Keaau High School

Keaʻau High School is a public high school in Kea'au, Hawaii, US built in 1999 on 55 acres (22 ha) of land. The school is operated by the Hawaii Department of Education.^[3] Its mascot is the Cougar.

Keaʻau High School
Location
16-725 Keaʻau-Pāhoa Road Keaʻau , Hawaiʻi 96749
Coordinates	19°36′43″N 155°1′53″W
Information
Type	Public
Established	1999
Principal	Dean Cevallos
Faculty	67.00 FTE[1]
Grades	9–12[2]
Enrollment	1,050 (2020-21)[1]
Student to teacher ratio	15.67[1]
Campus type	Outdoor
Color(s)	Scarlet red   and navy blue
Athletics conference	Big Island Interscholastic Federation
Mascot	Cougar
Accreditation	Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Affiliation	State of Hawaii
Website	keaauhs.k12.hi.us

History

In 1997, an environmental study was conducted to build a new high school and elementary in the Keaau area. This was done after adjacent school Waiakea High was subject to overcrowding due to students from the Puna district attending the school. In anticipation for growth in the district, the schools were approved for construction.^[4] The school opened in 1999 to 280 freshmen students, with the elementary school opening two years prior. The first graduating class graduated in 2003.

The state of Hawaii purchased the land from the Shipman Foundation. The state paid $687,835 for the land.^[5]

The school's campus is fronted by the Keaau-Pahoa Bypass Road. The road was intended to open in time for the school's opening, but as of July 1998, its opening was expected to be delayed.^[6]

The school was built in several phases. Phase one of the school opened its main classrooms and buildings. Subsequent phases, scheduled in 2000,^[7] resulted in the addition of various facilities, including sport stadiums, a cafeteria, and facilities for Career and Technical Education.

Academics

Per the Board of Education, the school requires a total of 24 credits to graduate. These are six credits in electives, four credits in English, four credits in social studies, three credits in mathematics, three credits in science, two credits in either Career and Technical Education, foreign language, or fine arts, one credit in physical education, half a credit in health, and half a credit in the Personal Transition Plan.^[8]

For dual-credit, the school offers Advanced Placement (AP) classes and Running Start. In the 2021-2022 school year, 13% took an AP Exam, with 9% passing. Running Start is offered through the University of Hawaii system.

In 2018, a plants database for the plants at the school was created. This initiative was funded by a grant, in which approximately 1,400 dollars was raised. To collect the information, students used various tools, including general positioning systems (GPS) and photography. The plant page is linked on the school's main website and is accessible to the public.^[9][10]

In 2023, the school implemented a cohort academy for freshmen students. This allows for students in the ninth grade to have individualized support and classes, before choosing a Career and Technical education pathway for their sophomore through senior year. The academy is accredited by the National Career Academy Coalition.^[11]

Alternative learning programs

The school has implemented Uleupono, an alternative learning program for students who struggle in regular classes.

The Kula program is a program designed to help students who have committed class A or B offenses as an alternative to suspension. Students in this program meet on Mondays and Fridays, and are given coursework from their regular teachers.

Notable achievements

In 2010, the school won the LifeSmarts competition—a statewide consumer literacy and trivia contest—for the fourth consecutive year.^[12] In 2015, principal Dean Cevallos won the Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award, an award given by the Masayuki Tokioka Foundation.^[13]

Athletics

The school participates in the Big Island Interscholastic League (BIIF). Sports offered include air riflery, cheerleading, cross country, football, and girls' volleyball during the fall, boys' basketball, girls' basketball, paddling, boys' soccer, girls' soccer, swimming and diving, and wrestling during the winter, and baseball, girls' flag football, judo, tennis, track and field, girls' water polo, and boys volleyball during the spring.^[14][15]

Clubs

The school offers a variety of clubs. Academic clubs include Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID), National Honor Society, Cougar Tech Robotics, which participates in the VEX Robotics Competition, STEM club, FFA, HOSA, and CyberPatriot. Service clubs include Key Club and Blue Zone club. For social clubs, the school offers Samahang Bayanihan, a Filipino club.