Charter schools show growth in number of students

The number of students in Hawaii’s charter schools rose again this year while overall public school enrollment dipped slightly.

There are 11,877 students in the state’s 37 public charter schools, including the sixth graders who make up the first class ever at DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach, which opened Aug. 5.

Charter school enrollment increased by 2.8%, or 331 students, compared with last fall, according to the state’s official count released this week. Charter students now account for 6.6% of public school enrollment, from 6.4% last year.

Overall enrollment in Hawaii’s 256 public schools slid by 0.2% to 179,331, from 179,698 last year, according to data released last week by the Department of Education.

DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach, a secondary school, started with sixth grade and plans to add a grade level each year. There were 85 students as of the official count date, but 92 students are now attending, said Alex Teece, founding school leader. He expects full enrollment of 100 students this semester.

“Our kids are full of potential and excited for a fresh new start at DreamHouse,” Teece said. “They are coming from over 24 different elementary schools across the Leeward District. They are excited, energetic, young emerging leaders.”

The school is temporarily housed in Laulani Village Shopping Center and plans to move to a long-term home in Kalaeloa next summer. Teece said the curriculum focuses on empowering homegrown leaders.

The state’s largest charter school, Hawaii Technology Academy, took another solid step upward in enrollment this year, with 1,285 students statewide, compared with 1,197 last year.

The academy offers a “blended learning” approach with online classes that students take from home as well as face-to-face instruction at its learning centers. It runs from kindergarten through 12th grade, and younger students must have a “learning coach,” usually a parent, at home.

Kamaile Academy in Waianae is the state’s second-largest charter school, with 878 students, followed by Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science with 710 students in Pahoa on Hawaii island.

Charter schools are tuition-free public schools led by their own governing boards rather than the Board of Education.

The largest public school in Hawaii remains Campbell High in Ewa Beach, with 3,077 students, followed by Waipahu High with 2,777 and Mililani High with 2,620.

The biggest middle and intermediate schools are Mililani Middle with 1,875, Kapolei Middle with 1,487 and Ewa Makai Middle with 1,390.

Among elementary schools, August Ahrens in Waipahu has the most students at 1,274, followed by Holomua in Ewa Beach with 1,127 and Waipahu with 987.