Hawaiʻi Public Schools Make Gains in Math and Attendance, Near Pre-Pandemic Levels
Hawaiʻi’s public schools continued to make progress during the 2025–26 school year, with mathematics proficiency and regular attendance improving for the fourth consecutive year. New results from the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education’s Strive HI performance system show that students are approaching pre-pandemic achievement levels in mathematics and language arts, although progress remains uneven across subjects.
The findings point to continued recovery from pandemic-related learning disruptions while highlighting the need for further improvement in student achievement.
Why This Matters to Local Families
Student achievement and attendance affect families across Hawaiʻi, from Oʻahu to the neighboring islands. The latest results offer parents, educators and community leaders a clearer picture of where students are making progress and where additional support may be needed.
Regular attendance is especially important because students who attend at least 90% of instructional days tend to achieve stronger academic and graduation outcomes. Improving attendance can help students keep up with lessons, build foundational skills and remain on track toward graduation.
Key Improvements in the 2025–26 Results
According to the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education’s October 8 announcement, the latest Strive HI results show several notable trends.
- Mathematics proficiency increased: The statewide rate reached 42.5%, up from 42.2% in 2024–25 and 38.5% in 2021–22.
- Language arts proficiency remained near pre-pandemic levels: The rate was 53.2%, compared with 53.8% the previous year and 54.1% before the pandemic.
- Regular attendance continued to improve: The rate reached 76.8%, compared with 66.1% in 2021–22.
- On-time graduation remained strong: Preliminary results for the Class of 2026 showed an 87% graduation rate, up from 85% for the Class of 2022.
- Science proficiency held steady: The statewide rate remained approximately 44%.
Among the eight states with 2025–26 assessment results available when the report was released, Hawaiʻi had the second-highest language arts proficiency rate and the third-highest mathematics rate. These comparisons reflect the available results at that time, rather than a complete ranking of every state.
What Is Driving the Progress?
State education officials point to continued work by teachers, school leaders and support staff to improve instruction and address students’ individual needs.
The department’s priorities include strengthening curriculum, providing targeted coaching and professional development, and identifying students who need additional assistance earlier. Schools are also using performance data to evaluate their strategies and adjust instruction when students are not making the expected progress.
However, the results also show that continued improvement will be necessary. The department has set 2029 targets of 65% proficiency in language arts and 50% in mathematics, meaning current achievement levels remain below those goals.
Challenges Ahead for Hawaiʻi Education
Although math proficiency and attendance are improving, language arts proficiency declined slightly from the previous school year. The statewide figures also mask differences among schools and student groups, making it important to look beyond averages when evaluating progress.
Education officials have emphasized that returning to pre-pandemic performance levels is only one step. Sustained improvement will require continued instructional support, effective use of student data and collaboration among schools, families and communities.
Practical Takeaway for Families
Hawaiʻi’s latest Strive HI results show measurable progress in mathematics, attendance and graduation, but they also underscore the work still needed to help more students meet academic expectations.
Families can review performance reports for individual schools, stay in contact with teachers and ask about available academic support when students need help. Community members can also follow statewide updates to understand how schools are progressing toward the department’s 2029 achievement targets.
For the full results and school-level performance information, visit the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education and its Strive HI performance dashboard.