Hawaii Private Schools – 10 Things Parents Should Know

Ten things parents of prospective students should know about Hawaii Private Schools.

1. More than 125 Primary and Secondary Private Schools in Hawaii are accredited by the Hawai’i Association of Independent Schools (HAIS).
2. HAIS provides a good summary and member directory of Hawaii’s private schools.
3. Among Hawaii’s top private schools are Punahou, Mid-Pacific Institute, Iolani and Kamehameha Schools.
4. The cost of a private K-12 school in Hawaii ranges from less than $3,000 to more than $15,000 per year.
5. An annual HAIS Admissions Fair is held in October to allow propective parents and students to meet representatives from the schools.
6. Private School Applications are accepted beginning in the fall, and many are due by December 1. The application process continues into spring and often include a review of the student’s report cards, teacher recommendations, a personal interview, an essay, and other documents.
7. Testing – Students applying for grades 6-12 may have to take the SSAT, while students in lower grades may attend “activity sessions” instead of an interview.
8. Competitive Admissions – Some of Hawaii’s private schools have extremely competitive admissions with many applicants for very few spots.
9. Hawaii has a higher proportion of students attending private schools compared to many other states.
10. A 2008 Hawaii Private School Guide put together by Honolulu Magazine includes a timeline of the admissions process, and also an assessment and ranking of all of Hawaii’s Public Schools.