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How many National Merit Semi Finalists (2016) did Hawaii public schools produce? Punahou lists 21, Iolani 19, but I am curious how many are from public schools. I know Hawaii's total was 66.
Thank you. 66 - 40 does equal 26. Even after graduating from a Hawaii public school, I was able to calculate that one.
I live on the mainland and the school districts issue press releases announcing their NMSFs. Those press releases then become part of the public record free for anybody to read. Hawaii's DOE does not issue a press release, so there is no free source for that information. For the past 6 years, I have emailed the DOE asking for a count by public school, and my request is ignored every year.
Yes. The information is available on the Hawaii Advertiser's website behind its pay wall, but I should not have to pay for that kind of infrmation. I pay enough excise tax on my property in Honolulu to support Hawaii's public schools that a simple list of high achieving public school students should be made available to everybody for free.
Thank you. 66 - 40 does equal 26. Even after graduating from a Hawaii public school, I was able to calculate that one.
I live on the mainland and the school districts issue press releases announcing their NMSFs. Those press releases then become part of the public record free for anybody to read. Hawaii's DOE does not issue a press release, so there is no free source for that information. For the past 6 years, I have emailed the DOE asking for a count by public school, and my request is ignored every year.
Yes. The information is available on the Hawaii Advertiser's website behind its pay wall, but I should not have to pay for that kind of infrmation. I pay enough excise tax on my property in Honolulu to support Hawaii's public schools that a simple list of high achieving public school students should be made available to everybody for free.
Here are the numbers (with the public schools in bold):
Damien - 1
Hawaiʻi Baptist Academy - 1
ʻIolani - 19 Kaiser - 1 Kalani - 2
Kamehameha (Kapalama) - 2 McKinley - 1
Mid-Pac - 1
Punahou - 21 Roosevelt - 2
Sacred Hearts - 1
St. Andrew's - 1 University Laboratory School - 1
"Home-schooled" - 1
Le Jardin - 1
Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy - 3
Parker School - 1
Island School (Kauaʻi) - 1 King Kekaulike High School - 1 Mililani - 3 Baldwin - 1
Of the 66, only 12 come from Hawaiʻi public schools.
Like most organizations, DOE doesn't issue press releases that make them look bad. On the other hand, comparing your average school to Iolani or Punahou is not a fair comparison. Those are elite schools, among the top in the country.
Thank you for the data. Understand that it is not a fair or valid comparison, but my local public high school had 16 NMSFs out of a population of about 2000 students. To me, the factoid that all Hawaii public schools in Hawaii combined generate fewer NMSFs than the 1 high school down block is sad for Hawaii and good for my kids.
The quality of Hawaii's public school system is a very popular topic when people find out I am from Hawaii. I really try to stay positive, but I share my opinion. When I ask what they have heard, it echoes the common perceptions of those who have seen it firsthand. Much of the feedback is from family and friends in the military who were stationed there.
My family has been in Hawaii for 5 generations, and with a few exceptions, we are all public school graduates. I have passed on 6 opportunities to stay or move back to Hawaii over the last 30 years. Cost of living and education have always been the reasons why I do not live there anymore.
Every few years when a position opens in Hawaii, I am specifically asked if I would like to volunteer, and I decline. Prospective candidates come to me asking for advice, and I try to frame the pros and cons. Want them to make a decision not just based on the fantasy of a life in Hawaii.
66 total in 2017. 27 from Punahou alone. Can't find the DOE list / doubt they want to talk about it. 12 are from Iolani.
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