The number of English learners in Hawaiʻi schools has grown by 46% over the last decade, leading the Department of Education to double down on teacher training and family outreach to meet students’ needs.

Hawaiʻi schools currently enroll over 16,200 students who aren’t proficient in English. Chuukese was the most commonly spoken language in Hawaiʻi schools this year, followed by Ilocano and then Marshallese — a significant shift from five years ago when Ilocano topped the list by a wide margin.

Spanish recently surpassed Tagalog as the fourth most common language in schools. This year, roughly 8% of English learners spoke Tagalog, down from 10% in the 2016-17 academic year.

A decade ago, roughly 6% of students were English learners, compared to 10% this year.

But the distribution of English learners varies widely across the state. In the McKinley complex in Honolulu, nearly a third of students don’t speak English fluently. By comparison, eight complexes – including Castle, Kahuku and Mililani – have fewer than 5% of students who qualify as English learners. 

The Department of Education is providing more training for teachers and bilingual home assistants who can offer translation services and resources to families who don’t speak English fluently, Assistant Superintendent Kinau Gardner said in a recent Board of Education meeting. Nearly half of DOE’s home assistants are fluent in Chuukese. 

The state has also seen a significant jump in the number of students completing its English Learner Program after it lowered the proficiency score students needed to achieve in 2023. Students can now receive a lower score on the exam and complete the program, Gardner said, but the new criteria still aligns with state reading standards. 

In 2023, 15% of students exited the English Learner Program, a sharp uptick from 6% the year before. Last year, 12% of students left the program. 

The Kaimukī-McKinley-Roosevelt complex has made significant progress in helping students learn English. Last year, 285 students met the standards for English proficiency, compared to 151 kids in 2018. 

Even still, schools have more work to do when it comes to preparing students for graduation and beyond, said Joseph Passantino, principal of Princess Ruth Ke’elikolani Middle School. English learners graduate at much lower rates than the rest of their peers, he said, raising concerns about what their future will be. 

Last year, 63% of English learner students graduated from McKinley High School, compared to the state average of 87%.

“It is heartbreaking, because a lot of these students are lost,” he said in a recent Board of Education meeting. “My question is, what do these students do at 18?”

Civil Beat’s education reporting is supported by a grant from Chamberlin Family Philanthropy, and “Data Dive” is supported in part by the Will J. Reid Foundation.