Nuuanu Elementary School

While Principal Arakaki is known for increasing students’ test scores, that’s turned out to be all that the focus is any more. Students have been reduced to math and reading scores, and are no longer supported as whole-children. In the time that he’s been at Pauoa, there’s no art or music classes during the school day, and there’s no May Day either. He cut the GT program, and the library sits unused by students, which is weird for a school that is so proud of its academic achievements. He requires that some students spend up to 3 hours a week on their iPads doing i-Ready if they’re in the “red” for math and reading, and all behavior problems are handled by the school counselor, not the principal. The teachers at Pauoa work incredibly hard, and it has been sad to see how much their roles have been reduced to producing results.

We moved to this school from Webling Elm. The staff here is top notch, every single one of them. My kids love going to school going here. And when I need to interact with the staff, I never have an issue. The ladies at the front office are all over it. I have interacted with the VP and she is really invested in the children. I have seen her advocate for the kids with her own staff of teachers in a private meeting. I had an issue the special service coordinator and principle helped me out the same day. The teachers have high expectations, but they want the kids to succeed. I heard was a good school, but I have been beyond amazed at how special every person is. Nurse Karen who is super caring, but also knows a nervous stomach over a sick child. And one of the school counselor’s, Ms. Fujimoto, who is outside helping the parents who sometimes have difficulties with morning drop off. I really can’t say enough good things!!!

My son has attended kindergarten and 1st grade a Lincoln Elementary, where he is a special education student. It's unfortunate that he needs extra supports, but I think he's been lucky to attending such a good school for him. The staff as Lincoln have done an exemplary job at being there for him, starting each day with a genuine smile to greet him. In particular, my son started reading before he even started Kindergarten, and his teachers have used that strength to his advantage. His teachers make learning fun, and they've adjusted his materials so that he isn't tied to the pace of his sped or general ed classmates. He was even advanced on first-grade math. I also noticed that the speech therapist was knowledgeable about my son's specific manner of using language and was up to date on the literature of how to approach it.