Pōmaikaʻi in Top 5% of Public Schools for Performance, Growth

File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Pōmaikaʻi Elementary School in Kahului recently received the highest rating of recognition through the state Department’ of Education’s “Strive HI” Accountability and Performance System for 2013-14.

The results were released by the Department of Education in August, and featured the top 5% of public schools statewide for their academic achievement, and college and career readiness.

Pōmaikaʻi was among a list of 14 schools across the state, and the only one on Maui, that was added to the “Recognition Category” list for meeting the “Highest-Performing” criteria for the first time.

The category is reserved for only the highest performing and highest growth schools in achievement, graduation rates, and achievement gaps.

The schools were expected to receive recognition and a financial reward at a DOE event this month.

As part of the school’s effort to provide professional development for teachers and quality instruction for students, Pōmaikaʻi partners with several nonprofit and community organizations.

Susan Browne, the director of education at the Maui Arts & Culutral Center said the school’s partnership with the MACC in the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts’ Partners in Education program is critical to the school’s success. Through the program, Browne said, many of the school’s teachers regularly attend professional development workshops at the center.

Pōmaikaʻi School is now seven years old, and was established with an “arts-integrated, technology-supported curriculum.”

According to the school’s website, the facility works to “connect academics through 21st century skills through arts integration and technology.”