stories
stories
HomeMoneyLifestyleNewsSportsEntertainmentTravelScienceLocal

Best private high schools in Hawaii

·Stacker

LightField Studios // Shutterstock
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
Add Stacker on Google

As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a '96 commencement address at Wellesley College, "Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead." If that's the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.

It's a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, education is key: 1.4 million students enrolled in private high schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. There were about 3,600 private secondary schools nationwide as of 2020.

For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these private high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to send their kids to better schools. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.

Stacker compiled a list of the best private high schools in Hawaii using 2024 rankings from Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students.

A class of high schoolers as viewed from the rear.

Daniel Hoz // Shutterstock

1 / 30

#30. Ho'ala School

- Location: Wahiawa, HI
- Enrollment: 95 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A student filling out a scantron form for a multiple choice test.

Achira22 // Shutterstock

2 / 30

#29. Maryknoll School

- Location: Honolulu, HI
- Enrollment: 876 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A student talking to a teacher in the hallway.

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

3 / 30

#28. St Anthony School

- Location: Wailuku, HI
- Enrollment: 143 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A student standing next to their backpack as seen from the knee down.

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

4 / 30

#27. Christian Academy

- Location: Honolulu, HI
- Enrollment: 252 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

Students walking down a hallway with their backs facing the camera.

Mircea Moira // Shutterstock

5 / 30

#26. Maili Bible School

- Location: Waianae, HI
- Enrollment: 70 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A high school student doing a chemical experiment.

LStockStudio // Shutterstock

6 / 30

#25. Makua Lani Christian Academy

- Location: Kailua-kona, HI
- Enrollment: 215 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A high school student sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper.

panitanphoto // Shutterstock

7 / 30

#24. Damien Memorial School

- Location: Honolulu, HI
- Enrollment: 704 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A student raising their hand in class.

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

8 / 30

#23. Saint Louis School

- Location: Honolulu, HI
- Enrollment: 882 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

An empty school hallway lined with red lockers.

ImageFlow // Shutterstock

9 / 30

#22. Island Pacific Academy

- Location: Kapolei, HI
- Enrollment: 585 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A student solving a math equation on a whiteboard.

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

10 / 30

#21. Kauai Christian Academy

- Location: Kilauea, HI
- Enrollment: 241 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A row of empty desks with notebooks and pencils on them.

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

11 / 30

#20. Trinity Christian School

- Location: Kailua, HI
- Enrollment: 285 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A hallway lined with green lockers.

SEALANDSKYPHOTO // Shutterstock

12 / 30

#19. Christian Liberty Academy

- Location: Keaau, HI
- Enrollment: 233 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A side view of a person using a laptop in the school library.

sirtravelalot // Shutterstock

13 / 30

#18. Sacred Hearts Academy

- Location: Honolulu, HI
- Enrollment: 713 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

An empty classroom as viewed from the back.

maroke // Shutterstock

14 / 30

#17. Pacific Buddhist Academy

- Location: Honolulu, HI
- Enrollment: 73 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A pencil case full of pens, pencils, and highlighters spilling on a table.

Studio KIWI // Shutterstock

15 / 30

#16. La Pietra – Hawai'i School for Girls

- Location: Honolulu, HI
- Enrollment: 90 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A group of students walking down the hall with their backs facing the camera.

GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

16 / 30

#15. Kaimuki Christian School

- Location: Honolulu, HI
- Enrollment: 318 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

An overhead view of high school pupils in group study sitting around circular tables.

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

17 / 30

#14. Hawaii Baptist Academy

- Location: Honolulu, HI
- Enrollment: 1,110 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Students using microscopes in science class.

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

18 / 30

#13. American Renaissance Academy

- Location: Kapolei, HI
- Enrollment: 101 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

High school students studying and reading together in their school library.

Joyseulay // Shutterstock

19 / 30

#12. St. Joseph School - Hilo

- Location: Hilo, HI
- Enrollment: 211 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Students raising their hands for class participation.

LStockStudio // Shutterstock

20 / 30

#11. Parker School

- Location: Kamuela, HI
- Enrollment: 338 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A stack of textbooks with pens on top of them next to an open notebook.

Canva

21 / 30

#10. Island School

- Location: Lihue, HI
- Enrollment: 498 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Two students sharing a book.

Canva

22 / 30

#9. Seabury Hall

- Location: Makawao, HI
- Enrollment: 517 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A high school student doing classwork on their laptop.

Canva

23 / 30

#8. St. Andrew's Schools

- Location: Honolulu, HI
- Enrollment: 237 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A teacher writing an equation on a blackboard using chalk.

Roman Kosolapov // Shutterstock

24 / 30

#7. Maui Preparatory Academy

- Location: Lahaina, HI
- Enrollment: 271 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Students' backpacks sitting on a hallway floor.

LBeddoe // Shutterstock

25 / 30

#6. Le Jardin Academy

- Location: Kailua, HI
- Enrollment: 795 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Bookshelves at a high school's library.

Canva

26 / 30

#5. Mid-Pacific Institute

- Location: Honolulu, HI
- Enrollment: 1,401 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A stack of spiral noteboooks in front of a wooden background.

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

27 / 30

#4. Hawai'i Preparatory Academy

- Location: Kamuela, HI
- Enrollment: 572 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Two rows of red lockers.

Canva

28 / 30

#3. Punahou School

- Location: Honolulu, HI
- Enrollment: 3,744 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Empty desks in a high school classroom.

Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock

29 / 30

#2. Asia Pacific International School

- Location: Hauula, HI
- Enrollment: 150 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

A closeup of a student taking notes in class.

Canva

30 / 30

#1. Iolani School

- Location: Honolulu, HI
- Enrollment: 2,214 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Emma Rubin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

Trending stories