Hawaii Ranked 4th Among States in Math Recovery and 2nd in Reading Between 2019 and 2024

Students remain 13% of a grade level below 2019 levels in both math and reading.

Chronic absenteeism has risen sharply in Hawaii from 14% of students in 2019 to 34% in 2022, significantly slowing recovery efforts in some districts.  

(CLUE: The absence of these low-performing students artificially increases average test scores.) 

News Release Hawaii - Education Recovery Scorecard, Feb 11, 2025

(February 11, 2025) In its third year of reporting on the pace of academic recovery measures in districts nationwide, the Education Recovery Scorecard (a collaboration between the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University and The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University) is issuing its annual report on district-level student growth in math and reading.

The latest report also provides the first high resolution picture of where Hawaii students’ academic recovery stood in Spring 2024, just before federal relief dollars expired in September. While the National Assessment of Educational Progress described changes in average achievement by state, we combine those scores with district scores on state assessments to describe the change in local communities throughout Hawaii. Here’s what we found:

• Hawaii ranked 4th among states in terms of recovery in math and 2nd in reading between 2019 and 2024.
• Students in Hawaii remain 13 percent of a grade level below 2019 levels in both math and reading (.13 grade level equivalents). In other words, the loss in achievement in Hawaii is equivalent to 13 percent of the progress students typically make annually between grades 4 through grade 8.
• Nationally, 85 percent of students are in districts below 2019 levels in math, with only 15 percent above. Similarly, 89 percent of students are in districts below 2019 levels in reading, with only 11 percent above.
• A sharp rise in chronic absenteeism (students missing more than 10 percent of a school year) from 14 percent of students in 2019 before the pandemic to 34 percent in 2022 (back down to 25 percent in 2024) is slowing the recovery in Hawaii.
• Hawaii received $639 million in federal pandemic relief for K-12 schools—or roughly $3,500 per student—which is slightly less than the national average of $3,700 per student.) Nationally, our analysis suggests that the dollars did contribute to the academic recovery, especially when targeted at academic catch-up efforts such as summer learning and tutoring.

The federal pandemic relief dollars may be gone, but the pandemic’s impact lingers in many Hawaii schools.  Even without federal relief dollars, states could be targeting continuing federal Title I dollars and state dollars to implement interventions which have been shown effective, such as tutoring and summer learning.  State leaders, mayors, employers and other community leaders should join schools to redouble efforts on the shared challenge of reducing student absenteeism.

“Lowering absenteeism generates tremendous bang-for-the-buck.  Regular attendance benefits the student as well as her classmates.  And taxpayers are paying for the seat whether it’s occupied or not.”

For the national press release and findings click here.

About the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University 

The Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, based at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, seeks to transform education through quality research and evidence. CEPR and its partners believe all students will learn and thrive when education leaders make decisions using facts and findings, rather than untested assumptions. Learn more at cepr.harvard.edu.

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Hawaii public schools rank 4th in math recovery 2nd in reading recovery national report finds

The findings come from researchers at Harvard University and Stanford University, who analyzed post-pandemic academic performance in more than 100 school districts nationwide, using data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress and state assessments.

News Release from Hawaii DoE, 18-Feb-2025 (removed from DoE website, recovered from WaybackMachine)

HONOLULU — Hawai‘i’s public school students rank among the top in the nation for post-pandemic academic recovery, according to a new report from researchers at Harvard University and Stanford University. Between 2019 and 2024, Hawai‘i’s academic performance was fourth highest in math recovery and second highest in reading recovery.

The latest findings come from the Education Recovery Scorecard, a collaboration between the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University and the Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University. The study analyzed post-pandemic academic performance in more than 100 school districts nationwide, using data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and state assessments.

Nationally, the report found that 85% of students are in districts where math achievement has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, and 89% of students are in districts still below 2019 levels in reading. In contrast, Hawai‘i has made significant strides in both subjects, ranking among the top-performing states in returning to pre-pandemic levels of achievement.

According to the latest NAEP results, Hawai‘i was one of only 15 states to achieve a statistically significant improvement in fourth-grade math scores, surpassing the national average by 2 points for the second consecutive NAEP assessment.

Over the past 20 years, the state has demonstrated some of the most substantial improvements in academic recoveries across the country. In reading, Hawai‘i's fourth-graders have moved from ranking among the bottom 10 states in 2003 to surpassing the national average and securing a position in the top 10.

"Our students’ strong academic recovery reflects a strategic, research-based approach. By using a guaranteed and viable curriculum, universal screening, and targeted interventions, we’ve identified and closed learning gaps early," Deputy Superintendent of Academics Heidi Armstrong said. "This progress isn’t just about test scores – it’s about ensuring every student receives a high-quality education. While we celebrate these gains, we remain committed to expanding math and literacy support and investing in programs that help all learners succeed."

Superintendent Keith Hayashi credited the progress to the dedication of students, educators and school staff. "This national recognition is a testament to the hard work and determination of our students, educators and school communities. Overcoming the challenges of the pandemic required a strong focus on academic recovery, and these results affirm that our collective efforts are making an impact for all of our students to be globally competitive and locally committed," Superintendent Hayashi said. 

Read the full Education Recovery Scorecard. See Hawai‘i’s results on the NAEP assessment.