Kaua`i High School

Kauai High School (KHS) is located in the main town of Lihue, the island’s second-largest town, financial center, and county seat. Situated on a bluff overlooking Nawiliwili Bay, KHS serves an ethnically diverse student population of approximately 1,000 students. Established in 1914, KHS is the oldest of the three high schools on Kauai. 

In SY 22-23, Kauai High School became a wall-to-wall academy high school. 9th grade students enter into our Freshman Academy and are split into two teams; Team Mauka and Team Makai. In each team, the English Language Arts (ELA), Math, Science, Social Studies, and Freshman Seminar teachers share the same students. Teachers in the Freshman Academy implement common expectations and instructional strategies in all classrooms. Students in grades 10-12 are offered the choice of moving into one of two upper academies. The Academy of Human Services includes the following pathways: Agriculture, Business, Culinary Arts, Health Services, and Hospitality. The Academy of Innovation & Design includes: Automotive Technology, Building & Construction, Digital Media, Cybersecurity and Engineering. 

The academy model allows for more personalized learning experiences for students. Teachers are able to provide students with more opportunities to engage in learning through pedagogical practices tailored to student’s interests and passions while maintaining alignment with the standards. Student Agency within the model allows for more opportunities for students to generate solutions to problems, to set personal growth goals, and/or to evaluate self and peer work and learning progress. Students learn how to take responsibility for their learning outcomes and make connections along the way to personal future aspirations. This model also allows for meaningful and effective teacher collaboration where teachers consistently team to evaluate practice, discuss student progress, identify community opportunities, and mitigate challenges through change processes focused on highly effective, student-centered practices that improve the school and raise student achievement. There are three cornerstones of teacher collaboration at KHS: Academy Teams, Dept/Content Teams, and Student Support Teams.

KHS also continues to offer college and career opportunities through Early College, AP Courses, and CTE work-based learning during a 7-period schedule. Because 60% of our students are athletes, collaborative emphasis between coaches and teachers has become essential. KHS also provides various co-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities for students to pursue their interests and passion outside of academics. KHS strives to create a culture where all students are Educated, Empowered, and Engaged to be successful in their post-high school endeavors.