Ka'ewai Elementary School has managed to do what two-thirds of Hawai'i's public schools could not — meet state goals on the Hawai'i State Assessment, or make "adequate yearly progress."

And Ka'ewai has done it two out of the past three years, no small feat for a school that serves predominantly disadvantaged and immigrant children, said principal Dale Spaulding.

"We just have to work and work and work and work and not give up," said Spaulding. "We stick to things that work, but we are also always trying new and different things."

Ka'ewai Elementary is in the foothills of Kalihi. The campus is not very wide, but the classroom buildings are terraced down a gently sloping hill, giving the school a secure and secluded feel. Light mists are common on campus, and the classrooms are open and airy.

Many classrooms have storage areas for backpacks outside, a symbol of the community feeling of trust and respect that Spaulding feels is central to the school.

The school's reading program, "Success for All," has helped improve student skills, said Spaulding. Every day there is a 90-minute in-class reading session during which teachers read to students and then students read to themselves.

Every night, students are required to read to their parents for at least 20 minutes.

Students also are allowed to read with grades other than their own. For example, a third-grade student who reads at an accelerated level can spend reading time with a fifth-grade class.

Every eight weeks, students are evaluated to see whether they are making improvements and if they need to be changed to a different reading group. A certain percentage of students in every grade who are having problems reading attend one-on-one tutoring sessions.

Spaulding said the program "works well for us because it really takes into account special-education children, ESL children, regular-education children and gifted and talented children — so there is a place for everybody."

Parents also are an important factor in the school's success. The parents have a lot of trust and are very supportive, said Spaulding, and "though many come from non-literate societies and can't speak English, they always do whatever they can to support their kids and the school, which is something we simply could not do without."

What are you most proud of? The hard work and sacrifices the faculty make to give our students a top-notch education, said Spaulding. Also, making Adequate Yearly Progress and the beautiful grounds that our custodial staff maintains.

Best-kept secret: That 33 percent of our school's students are from outside district boundaries and must apply and be accepted in order to attend.

Everybody at our school knows: Auntie Barb, our health aide and co-coordinator of the A-Plus program.

Our biggest challenge: Passing the state reading and math exams.

What we need: We need supplies, said Spaulding. "We're a high-poverty area. We need parent involvement to support the children's education. (The) community is becoming more and more supportive as they learn about us and our efforts."

Special events: The school just celebrated its 50th anniversary in June with a week of activities, including a student and a community fair.