04-10-2013, 11:36 AM
OK, I actually know quite a bit about this topic. HASS does have a "gifted program" that requires a recommendation from the current teacher and I believe is something like 3-6grade. I agree the public schools are getting better and better. I have a SPED kid in HIlo at DeSilva elementary and they are saints there. I truely believe they have saved my son's life. I also have a middle schooler in GT classes at Hilo Intermediate. I think the public schools are much better than charters because they have more resources, different types of classes, and the fundraising structures of a public school. They also have all kinds of free things from federal grants because these schools are supposedly "bad". There has also been far less bullying in HIlo than my older son experienced in Austin Texas. All in all, I am one very satisfied customer of the public schools in Hilo at least. Keaau also has AP classes and anything else that a student could need. IMO. Keaau seems to have more a problem with sort of a "culture of underachievement" (from the students) in the schools there, as compared to Hilo, but there are classes there for everything from SPED to the college bound physics and calculus classes. It depends on the kid! I've met good teachers in both places! And I honestly believe that the school staff in Hawaii are more caring in general than on the mainland, and that counts for alot.