Any Affordable Private Schools On Oahu? (Kailua: rent, credit card, neighborhoods)

[freebird2020]

I would love to hear your experiences on private elementary and middle schools on Oahu. I have 3 school age children and planning a move for next summer. Ideally I prefer to enroll them in a great public school vs private school because, well, it would be very expensive to have 3 kids in private school. However, I am curious if there are any affordable private schools (under $10,000/year) on Oahu?

Areas I am considering renting: Hawaii Kai and Kailua. I have done some research and these school zones appear to be very good. Of course the rent for a 3 bedroom is very high $3500+ but it would still be cheaper than 3 in private school

Thoughts on Aikahi Elementary School?

Mahalo!

[whtviper1]

Damien Memorial is probably the cheapest for grades 6-8, running about $12,000/year.

If you are comparing elementary schools in Kailua and Hawaii Kai to the rest of the island, I suppose they may look "very good", but the bar is incredibly low.

[hotzcatz]

If it were me, I'd send the kids to the public schools for socialization skills and then teach them the stuff I wanted them to know at home. It doesn't have to be formal lessons, but teaching them basic economics (i.e. what's a mortgage, buying verses renting, costs of using a credit card, how to write a budget, etc.), basic life skills (how to do the laundry, cook a meal, clean the house, grow a garden, etc.) and how to type and use a computer would put them up to par on their education, perhaps.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

If it were me, I'd send the kids to the public schools for socialization skills and then teach them the stuff I wanted them to know at home. It doesn't have to be formal lessons, but teaching them basic economics (i.e. what's a mortgage, buying verses renting, costs of using a credit card, how to write a budget, etc.), basic life skills (how to do the laundry, cook a meal, clean the house, grow a garden, etc.) and how to type and use a computer would put them up to par on their education, perhaps.

Go to school all day - presumably have homework - and then more schooling at home? Just to overcome the Hawaii subpar school system?

[WaikikiBoy]

what Is driving the move to Oahu ? I ask only because it is likely easier to find a high quality public school on the mainland within a district with more affordable housing than on Oahu.

But beyond that, one option you could consider as an alternative to private schools is to move into Hawaii Kai or Kailua districts for the public schools in those neighborhoods and then enroll each of the children into one of the Kumon schools to supplement the public school education.

[freebird2020]

Thank you for the responses! Looking at Hawaii Kai or Kailua area. After a bit of research it looks like they have excellent elementary schools. Have not researched middle or high school yet.

The move is primarily for leisure and we selected Oahu because we have family on the island, we are somewhat familiar with the island after vacationing several times there.

[Pyramidsurf]

The elementary schools in the areas you mentioned are actually pretty good. They are not subpar to mainland schools in my experience. Middle and high schools are a different story. The majority of kids who grow up in Hawaii attend public elementary and branch off to private middle and high schools.

There is usually a break on second and third kids attending the same school. Still not cheap though.

[Ian_Lee]

If your kids attend "affordable" private schools, you will be bothered by numerous fund-raising events almost every month. Only the top few are exceptions because they got a lot of donation.

There are two tiers of private school in Oahu: the few that everybody wants to get in and the others that try every means to attract students to enroll.

So either it is very hard or very easy for admission.

Ironically it is relatively easy to obtain financial aid from the top few and it is very hard to obtain any subsidy from the rest.

Private schools do go bust too.

P.S. Their tuition goes up every year, 5-7%, much higher than inflation.

[blau808]

Hawaii Kai has some of the higher rated public schools on the island. Hahaione, Niu Valley, Kaiser. Schools and teachers do make a difference, but I am of the mind that students get more out of school what they put into it.

However, if you are truly concerned about their schooling, and you consider it a high priority in their life and yours, then honestly you shouldn't be moving to Hawaii at all.

[rya96797]

1. affordable
2. private school
3. oahu

On oahu, you can only get 2 of the 3.