Pahoa High and Intermediate School

Pāhoa High & Intermediate School (PHIS) occupies 23 acres in the lower Puna District of the island of Hawai‘i, a geographic area half the size of O‘ahu. Puna contains a widely diverse population with an overall socioeconomic status below state averages. Pāhoa Village is connected to the city of Hilo, 20.6 miles away, by one roadway and has limited county bus service. Most of the working populace is employed in Hilo, while others rely on the limited jobs available in agriculture, schools and small businesses. PHIS is surrounded by 22 subdivisions, and many lack public transportation, county water, electricity, telephone, paved roads and shopping areas. Students are not able to walk to school from many of these subdivisions. A substantial number of PHIS students qualify and receive a variety of special services. In spite of the district’s geographic size and diverse population. PHIS has been very successful in providing students with opportunities for learning beyond the academic setting. Pāhoa High & Intermediate School received a bronze medal ranking by 
US News & World Report in 2012, out of 21,776 US high schools evaluated. The school won $5,500 as one of the 18 schools nationwide selected as GRAMMY Signature Schools, an award program honoring top U.S. public schools for their outstanding commitment to music education. PHIS was one of six Hawai‘i schools recognized by the Hawai‘i State Department of Education for energy conservation and environmental eff orts in the inaugural Green Ribbon Schools program. Also, the school won the Keep America Beautiful “Recycle-Bowl” national recognition award for Hawai‘i in 2012, for its contribution in reducing greenhouse gases through its recycling program.

In January 2012, Pāhoa High & Intermediate School celebrated the opening of its 1,000 seat gymnasium as the new home for Dagger sports and schoolwide activities. For the prior 69 years, the county gym was utilized for athletic and school events. The agriculture program prepares students by teaching life long skills in agriculture and related fi elds, as well as increasing students’ awareness of the global and technological importance of agriculture. Intermediate school students are provided with free after school online tutoring and a variety of character building activities. The Transition Center facilitates programs that prepare for post-graduate programs through work experiences that include the Education and Career Opportunities System (ECOS), Early College Running Start, Upward Bound, and internships. Additionally, PHIS helps students develop character building attributes, which promote effective communication and citizenry. We believe these eff orts help students realize our school’s vision of succeeding as “a graduate who has the skills and knowledge to succeed socially, personally, and academically in a global society.”

U.S. News & World Report awarded Pahoa High & Intermediate School a bronze medal recognizing the school as one of the 2013 Best High Schools ranking.

 

Pahoa High and Intermediate provides rigorous standards-based education and tailors interventions to meet students’ needs. Data is shared weekly through professional learning communities, where professional development for educators is also planned. The school has established a monthly peer walkthrough for teachers to observe good practices.