Lt Col Horrace Meek Hickam Elementary School

I have had all four of my kids attend Hickam, grades K-6th, and have overall been really happy with the staff. The PTO is extremely active which helps fund a lot of school activities. As with any school, I think the teacher your child gets will affect how you would rate this. I've been both happy and unhappy at times. My older child has less homework than my 1st grader, so this has been my feedback to those teachers. Principle Erickson and Vice Principal S. are both really active and involved, so high marks for their availability to speak to. Even though Hawaii does have a bad reputation for schools, this one is an exception. I'm glad our kids feel safe and supported in the military family atmosphere. As for middle school, I am homeschooling my older two now with Hawaii Technical Academy through k12 and am really happy with it. Definitely do your homework, I've heard Ewa areas have great schools. Aliamanu Middle is one to steer clear from.
--Submitted by a parent

I had a daughter and a grandson attend Hickam. I have taught at some of the top notch schools on this island, ie KES and Punahou so I do know the educational system, inside and out. All DOE schools have an uphill battle, trying to fit everything in, constant turnover of students and being held accountable for HSA scores. I hate the idea of teaching to a test but I understand why it has to be done in some manner. All states have different standards and benchmarks, Hawaii has some of the most rigorous believe it or not. With a population of students entering Hickam from all over the world it is imperative they at least touch on what they are expected to know. The new principal is working diligently to correct the past, from everything I hear from educators he is top notch. Teachers only have base access during school hours, that makes a difference. Awards are suppose to reward the student that excelled and encourage others to try to earn one. It would seem odd to hand out awards after school, like it is something being hidden. Carrying a chair is not going to harm any kid. Finally, our family is white. We have NEVER been bullied, harassed. Follow the golden rule, works wonders!
--Submitted by a parent

Students are being taken out all around me and home schooled. The odvious thing is, they are behind academics. They are all about having the children memorize what is on the standarized state test from day one. It feels as if the staff are watching the clock with you. The first couple years, they were helpful with my complaints and such, but this last year it appears they don't care anymore. I think they know your clock is running out and who cares you are leaving soon ( school on military base). They have pretty much Friday Fun day. Wednesday short day. They don't tell the parents about award assemblys unless you child is getting one. But your child has to carry his chair to the front of school and miss academics for an hour and endure the humiliation. Parents are giving gifts to the kids who are getting an award around them. Only a handful of kids per class get an award. I have asked the Principal to stop this practice. Other schools do it afterschool and you only go if you are getting the award. I have heard of fellow officers taking retirement when they are told to go to Hawaii. The school are that bad. It is what you hear about.
--Submitted by a parent

Moved on-base from the Ewa Beach area last year. Overall, the administrators, school activities and communication were top-notch. I thought the academics were average--not bad but nothing special compared to my child's teacher at her previous school at Ewa Beach. Not a lot of assignment that required much effort or intellictual stimulation--all textbook. My child even complained of assignments being "too" easy. Hickam Elementary needs to implement the AVID Program something the other school had and was beneficial to all students at the upper elementary level.
--Submitted by a parent

I too, would like to add a review for 2011. My daughter has attended Hickam Elementary from Kindergarten to 2nd grade. She is starting 3rd grade next year. 3 years of great experiences with the school. Like the previous person said, we all have our "favorite" teachers though. My daughter was a geographical exception as well. I highly recommend this school. If my children were not attending this school, I would be paying $17K (for two) to attend private school. That is how strongly I feel the difference is between Hickam Elementary and surrounding public schools. My youngest daughter will start Kindergarten at Hickam next school year & I couldn't be happier.
--Submitted by a parent

I noticed that many of the lower ratings that HES received were from 2009 so here s a current one. My child has been attending HES for 3 years and it s been a blessing. We did a geographical exception to come to HES after a very bad 3rd grade year elsewhere. After 3 years of discussing the school with staff and other parents, I can say without hesitation that every teacher here is good to excellent. I do not know of one teacher that I would say to a parent, "Don't get that teacher." Of course we have our favorites, but that's true everywhere. The Leadership staff has changed over the past 3 years and I am extremely pleased with the direction the new staff is taking. Security is a little lax compared to mainland standards, but compared to Hawaii standards it is great. You are in the middle of two military bases and a big fence runs all along the back side. They also have staff and parents watching the grounds. The discipline at HES is excellent. Bullying and discrimination are not allowed. HES also offers many extracurricular activities and the staff that lead them are excellent. Overall I would give HES 5 stars for Hawaii or 4 stars for the whole country.
--Submitted by a parent

Let's be honest. The fearmongering amongst parents when we announce a transfer to Hawai'i is strong. We are told to save for private school or accept poor education at best and open bullying at worst. None of this is true about Hickam Elementary. We chose our housing based on this school. The administrative leadership is top notch. We got a new principal 2 1/2 years ago, and Great School should erase the low marks that were given to the previous principal. They have no bearing on the current school. Well educated, caring professionals run the school and actively engage with the students and teachers daily. There are many master teachers on campus and their mentoring shines. The performance arts program is amazingly good with high quality choral direction and acting opportunities that rival a good high school program. The gifted and student government programs are also impressive. There is a Hawaiian emphasis on community participation in the student's schedule and group work, and not as much emphasis on individual excelling as we have experienced in East Coast schools. The school uses Singapore math. Bullying and teasing are immeadiately stopped and puniched. No Tolerance
--Submitted by a parent

I think Hickam lacks in several areas one of them is saftey. The school has an open campus and unfortunately that means anyone can walk on. They do try to avoid this from happening but it still remains a reality. So on to my point. On the second week of school I came to the school to pick up my kindergarten daughter who was not yet five for a doctor's appt. I waited in the office for her just to discover they had allowed her to walk unescorted to the front office which was over half a campus from her classroon. I was very upset and I found that the school did not have the same reaction. Infact the teacher's solution to the problem was to send another kindergarten as an escort. They call it the buddy system. Whatever! There is still a Kindergarten walking alone back to the classroom.
--Submitted by a teacher

True the school is one of the better public schools on Oahu but if you expect your child to be prepared for school on a regular curriculum like it is done on the mainland you will be in for a huge disappointment. There are just too few teachers with the true motivation it takes to teach especially with overly crowded, hot classrooms. The school is what it is because of the parent involvement.

The air conditioning units were NOT loud. The PTO never really had a focus the whole 3 years my daughter was a student there. I also worked at the school and volunteered and pretty much everyone was thrilled with the ac units!
--Submitted by a parent