Hawaii Preparatory Academy vs. Parker School
Should you attend Hawaii Preparatory Academy or Parker School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.
School Overview
Top Rankings
Hawaii Preparatory Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Hawaii for:
Category
Attribute
SAT Score
Advanced Degrees
Student Body
Sports offered
Extracurriculars
n/a
Overview
Hawaii Preparatory Academy is a co-educational, college-preparatory, day and boarding school. On Hawai'i Island, you will live and learn within spectacular landscapes, vital ecosystems, and a mix of world cultures. At Hawai'i Preparatory Academy, we embrace these unique resources to create research partnerships, signature programs, and exceptional learning opportunities that make HPA a school like no other.
HPA is now accepting applications for the 2024-2025 application season! We are accepting applications now through our priority deadline of February 10, 2024. After that, we will move into the rolling application phase.
Hawai'i Preparatory Academy is a top rated, private, boarding school. It has 572 students in grades K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 8 to 1. Tuition is $64,800 for the highest grade offered. After graduation, 95% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college.
The school is located in the beautiful, rural setting of Waimea on the northern side of the spectacular island of Hawaii, which National Geographic named one of the best places in the world to live.
At HPA, our location allows us to offer a high school education like no other. We combine a rigorous, college-preparatory curriculum with the chance to design and conduct your own real-world research, arts, or community projects. Through capstone classes, 16 Advanced Placement courses, our award-winning Energy Lab, immersive local learning, and other signature programs, we support and empower you to hone skills, build confidence, and create an impressive body of work for college and later life.
At Parker School, every student is known, valued and nurtured.
Our small-school setting and dynamic program foster confident, compassionate individuals who are thoroughly prepared for college, who enthusiastically engage in life and who positively contribute to an ever-changing global community.
Grades Offered
K-12
K-12
Blue Ribbon School
No
No
Offers Post-Graduate Year
Yes
No
Learning Difference Programs
Yes
No
Learning Programs Supported
Mild Learning Differences
n/a
Year Founded
1949
1976
Students Body
Total Students
599 students
306 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
% Students of Color
21%
49%
Students by Grade
Students by Grade
Kindergarten Students
8
13
Grade 1 Students
19
17
Grade 2 Students
20
18
Grade 3 Students
19
17
Grade 4 Students
21
19
Grade 5 Students
22
19
Grade 6 Students
29
30
Grade 7 Students
33
30
Grade 8 Students
50
28
Grade 9 Students
82
26
Grade 10 Students
94
29
Grade 11 Students
91
30
Grade 12 Students
111
30
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
67 teachers
30 teachers
% Faculty with Advance Degree
90%
65%
Average Class Size
15
16
Number of AP Classes
17
12
Teacher : Student Ratio
1:9
1:10
Average SAT score
1320
1150
Average ACT score
n/a
26
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
(No uniform)
(No uniform)
Casual
Finances and Admission
Admission Deadline
Feb. 10 / rolling
Feb. 5 / rolling
Tuition Cost
$59,100
$17,890
Tuition Notes
There are multiple tuition rates according to day or boarding, Lower, Middle, Upper School, or International. The tuition listed is for Upper School 7-day boarding for 2023-2024.
K-5 grade tuition for 2020-21: $15995
6-12 grade tuition for 2017-18: $17890
Tuition increase averages between 3-6% per year.400
% on Financial Aid
48%
41%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$18,000
$8,560
Acceptance Rate
70%
87%
Admissions Director
Tiare Judd Police, '86
Makela Bruno-Kidani
Admissions Associate
Jackie Jefferson
Maile Wong
Sports
Total Sports Offered
26
6
Sports
Extracurriculars
Total Extra-curric.Total Extracurriculars
32
18
Extra-curric.Extracurriculars
Chess Club, College Counseling Club, Cycling Club, Debate and Speech Club, Electronic Music club, Environmental Club, Film Club, Hawaiian Club, Instrumental Music, International Club, Japanese Club, Ka Makani Club, Literary Magazine, Newspaper, North Hawai'i Youth Coalition, Nutrition Club, Origami Club, Peer Assistance Program, Philosophy Club, Photography Club, Project Water Club, Red Cross Youth Group, Red Key Guide Club (Student Ambassadors), Robotics Club, SAT Club, Spanish Club, Student Council, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Students for China Club, Tea & Philosophy Club, Vocal Music, Yearbook
Amnesty International, Chorus, Class Leadership, Dramatiques, Intermural sports, International Thespian Society, Investment Club, Journalism Club, National Art Honor Society, National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, Pacific & Asian Affairs Council, Parker Bulls Soccer Club, Robotics Team, Speech and Debate, Student Council, Track and Field, Yearbook