary ed students are in private - in general, if you can afford it, your kids are in private schools. We were fed up with Utah and wanted to move back to O'ahu. The middle school in Kailua has a bad reputation. When I called them to check out the programs for (somewhat) gifted children, the gal in the office told me that her kids were in private schools...
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