Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 294 schools in district

Waimea Canyon Middle School

9555 Huakai Rd, Waimea, HI 96796Hawaii Department of Education →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
477
Students
Total enrolled
$19,381
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 35% vs nat'l
14.4 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 6% vs nat'l
43/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 15% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 477 students in grades 06–08 in Waimea, Hawaii.
35% above average funding
District spends $19,381 per pupil, 35% more than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 43th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Waimea Canyon Middle School is a mid-sized middle in Waimea, Hawaii, serving grades 06–08 with 477 students. The district invests $19,381 per student — 35% above the national average of $14,347, with a 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 59% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at Waimea Canyon Middle School

477
Total Students
14.4 : 1
Student:Teacher
59%
Free Lunch
33
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution264 male · 213 female
55%
45%
Male 55%Female 45%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility59%
National avg 52% · 281 students
Student Composition
27%
18%
20%
29%
Asian27%
White6%
Hispanic / Latino18%
Multiracial20%
Pacific Islander29%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 150003000092

Academic Outcomes at Waimea Canyon Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
43
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 43th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 44th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 96796

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$19,381Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$19,381
State avg
$19,381
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$8,528
Student Support$3,682
Administration$2,326
Operations$2,907
Other$1,938
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $19,381 spent per student, an estimated $8,586 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
85%
State government
84.7%
Local (property tax)
0.8%
Federal programs
14.5%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $19,381/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
August Ahrens Elementary SchoolEwa Elementary SchoolHolomua Elementary School
↓
Middle
Mililani Middle SchoolEwa Makai Middle SchoolWaipahu Intermediate School
↓
High School
James Campbell High SchoolWaipahu High SchoolMililani High SchoolGovernor Wallace Rider Farrington High School
+19 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyKauai County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictHawaii Department of Education →
Phone: (808)338-6830
NCES ID: 150003000092
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Waimea seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Hawaii Department of Education
High
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3,039 students · 09–12
● 41 opp32% FRL
High
Waipahu High School
2,661 students · 09–12
49% FRL
High
Mililani High School
2,565 students · 09–12
● 48 opp18% FRL
High
Governor Wallace Rider Farrington High School
2,238 students · 09–12
● 52 opp53% FRL
High
Moanalua High School
2,064 students · 09–12
24% FRL
High
Kapolei High School
2,025 students · 09–12
36% FRL
High
Maui High School
1,999 students · 09–12
● 43 opp36% FRL
High
Waianae High School
1,831 students · 09–12
● 38 opp64% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
9555 Huakai Rd, Waimea, HI 96796
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.