While most families and teachers have positive perceptions of Hawaiʻi schools, feelings of campus safety and satisfaction tend to drop as students grow older, according to recent survey data from the state education department.

The School Quality Survey, administered every year, captures the attitudes of parents, students and staff toward their schools. The questions cover topics such as student and teacher well-being and satisfaction, as well as family engagement. 

The responses help to inform school planning and improvement, according to the Department of Education.  

Response rates varied widely. Nearly 80% of students and 76% of teachers completed the survey last school year, but less than a quarter of parents responded.

Elementary students had the strongest views on campus safety, with only 20% of students saying they were neutral on the topic — far less than their older peers. Roughly 70% of elementary students felt safe at school and 9% felt unsafe on campus. 

In comparison, just over 60% of middle and high schoolers said they felt safe on campus. Another 8% of middle schoolers and 6% of high schoolers felt unsafe on campus. 

The remainder of the students recorded neutral responses to the safety questions. 

For teachers, the biggest differences among grade levels emerged on measures related to satisfaction and safety with their campuses. Last year, 78% of elementary school teachers reported feeling safe at school, compared to 71% of high school teachers.

Nearly 76% of elementary school teachers said they were satisfied with their jobs, compared to 68% at the high school level. 

The remaining teachers had neutral or negative responses to the questions, which asked if they enjoyed working at their school, had satisfactory resources and professional development opportunities and were treated with respect in their roles. The survey also asked teachers if they had adequate opportunities to contribute to policies that shape their campuses. 

The small proportion of parents who responded to the survey reported were mostly positive about their schools. The percentage of families who reported feeling involved at school – 86% – hit its highest point in the past six years. Roughly 90% of parent respondents felt engaged in elementary school, compared to 72% in high school. 

Elementary schools also had the highest percentage of families reporting their satisfaction. From elementary to high school, the percentage of families feeling satisfied with their schools dropped by 13 percentage points.

Schools received the highest scores from parents on measures of well-being. The survey asked families if their children have school friends who care about them and receive help on classwork from their teachers. The survey also asked parents if their children receive fair treatment at school. 

Nearly 94% of parents of elementary school children recorded positive responses to those questions, compared to 88% of middle school and 84% of high school parents.