Education

The Hawaii Public School System falls under one school district is and managed by the Hawaii State Board of Education. However, there are fifteen complexes and 290 schools statewide.

There are no DoD Schools in Hawaii. With certain exceptions, all children between the ages of 6 and 18 must attend either a public or private school. Kindergarten, for which a child must be five years of age before July 31th of the school year, is optional. The birth date cut-off for Kindergarten is July 31th of the year in which school begins. Besides public schools, parents have the option of private schools, charter schools, and homeschool. The Army School Liaison Services provides access to a wide range of resources to facilitate Army youth education transitions.

There are no DoDDS Schools in Hawaii. Children living on post will attend schools in the Central Oahu School District. Hale Kula Elementary, 808-622-6380; Solomon Elementary, 808-624-9500; Wheeler Elementary, 808-622-6400 and Wheeler Middle School, 808-622-6525 on post run by Hawaii Department of Education, Central School District. High school students attend the nearest off-post school in the community. Call 808-655-8326 or visit the School Liaison website for more information.

USAG-HI School Liaison Office

The School Liaison Officer Program is a branch of Child & Youth Services (CYS), under the umbrella of the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (DMFWR). The program is responsible for the coordination and assistance of Army school-age youth with educational opportunities and information necessary to achieve academic success. There are three School Liaison Officers available to assist public, private, charter, and homeschool students in Hawaii. Please contact the USAG-HI School Liaison Office with any questions or concerns regarding your child’s educational needs and/or transition to Hawaii. The School Liaison Officers may be reached at (808) 655-8326 or you can visit their website at https://hawaii.armymwr.com/programs/school-support-services.

Army Youth Sponsorship Program

The Army Hawaii - Youth Sponsorship Program will provide youth with the necessary information and tools to help them cope with their transition to paradise. Our goal is to provide consistent and predictable transition services to eligible children and youth living on and off post, regardless of their geographic proximity to an Army installation. To request a Youth Sponsor or a welcome packet to be mailed to your child prior to your arrival in Hawai’i, please call the USAG-HI School Liaison Office at (808) 655-8326.

Hawai’i Public Schools

The Hawaii State Department of Education’s (DOE) public school system was founded on October 15, 1840 by King Kamehameha III. The DOE oversees 283 public and charter schools with about 185,000 students and 13,000 teachers. Roughly 8% of students enrolled in Hawaii public schools are military-connected.

The majority of Army-dependents in Hawaii live in and attend school in the Central District of the Department of Education which covers the areas of Waialua/Haleiwa through the outskirts of Honolulu. It is made up of the Aiea, Moanalua, Radford, Mililani, Leilehua, and Waialua Complexes.

There are also Army-connected children that attend the Leeward, Honolulu, and Windward Districts on the island of O’ahu. In general, a school is eligible for assistance by a School Liaison Officer if they have just one Army-connected student attending their campus.

Homeschool

Homeschooling is another option for parents to educate their children. For more information on homeschooling in Hawaii and how to complete the 4140 Intent to Homeschool form, please visit http://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/ParentsAndStudents/EnrollingInSchool/Choosingaschool/Pages/Homeschooling-FAQs.aspx

Accreditation

School accreditation fosters excellence and continual evaluation encourages school improvement. Hawai’i schools are partnered with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), a world-renowned accrediting association, to ensure that elementary, middle, and high schools are fully accredited and are meeting acceptable levels of quality.

Geographic Exceptions

Under Hawaii laws, all students are required to attend the school in the geographic area in which they reside, based on their street address. However, permission to attend another school may be granted. Public school students who wish to attend a particular school other than their home school may request an exception; however, these are rare and are not always granted. All Geographic Exception applications should be submitted to the home school (the school that the student would attend based on official residence) for signature and then the request will be routed or is to be delivered to the school that is preferred.

Registration

When a child registers for school in Hawaii for the first time, the following records are required:

• Birth Certificate (baptismal records or a passport are acceptable)
• Valid photo ID of parent/guardian
• Certificate of Release and Proficiency from the previous school or contact information so the Hawai’i school can reach out to them
• Special Needs students should bring in all IEP, 504, or Gifted/Talented documentation
• Tuberculosis (TB) clearance completed within the last year
• Physical examination completed within the last year
• Required immunizations depending on their age/grade. Children may be exempt from immunization requirements based on medical or religious reasons
• Proof of Current Address (rental/lease agreement, mortgage document, or current real property assessment documents; utility bill; etc)

Schools for Temporary Lodging

While your family is staying in temporary lodging, the Department of Education has designated the following schools as temporary schools for school aged children staying at the Inn at Schofield:

• For school-aged children staying at Tripler Lodging:

• For school-aged children staying at the Best Western Plaza Hotel or the Honolulu Airport Hotel:

For more information on Hawaii public schools, please visit the Hawaii Department of Education website at www.hawaiipublicschools.org.

Schools for Permanent Housing

If you permanently reside on one of the Army, Island Palm Communities housing areas, depending on your street address, you will be assigned to the following designated schools:

Helemano Military Reservation

Kindergarten to 5th Grade - Helemano Elementary School or Wahiawa Elementary School

Grades 6 to 8 - Wahiawa Middle School

Grades 9 to 12 - Leilehua High School.

Schofield Barracks

Kindergarten to 5th Grade – Solomon, Daniel K. Inouye, or Wheeler Elementary School

Grade 6 to 8 - Wheeler Middle School

Grades 9 to 12 - Leilehua High School.

Wheeler Army Airfield

Kindergarten to 5th Grade - Wheeler Elementary School

Grades 6 to 8 - Wheeler Middle School

Grades 9 to 12 - Leilehua High School.

Fort Shafter

Kindergarten to 6th Grade - Shafter Elementary School

Grades 7 to 8 - Moanalua Middle School

Grades 9 to 12 - Moanalua High School.

Tripler Army Medical Center Housing

Kindergarten to 6th Grade - Moanalua Elementary School

Grades 7 to 8 - Moanalua Middle School

Grades 9 to 12 - Moanalua High School.

Aliamanu Military Reservation

Kindergarten to 6th Grade - Red Hill, Makalapa, Pearl Harbor, or Webling Elementary Schools

Grades 7 to 8 - Aliamanu, Aiea, or Moanalua Middle Schools

Grades 9 to 12 - Radford, Aiea, or Moanalua High Schools.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation is based on credits earned in grades 9-12. A total of 24 credits are required. A student transferring from out-of-state or from a private school shall meet the Hawaii requirements or shall show evidence of equivalency in meeting the requirements. Minimum graduation requirements are:

Honors Recognition Certificate Requirements

In addition to meeting the requirements for the Hawaii High School Diploma, students must attain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above to qualify for an honors recognition certificate in one or more of the honors described below:

STEM Honors

• 4 credits of Math: The four credits must include one credit of Algebra 2 and one credit beyond Algebra 2. The credit beyond Algebra 2 must be earned via the following courses or equivalent: Running Start math courses, Algebra 3, Trigonometry, Analytic Geometry, Precalculus, Probability, Statistics, Introduction to College Mathematics, Calculus, AP Calculus, AP Computer Science, AP Computer Science Principles, IB Math Studies, or IB Math Standard Level.
• 4 credits of Science: Of the four credits, one credit must be in Biology 1 or equivalent IB Biology; or AP Biology courses, and
• Successful completion of a STEM Capstone Project in one of the approved ACCN course

CTE Honors

• Completes program of study (2-3 courses in sequence plus a state-identified specific academic course requirement).
  • Earn a B or better in each required program of study (coursework)
  • Meet or exceed proficiency on performance-based assessments for corresponding program of study
• Completes one of the following written assessments for the corresponding program of study:
  • Earn at least 70% on each end-of-course assessment
  • Earn a nationally-recognized certificate
  • Earn a passing score on a Dual Credit Articulated Program of Study assessment

Academic Honors

• 4 credits of Math: The four credits must include one credit of Algebra 2 and one credit beyond Algebra 2. The credit beyond Algebra 2 must be earned via the following courses or equivalent: Running Start math courses: Algebra 3, Trigonometry, Analytic Geometry, Precalculus, Probability, Statistics, Introduction to College Mathematics, Calculus, AP Calculus, AP Computer Science, AP Computer Science Principles, IB Math Studies, or IB Math Standard Level. AND
• 4 credits of Science: Of the four credits, one credit must be in Biology 1 or equivalent IB Biology; or AP Biology courses. AND
• 2 credits minimum must be from AP/IB/Running Start courses (equivalent to credits for two college courses).

In addition, two credits in a single World Language or two credits of fine arts or two credits from Career and Technical Education in a single career pathway program or two consecutive JROTC courses.

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) – Systems Navigators

EFMP staff will mediate for families regarding their child’s 504, IEP, and other special needs related to school. Many EFMP- linked families request an EFMP Systems Navigator to accompany them in school meetings to assist in receiving the appropriate school services.

Contact the EFMP Manager at 808-787-4227, DSN 315-455-4227. They are located in the Army Community Service Building on Schofield Barracks.

School Sports Programs

Schools vary in the area of sports in regards to elementary schools and middle schools. Some of the team sports offered are: basketball, volleyball, and track and field.

High Schools offer the following sports: Baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, volleyball, water polo, air riflery, cross country, judo, tennis, track and field, cheerleading, golf, bowling, paddling and wrestling. Please check with individual schools to confirm which sports they offer.

Before and After School Programs

Some public schools offer before and after school programs for their students. The before school program generally begins at 6:00 a.m. The after school program generally ends at 5:30 p.m. Both of these programs are supervised by adults and offer a variety of activities including arts and crafts, homework assistance, and physical fitness. There is an additional cost to the before and after school care programs and not all schools offer these programs. Please contact the school for more information.

Meals

Breakfast and Lunch are served at all public schools. Breakfast is generally served 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Lunch is generally served 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Check with each individual school for specific information.

Free-and-reduced breakfast and lunch are available to families who meet income eligibility guidelines. To apply for Free-and-Reduced lunch, submit an online application through the EZMealApp at secure.ezmealapp.com.

Current meal costs for elementary students (PreK-8) is $1.10 for breakfast and $2.50 for lunch. Secondary students (grades 9-12) is $1.10 for breakfast and $2.75 for lunch. The cost of the meals are subject to change at any time.

Bus Service

State school bus service is partially subsidized by the State and is available to students living beyond a one-mile radius of the school (1 ½ miles for middle and high school students). Parents are responsible for the cost of their child’s bus transportation. Free bus is available to students who meet income eligibility guidelines and qualify for free lunch.

The flat rates for student bus passes are:

• Annual Round Trip: $270
• Annual One Way: $135
• Quarterly Round Trip: $72
• Quarterly One Way: $36
• One-way bus coupons are sold by sheets of 10 at $12.50 per sheet (cash or with a credit card online only)

** During COVID and School Year 20-21, only coupons are available for purchase in sheets of 10 at $10.00 per sheet.

The website to apply for bus passes/coupons online or for instructions, visit https:hi.etrition.com/busapplication.

For more information on Hawaii public schools, please visit the Hawaii Department of Education website at www.hawaiipublicschools.org.