Kalaheo High School

We have two sons, one quit going to the private school he was attending and chose to get his diploma through the Windward school for adults (also located at Kalaheo High). He scored high enough on the GED test to get a diploma instead of a GED. Our second son is a freshman at Kalaheo, he has had problems with reading and writing since he began school. This is the first school that he has enjoyed attending. He is involved in the Jr. ROTC program, this has increased his confidence in himself.
—Submitted by a parent

We have 2 children attending Kalaheo High School. Our son has been attending for 4 years and will graduate this year, our daughter is now a sophomore. It has been a good experience for both of them. We have been happy with the teachers. They use snapgrades so you can keep up on your students grades which is helpful. The teachers are open to students coming in after school if they need extra help. The college counselor is great. It's a small school so your students can try any sport. The teachers and coaches are encouraging.
—Submitted by a parent

I graduated from this school last year, and my overall opinion of it, is that it's generally a good school. Most of the staff love their jobs and genuinely care about their students' success. There seems to be a huge chasm-like gap between the expectations of AP teachers and regular class teachers. But I guess that's just a typical high school, since it required to attend. Those who cared about their grades and going to college were definitely welcomed with open arms.

Kalaheo is a good school. The administration and teachers are both extremely helpful and well educated. The best thing by far about Kalaheo is the teachers who are dedicated and caring. The students themselves generally are very disrespectful or apathetic with the exception of the AP and honors courses. Athletics are good, however too much emphasis is placed on it. Facilities are okay, however a renovation is needed. There are a certain amount of cliques as well, as like any school has. Basically, the teachers are awesome and the school itself is okay, and there are hardworkers and those who dont care. Overall, a good school.
—Submitted by a student

My eldest child will be a senior at Kalaheo next year. She loves this school, especially the AP program. We have also hosted an exchange student who attended Kalaheo and loved it. Also great sports opportunities. You get out of it what you put in it!
—Submitted by a parent

After hearing horror stories about public schools in Hawaii, we still decided to give it a try, and were pleasantly surprised. My 9th grader attended Kailua Intermediate for 2 years before attending Kalaheo this year. Before KIS, we were on the mainland. She's getting just as good an education here as she would in a private school, and in my opinion, just as adequate as any normal high school on the mainland. My only beef with this school is the EXTREMELY lax dress code. My daughter feels safe at Kalaheo H.S., gets great grades, has made lots of friends, and overall is very happy. They also have a very good NJROTC program. They get a little less homework than I would like to see, but it doesn't seem to be having a negative affect on her education. Don't waste your money on private schools!
—Submitted by a parent

We hosted an exchange student from Germany a while back and began to get a very disturbing picture of the poor quality of the teaching going on at this school. In one Biology class our exchange student was taking, they didn't do a single lab while he was there. Students were shown videos daily. His teacher wasn't certified to teach Biology. Kids were very disruptive and disrespectful to the staff and each other. The class was taught that UFOs, alien space ships are real, along with many other examples of factually incorrect knowledge. We saw very little homework out of his classes. In short, this was a lost year for him and he had to repeat elements of his senior year when he returned home. We had to come rescue him from a riot that broke out on campus one day. Our ranking at #48 tells it all.

Kalaheo is like all other schools public or private. You get what you put in. At private schools parents do not need to be as involved as they do at public schools. Parents need to work harder to push their children at public schools. Just imagine if all the parents were required to put $15,000 worth of work/attention into the public schools. I bet all the kid's would do real well at any school! Kalaheo has the same problems that all the private schools have. I know from personal experience that drugs are everywhere no matter what school you go to. The teachers and councilors are great. Ms Inouye, the college councilor is fantastic. I just wish the Military would stop portraying our public schools as being substandard and give them a chance. No need to scratch and scrape for a good education in Hawaii, just get involved!
—Submitted by a parent

Kalaheo is an okay school. I hoped thing would get better once Dr. Schlosser left. Somethings have improved but some have worsened. I have had 3 children attend over several years. I think that too much emphasis is place on extra curricular things than academics. However, my children were not behind when we moved to the mainland. Just like any & all schools you get out what you put in.
—Submitted by a parent

I am pleased so far with Kalaheo High school. My son has been attending for 3 years. The teachers have been helpful in providing feedback to me regarding his strengths and weakness. The parent newsletter is helpful and they are more organized and strict on following policy than Kailua High school. All public schools have their problems and Kalaheo isn't free from them but i have to say that i am overall happy with this school so far and i wish Dr. Schlosser well. Thank you for making Kalaheo what it has been so far.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm sorry, but an education is not purely academic! For those who think private school is all what it's cracked up to be...don't fool yourself. I learned more about life, living and friendships at Kalaheo than I did attending Iolani or the likes of Punahou. If I could change any part of my high school experience at Kalaheo, I wouldn't change a daggum thing! How many people could honestly say that about their high school experience?? I live thousands of miles away from Hawaii right now, and my best friend from Kalaheo lives right down the street. Kalaheo will always give you what you expect out of it, and then some!!
—Submitted by a parent

Kalaheo isn't the best school in the world. Children will get out of it what they put in. Being so close to a military base, we recieve many new students each year, most of them entering with a pretentious attitude seeing class as a joke before they even enter the room. This is part of the problem and part of the reason why parents see the school as a 'joke.' If a class is too easy for a student, the school openly listens to the complaints of the student and his or her parents and moves them into a an honors or Ap class. I attend Kalaheo AP classes & do very well. When I go to the mainland, I don't feel dumber than the residing students. If your kid is smart enough to be a good student, they will do well. No kid is 'too smart' for Kalaheo.
—Submitted by a student

The teachers are great and will bend over backwards to help your kids, however, the rest of Kalaheo is a joke. Lots of marketing about how great it is but not there. We had two children there, 1 for two years the other for only 1. Both were moved to private schools and have done very well. Scrape, Borrow, and Beg, but send your kids to Private Schools!
—Submitted by a parent

The key element of success for Kalaheo is the quality of leadership provided by the Principal, Dr. Jim Schlosser and the fine staff and teachers he has assembled. I am most impressed with the ethical school climate and high quality of instruction. I have two sons who attended over the past eight years and I have been extremely pleased with the direct involvement Dr. Schlosser has in all aspects of school life. The very first day of school for my older son, he actually took the time to spend 45 minutes talking to me, on one of the busiest days of the year. He always attends sporting events and any kind of school function. My wife and I have been most impressed with the teachers, even though we had been told that public schools in Hawaii were subpar - our experience at Kalaheo is the opposite. Great job, great school!
—Submitted by a parent

In a sentence, Kalaheo is a pathetic school academically. I graduated from there recently and am glad to finally be in a school that takes education seriously. With the exception of AP and Honors classes, students do not give teachers much, if any, respect. The only reason that I attended the school was because the private schools like Iolani and Punahou are insanely expensive. The facilities are in horrendous conditions and in need of a serious overhaul. However, Kalaheo does have alot of parental involvement, particularly with the senior class. Also, most of the students are friendly and close with each other. Overall, if you have the money, private schools have a totally different atmosphere and may be worth the extra cash.
—Submitted by a former student

Kalaheo is an excellent school. It prepared me for the real world, both academically and professionally. Plus, kalaheo puts an emphasis on athletics. Just walk into the gym and you will find an unbelievable boys basketball history! what a unbelievable program for such a small community.
—Submitted by a former student

I would never send my children to this school. HORRIBLE. I was a student here and this school really messed up my education. Thank God I was only here for one year before I transfered!
—Submitted by a former student

Kalaheo is a caring school for those who choose to be involved and get to know other students and teachers. My daughters have both graduated from Kalaheo (13 years of Hawaii public schools!) and enrolled in excellent mainland schools. They were prepared for college and are making A's in Chicago and Oregon. Don't listen to gossip about public schools without trying them. Wouldn't you rather spend private school tuition on educational travel and mainland universities?!
—Submitted by a parent

I loved this school, I loved the sprots and everything the only thing is that when i moved away i was far behind in my academic area but other than that it was a great school
—Submitted by a student

Overhaul? Lack of respect? This is public school people. There are always going to those morons who dont care for school. Its up to us as kids to make and education for ourselves. Kalaheo has some of the most dedicated teachers I have ever had. The type that you can rely on when your in a crisis. The type that will give there own personal time to assist you. The type that you can connect to on both a proffessional and personal level. The teachers radiate the welcoming feeling of ohana. You have no ideaa how much a welcoming environment can impact a child. And what is life out there? Its dealing with people, working together to help eachother achieve one's goals. Kalaheo reflects just that. Its nothing short of a miracle.
—Submitted by Sanjay, a student