Hawaii's public schools are demonstrating a significant academic recovery four years after the widespread disruption caused by the pandemic, according to a new state report. The 2025 Strive HI report, released last month by the Department of Education (DOE), reveals notable gains in student proficiency in core subjects like math, science, and language arts, alongside improved attendance rates.
Key Takeaways
- Student math proficiency in Hawaii public schools increased from 32% in 2021 to 41% in 2025.
- A study by Harvard and Stanford universities ranked Hawaii 2nd in reading and 4th in math for post-pandemic recovery nationwide.
- Regular student attendance has rebounded to 76%, up from a low of 66% during the pandemic.
- Despite overall progress, significant achievement gaps persist between high-needs students and their peers.
Statewide Performance Gains Detailed in Report
The 2025 Strive HI report provides a detailed look at the state's educational progress. In the 2020-2021 academic year, proficiency levels were low, with only 32% of students meeting math benchmarks. By the 2024-2025 school year, that figure had climbed to 41%.
Similar improvements were seen in other subjects. Science proficiency rose from 35% to 43%, while language arts saw a modest increase from 50% to 53% over the same period. These gains are particularly strong among high-needs students, a group that includes English learners, economically disadvantaged students, and those in special education.
By the Numbers: Hawaii's Recovery
- Math Proficiency: 41% (up from 32% in 2021)
- Science Proficiency: 43% (up from 35% in 2021)
- Language Arts Proficiency: 53% (up from 50% in 2021)
- On-Time Graduation Rate: Stable at 86%
- Post-Secondary Enrollment: Increased to 53%
DOE Deputy Superintendent Heidi Armstrong noted that student growth is a key indicator of success. "In 2021, fewer than half of students demonstrated a year’s worth of learning in a year," she said. "By 2025, nearly 59% met or exceeded that benchmark."
"The proficiency is not where we want it to be, and we fully recognize that we have work to be done. But we are continuing to see growth year by year in the students, which is letting us know that we are making progress."
- Heidi Armstrong, DOE Deputy Superintendent
National Studies Highlight Hawaii's Success
Hawaii's comeback has not gone unnoticed on the national stage. A recent study from researchers at Harvard University and Stanford University, known as The Education Recovery Scorecard, ranked Hawaii among the best-performing states for post-pandemic learning.
Between 2019 and 2024, the study placed Hawaii fourth in the nation for math recovery and second for reading recovery. This is significant, as the study found that 85% of U.S. students are in districts where math scores have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Further evidence comes from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Hawaii was one of only 15 states to show statistically significant gains in fourth-grade math, outperforming the national average for the second consecutive time. This marks a major turnaround from two decades ago when the state's fourth graders ranked in the bottom tier nationally.
Systemic Changes Fueling Progress
According to Armstrong, the DOE implemented several key strategies following the pandemic. These include benchmark testing three times a year to monitor student progress and providing tiered interventions for students who are falling behind. There has also been a concerted effort to support student well-being through mental health services and social-emotional learning programs, recognizing that non-academic factors can significantly impact learning.
Local Schools Implement Targeted Strategies
Individual schools have played a crucial role in this recovery by adopting focused instructional plans. At Waianae High School, Principal Ray Pikelny-Cook credits a disciplined approach centered on three core strategies developed with consultants from WestEd.
A Focus on Core Instruction
"This time, we chose the three high-yield, greatest effect-size strategies that we can implement in the classroom: daily learning targets, academic conversations and formative assessments," Pikelny-Cook explained.
The results have been substantial. Compared to the previous year, Waianae High saw English language arts proficiency jump from 26% to 46%. Math proficiency more than doubled, increasing from 8% to 21%. These gains were observed across all student groups.
Despite this success, Pikelny-Cook noted that re-engaging students who became disconnected during the pandemic remains a challenge. Her staff uses phone calls, home visits, and flexible career-focused plans to bring students back.
Integrated Learning at Waipahu Intermediate
At Waipahu Intermediate School, Principal Alvan Fukuhara has focused on breaking down departmental "silos." Teachers from different subjects, such as science, math, and English, now plan lessons together. This integrated approach helps students see connections across their coursework.
"Our teachers work together so that students are seeing integration. So they’re not just learning math in math. They’re learning math in science and in English... that’s made a big difference."
- Alvan Fukuhara, Waipahu Intermediate Principal
The school has also expanded its elective offerings in areas like agriculture, media production, and health services to better align with the local high school's career academy model. Over the last four years, math proficiency at Waipahu Intermediate has risen from 24% to 42%, and science proficiency has grown from 27% to 51%.
Persistent Challenges and Future Focus
While the overall trend is positive, Hawaii's education system still faces significant hurdles. The achievement gap between high-needs students and their peers remains wide. In 2025, non-high-needs students were nearly twice as likely to be proficient in math (58% vs. 29%). A similar 34-point gap exists in language arts.
Overall student enrollment has also declined, dropping from nearly 175,000 in 2021 to about 165,000 in 2024. The DOE is exploring various strategies to address this, including expanding relevant elective offerings to boost engagement.
Looking ahead, the department is also investing heavily in workforce readiness. This initiative involves creating stronger partnerships with industry leaders to provide internships and aligning career and technical education with current economic needs.
Armstrong remains proud of the resilience shown by the state's educators. "We have excellent teachers within the system," she said. "I’m very proud of all of our educators... We couldn’t have asked for a better team."
