The Department of Education gave 14 Hawaii public schools $1 million total today for exceptional achievement in the first year of the state’s new system for measuring school performance and improvement.

More than half, or nine, of those schools are considered Title I, meaning they serve a large number of disadvantaged children from low-income families. Just one of the 14 schools is a charter school. 

The individual awards range from $20,000 to $95,000 and are meant to recognize schools that have demonstrated success in a range of measures that are included in the new Strive HI system. The system, which was first implemented last school year, customizes standards for the various school complexes and aims to close the achievement gap and boost graduation rates, among other goals.

It replaces No Child Left Behind, which DOE officials say promoted outdated standards and incomplete measures of success. 

Schools can use the awards for expenditures such as professional development programs, new technology, musical instruments and science lab equipment.

Here’s a list of the winning schools:

Highest Performance and High Progress ($95,000 each)
· Ahuimanu Elementary
· Red Hill Elementary
· Waters of Life Public Charter School

Highest Performance ($75,000 each)
· E.B. de Silva Elementary
· Hickam Elementary
· Hokulani Elementary
· Lanakila Elementary
· Liholiho Elementary
· Manoa Elementary
· Maunaloa Elementary
· Palisades Elementary
· Pearl Ridge Elementary

Highest Progress ($20,000)
· Kalihi Uka Elementary
· Konawaena Elementary

Photo: Officials from Red Hill Elementary School, where today’s event was held, accept their award. (Courtesy of HIDOE.)

– Alia Wong