Hawai'i Preparatory Academy
HPA is Accepting Applications. The 2021-20220 application season has begun! We are accepting application now through our priority deadline of February 9, 2022. After that we will move into the rolling application phase.
HPA is a K-12 coeducational school with boarding for students in grades nine through twelve and post graduate.
The school is located in the beautiful, rural setting of Waimea on the northern side of the spectacular island of Hawai`i, which National Geographic named one of the best places in the world to live.
HPA is a place for highly-motivated students who seek a rigorous academic program while engaged in extraordinary learning experiences. Our unique island location, which boasts 80 percent of the world`s ecosystems, allows us to offer students unprecedented opportunities outside of the classroom. Students assist in our world-renowned Sea Turtle Research Program; work in our internationally-recognized Energy Lab, and can choose from an extensive schedule of Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes.
Students are given the opportunity to do cutting edge research in independent projects such as brain research, genetics, astronomy, and geology; and HPA partnerships with organizations like Stanford University, Cornell, Keck Observatory, and NASA expose students to more "real world" research and a strategic advantage when applying to universities.
HPA offers two, three-week summer school for student`s ages eleven through seventeen with mostly enrichment courses including SAT prep, math, science, English, ESL, and the arts.
Alumni Reviews Review School
- Review Description
- Chapman University When you first see the school, it may appear to just be a little thing nestled in the middle of the mountains. That's where you'd be wrong. HPA offers so much to both. . .
- Mount Holyoke College HPA has a beautiful campus that looks out over the Big Island and the ocean. The extra-curricular activities are truly unique (i.e. Sea Turtle Research, free camping trips all over the island etc.).. . .
- University of Hawaii at Manoa HPA offers a unique learning environment for students in several ways. The campus is located in one of the nicest rural settings on earth, with rolling hills, and a lot of beautiful open spaces. Students. . .
- Show more reviews (1 review)
Top Rankings
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Hawai'i Preparatory Academy ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 303 schools) for:
- Category Attribute
- Faculty Education High percent faculty with advanced degrees
| Definition of Terms | 2021 School Data | Hawai'i Preparatory | Boarding School Avg. |
| School Focus | College Prep | College Preparatory |
| Grades Offered (Boarding) | 9-12, PG | 9-12 |
| Grades Offered (Day) | K-12, PG | 9-12 |
| School Type | Co-ed | Co-ed |
| Supports Learning Differences (LD) | Yes | Yes |
| Religious Affiliation | Non-denominational | Non-denominational |
| Year Founded | 1949 | 1907 |
| Campus Size | 220 acres | 125 acres |
Student Body
| Enrollment | 400 students | 300 students |
| % Students of Color | 53% | 25% |
| % International Students | 18% | 20% |
| % Students Boarding | 50% | 70% |
| Average SAT Score | 1180 | * National Avg. »View |
| Average ACT score | 22 | *National Avg. » View |
| Offers Post-Grad Year | Yes | No |
Academics and Faculty
| Saturday Classes | No | No |
| Classroom Dress Code | Casual | Casual |
| Average Class Size | 15 students | 12 *National School Avg. » 20 |
| Student : Teacher Ratio | 12:1 | 7:1 |
| # of AP / Advanced Courses Offered | 18 | 18 |
| ESL Courses Offered | Yes | Yes |
| % Faculty with Advanced Degree | 86% | 70% |
| Summer Program Offered | Yes | Yes |
| Summer Program Cost | $4,800 | |
| Summer Program Details | Link to Summer Program Details | |
Tuition Cost
| Endowment Size | $51 million | $25 million |
| Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students) | $59,100 | $59,500 |
| Yearly Tuition (Day Students) | $29,600 | $33,500 |
| Tuition international students | $69,400 | $54,500 |
| % Students on Financial Aid | 40% | 40% |
| Avg. Financial Aid Grant | $12,750 | $25,000 |
| Merit Scholarships Offered | Yes | No |
Acceptance Rate
| Application Deadline | Feb. 9 / rolling | Jan. 15 |
| Accepts Standardized Application | Yes | No |
| SSAT Required | Yes | Yes |
| Average Percentile SSAT | 65% | - |
| Acceptance Rate | 42% | 58% |
| Director of Admissions | Mrs. Tiare Judd Police, '86 | |
Course Listings
| List of Courses Offered | Link to List of Courses |
AP / Advanced Courses
| # of AP / Advanced Courses Offered | 18 | 18 |
| Courses | Biology, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Japanese, Physics B, Psychology, Spanish, Statistics, Studio Art, U.S. History, World History, Art History, English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, Environmental Science, French, Physics C | |
Sports
| # Interscholastic Sports Offered | 22 | 16 |
| Sports | Baseball, Basketball, Cheering, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Dance, Diving, Equestrian, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Polo, Rugby, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Water Polo, Wrestling | |
Extracurriculars
| Total Extracurricular Organizations | 28 | 23 |
| Extracurriculars | Club or Organization: Japanese Club, Ka Makani Flyers, Literary Magazine, Marine Expeditions, Math Club, Mediation Club, Model UN Club, Nutrition Club, Outdoor Program, Peer Tutoring, Play, Red Cross Youth Group, Robotics Club, SAT Club, Seaside Education Action (SEA) Club, Service Learning Advisory Council (SLAC), Set Crew, Steel Drums Arts and Music Programs: Dormitory Proctor, School of Rock (rock band), Songwriters Anonymous, Web Design Club Recreational Athletic Programs: Intramural Sports, Outrigger canoe paddling, Recreational golf, Recreational Tennis, Scuba, Yoga | |
College Matriculation
| Year: 2005 - 2009 | 10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled) | |
| University of Hawai‘i-Manoa | 25 | |
| University of Oregon | 18 | |
| Santa Clara University | 13 | |
| University of Washington | 11 | |
| University of Denver | 9 | |
| Colorado State University | 8 | |
| University of Colorado-Boulder | 8 | |
| Oregon State University | 7 | |
| The George Washington University | 6 | |
| University of Southern California | 6 | |
| Link to Matriculation Data | ||
School Notes
- Students pursue an ambitious, well-rounded course of studies in small classes taught by a dedicated, highly professional faculty using the latest in educational technology. The challenging academic curriculum takes advantage of Hawai`i`s geographic and social setting to give students a strong sense of Hawai`i and its culture. The marine science program, in collaboration with NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, offers unrivaled encounters with the island`s remarkable ocean environment. Partnerships with its high-tech neighbors such as the Mauna Loa Observatory enable participation in real-world, cutting edge research Offerings also include programs in the visual and performing arts as well as an Upper School interscholastic athletic program that stresses school-wide participation and teaches the values of sportsmanship and fair play. About 98 percent of graduates enter college in the fall following their high school graduation. Many choose colleges in the western United States, favoring such schools as Lewis & Clark College, Pomona College, Santa Clara University, Stanford University, University of Southern California, and the Universities of California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. Others seek experiences farther east at such institutions as Amherst College, Boston University, Bowdoin College, Brown University, Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, George Washington University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton, and Vanderbilt University. HPA is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member of 12 educational organizations including the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, College Entrance Examination Board, Council for Spiritual and Ethical Education, Cum Laude Society, National Association of College Admission Counselors, Hawai`i Association of Independent Schools, and National Association of Independent Schools.
- LD types supported: Support for mild learning differences such as dyslexia or ADD through development of individual support plans.
- Hawai'i Preparatory Academy accreditations: HAIS, WASC, NAIS, TABS
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