WAIAKEAWAENA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Where: 2420 Kilauea Ave., Hilo; Hilo Elementary District

Grade span: Kindergarten through fifth

Enrollment: 786 students

Race/ethnicity enrollment: Hawaiian/part-Hawaiian, 38 percent; Japanese, 20 percent; Filipino, 9 percent; and other, 33 percent

Free and reduced-price lunch eligible: 40 percent

Special-education students: 10 percent

Computers on campus: Each classroom has three computers for students to use, the library has a mini-lab set-up and there is a fully operational computer lab for classroom instruction.

Principal: Beverly McCall

School nickname: Menehune

School colors: Green and yellow

What are you most proud of? "Our commitment to academics is evident in the strong home-grown professional development opportunities throughout the year that keep our teachers abreast of current issues and trends in education," McCall said. "Stable Hawai'i State Assessment scores with low behavior problems, while still focusing on fine arts and physical education. We are one of a few elementary schools with a musical band."

What is your biggest challenge? "Meeting the increasing demands of No Child Left Behind."

Special events: Solar Boat Day competition, Gifted and Talented Program, ELL Speech Festival and Junior Achievement. The school participates in community service activities such as May Day, Jump Rope for Heart and Veterans Day Project.

History: The school was established in 1915 as a two-room schoolhouse. Now it has 40 classrooms.

Phone: 808-981-7200