Hawaii Department of Education

Established in 1840 by King Kamehameha III, the Hawaii Department of Education has a rich history. The Hawaii Department of Education is the oldest school system west of the Mississippi. It’s also the only one established by a monarch. The department’s headquarters reside in Honolulu’s Queen Liliuokalani Building. The Hawaii Department of Education oversees all 258 public schools and 37 charter schools across the state. Think about it: over 13,000 teachers shaping the minds of about 167,649 students. That’s a huge responsibility. Here’s a curious fact. Unlike the rest of the United States, Hawaii doesn’t use property taxes to fund education. The money comes from the state’s general fund, which includes general excise and income taxes. This makes the Hawaii Department of Education uniquely tied to the state’s overall financial health. The department’s reach extends across several districts. These districts are further divided into complex areas. Each area includes high schools, middle schools, and the elementary schools that feed into them. It’s a complex web, much like the educational system itself. The Hawaii Department of Education even has its own version of magnet schools: Learning Centers. These after-school programs offer specialized study in areas like agriculture, technology, science, performing arts, and business. Any public school student can enroll, enriching their education beyond the traditional classroom.