Punahou School Photo - Punahou`s 76-acre campus, located at the edge of Manoa Valley in Honolulu, is home to more than 50 educational and administrative buildings. Students in grades 9 - 12 attend most of their classes in lower campus, an area known as the Academy Quad (pictured here).

Best Hawaii Private Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 138 private schools serving 41,075 students in Hawaii (there are 297 public schools, serving 169,308 students). 20% of all K-12 students in Hawaii attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
The average private school tuition is $15,668 for elementary schools and $18,683 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
The top-ranked private schools in Hawaii include Iolani School, Kamehamaha Schools - Hilo Camp, and Punahou School.
The average acceptance rate is 78% (view national acceptance rates). Minority enrollment is 72% and the student-teacher ratio is 11:1.
67% of schools are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Christian.

Overview

This State (HI)
US
# Schools
138 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
41,075 Students
5,699,317 Students
% Average Students of Color
72%
34%

Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
3,748 Teachers
507,826 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
52%
55%
Average Class Size
17 students
15 students
Average Number of AP Courses
12 courses
13 courses
Average SAT score
1220
(Out of 1600)
1233
Average ACT score
27
(Out of 36)
26

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$15,873
$14,878
Average Summer Program Cost
$1,695
$1,138
Average % on Financial Aid
35%
35%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$5,147
$7,124
Average Acceptance Rate
78%
82%
Average Endowment Size
$804.5 million
$61.71 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.76
0.65
# American Indian Students
903 Students
29,886 Students
% American Indian Students
2%
1%
# Asian Students
11,908 Students
265,088 Students
% Asian Students
30%
5%
# Hispanic Students
958 Students
507,413 Students
% Hispanic Students
2%
9%
# Black Students
404 Students
416,690 Students
% Black Students
1%
7%
# White Students
7,818 Students
2,932,713 Students
% White Students
20%
52%
# Hawaiian Students
5,495 Students
20,067 Students
% Hawaiian Students
14%
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
12,629 Students
1,471,571 Students
% of Others Students
31%
26%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
10 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
10 sports
7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked private schools in Hawaii?
The top-ranked private schools in Hawaii include Iolani School, Kamehamaha Schools - Hilo Camp, and Punahou School.
How many private schools are located in Hawaii?
There are 138 private schools are located in Hawaii.
How much do private schools cost in Hawaii?
The average private school tuition in Hawaii is $15,668 for elementary schools and $18,683 for high schools
How diverse are private schools in Hawaii?
Approximately 72% of students in Hawaii private schools are minority students (compared to the national percentage).
What percentage of students in Hawaii go to private school?
20% of all K-12 students in Hawaii attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Hawaii?
67% of private schools in Hawaii are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Christian.
Which private schools in Hawaii are often viewed compared to one another?

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