What share of students in Hawaii are proficient in math?

In 2024, 23% of eighth graders in Hawaii public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (14th lowest among the 50 states and DC) and 29% in reading, compared with 28% and 29% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Hawaii, United States: official figures

86.0% of public high school students in Hawaii graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 21st lowest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

86.0%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

216

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

270

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$23,878

FY2024

Public school enrollment

169,308

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

37.8%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Hawaii rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Hawaii was 86.0% in 2021-22, compared with 81% in 2011-12 and 85.2% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Hawaii?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Hawaii was 85.0% for Black, 83.0% for Hispanic and 87.0% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Hawaii score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Hawaii averaged 216 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 13th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 218 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 32% scored at or above Proficient and 39% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Hawaii score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Hawaii averaged 257 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 24th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 258 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 29% scored at or above Proficient and 33% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Hawaii score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Hawaii averaged 239 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 13th highest among the 50 states and DC, the same as 239 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 42% scored at or above Proficient and 23% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Hawaii score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Hawaii averaged 270 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 23rd lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 275 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 23% scored at or above Proficient and 42% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Hawaii spend per student?

Public school systems in Hawaii spent $23,878 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 7th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Hawaii going up?

Current spending per pupil in Hawaii rose from $16,132 in fiscal 2019 to $23,878 in fiscal 2024, up 48.0% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 19.1%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Hawaii spend school money on?

Of the $23,878 spent per pupil in Hawaii in fiscal 2024, $13,872 went on instruction and $8,960 on support services; salaries and wages came to $11,050 per pupil and employee benefits $6,254.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Hawaii come from?

Public school systems in Hawaii received $4.1 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 13.1% from the federal government, 85.3% from the state and 1.5% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Hawaii spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Hawaii was $4.4 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $4.1 billion was current spending and $342.75 million capital outlay on buildings and equipment.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Hawaii?

169,308 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Hawaii in fall 2023, down 6.5% on fall 2019 (181,088) and down 9.4% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Hawaii?

Public schools in Hawaii had 11,984 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 14.2 pupils per teacher, joint 26th fewest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Hawaii in fall 2019: 14.8).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Hawaii have a college degree?

37.8% of adults aged 25 and over in Hawaii, about 392,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; joint 17th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 2.5 percentage points on 2021 (35.3%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Hawaii have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 13.9% of adults 25 and over in Hawaii had a graduate or professional degree and 10.2% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Hawaii did not finish high school?

93.7% of adults 25 and over in Hawaii had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 6.3% without one; that share is joint 10th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Hawaii compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Hawaii ranks 29 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
26	Maryland	86.3%
27	Ohio	86.2%
28	Maine	86.1%
29	Hawaii	86.0%
30	Montana	85.8%
31	New Jersey	85.2%
32	North Dakota	85.1%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Hawaii ranks 19 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
16	Maryland	216
17	Louisiana	216
18	Idaho	216
19	Hawaii	216
20	Rhode Island	216
21	North Dakota	216
22	New York	215

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Hawaii ranks 26 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
23	Rhode Island	258
24	New York	257
25	Louisiana	257
26	Hawaii	257
27	North Dakota	257
28	Vermont	257
29	Virginia	256

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Hawaii ranks 19 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
16	Wisconsin	239
17	Connecticut	239
18	Mississippi	239
19	Hawaii	239
20	Pennsylvania	238
21	Virginia	238
22	Washington	238

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Hawaii ranks 32 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
29	Michigan	270
30	Arizona	270
31	Missouri	270
32	Hawaii	270
33	Rhode Island	270
34	California	269
35	Texas	269

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Hawaii ranks 38 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
35	Georgia	23.7%
36	South Carolina	23.7%
37	Oregon	23.7%
38	Hawaii	23.2%
39	Missouri	23.0%
40	Mississippi	21.6%
41	Alaska	21.5%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Hawaii ranks 33 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
30	Iowa	39.5%
31	Rhode Island	39.3%
32	Minnesota	39.1%
33	Hawaii	39.1%
34	Tennessee	38.9%
35	Wisconsin	38.8%
36	Idaho	38.6%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Hawaii ranks 7 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
4	New Jersey	$27,234
5	Connecticut	$26,316
6	Massachusetts	$24,429
7	Hawaii	$23,878
8	New Hampshire	$22,978
9	Delaware	$22,201
10	Rhode Island	$22,110

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Hawaii ranks 4 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
1	New Mexico	+73.6%
2	Nevada	+58.5%
3	California	+48.1%
4	Hawaii	+48.0%
5	Oregon	+45.2%
6	Colorado	+44.2%
7	Michigan	+43.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Hawaii ranks 51 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
45	Alaska	23.8%
46	Idaho	20.9%
47	New Mexico	16.7%
48	Nevada	16.3%
49	Arkansas	16.0%
50	Vermont	2.6%
51	Hawaii	1.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Hawaii ranks 25 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
22	New Mexico	14.6
23	Georgia	14.4
24	Maryland	14.3
25	Hawaii	14.2
26	Delaware	14.2
27	South Carolina	14.1
28	Iowa	14.1

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Hawaii ranks 51 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
45	New York	-5.9%
46	New Mexico	-5.9%
47	New Hampshire	-6.1%
48	Oregon	-6.2%
49	Mississippi	-6.3%
50	West Virginia	-6.3%
51	Hawaii	-6.5%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Hawaii ranks 18 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
15	Rhode Island	39.0%
16	California	38.1%
17	Oregon	37.8%
18	Hawaii	37.8%
19	North Carolina	37.1%
20	Maine	37.1%
21	Pennsylvania	36.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Hawaii ranks 43 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
40	Alaska	6.6%
41	Utah	6.4%
42	Wisconsin	6.3%
43	Hawaii	6.3%
44	South Dakota	6.0%
45	North Dakota	5.9%
46	Minnesota	5.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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