Public and private schools on the Big Island

"We are planning a move to the Big Island in a couple years (I am a big planner...making sure that we have all our ducks in a row.). My big concern is schools. I know there are some decent private schools on the Big Island but what about public schools? From my research there is one good public school on the Hilo side and one on the Kona side in a district just inland and south of Kona. Am I wrong about this? Should I forget the Hawaii public schools and focus on private?

Any help as we get our lives together for this move would be appreciate.

Oh, our boys are six years old, FYI."
--Bart B.

Aloha Bart,

We don't have kids so this advice comes from information we have gathered from things we've read, and feedback from friends who do have kids in the public school system. The Hawaii public school system rates very low nationally. There have been stories written that local employers complain that kids who graduate aren't adequately equipped in the basics to be good employees. There may be some challenges with initial acceptance by the local kids of a student from the mainland. There is bullying, although I don't know how it is compared with other school districts.

If I had kids, and knowing what what I've heard, I would either home-school them or put them in private school. Two that I have heard good things about are Malamalama Waldorf School and St. Joseph School. Here are some good links to websites on private schools in Hawaii: www.hais.org/pages/4241_Home.asp
www.privateschoolreview.com/state_private_schools/stateid/HI

Here is a resource on Hawaii public schools:
www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/Schools/