Highlights of Exemplary Practices Aligned with the 18 Characteristics of Successful Middle Schools

1: Adult Advocacy and the Power of Pilina At PHIS, we believe academic success is impossible without Pilina (strong relationships). To ensure every student’s development is guided by an adult advocate, we implemented a weekly Advisory period. Students meet twice weekly for 15 minutes; Tuesdays focus on the Wayfinder SEL curriculum to build confidence and purpose, while Thursdays center on “Pono Cards.” These sessions pose reflective questions and ‘Ōlelo No‘eau (Hawaiian proverbs) to anchor classroom community in traditional values. Our data confirms the impact of these advocates: 78% of students report a meaningful relationship with an adult on campus. This connection allows staff to provide personalized recommendations for students of concern, ensuring no child feels invisible during these critical transitional years.

2: Proactive and Restorative School Safety Our school prioritizes safety through a proactive, relationship-based approach. The security team meets to debrief after every drill and incident, but their primary role is mentorship; many students identify security staff as their “trusted adult.” This trust allows our team to respond to incidents quickly and productively. According to the December 2025 Panorama Student Perception Survey, 58% of students report knowing exactly who to go to if they feel unsafe, and 63% state that adults clearly communicate the outcomes of rule-breaking. Notably, 7th and 8th graders report the highest sense of belonging of almost all grades served. By shifting toward restorative practices and intentional management—such as separate, structured lunch periods for intermediate students—we have achieved a 47.6% decrease in serious discipline offenses.

3: EMPOWERING - Facilitating environments in which students take responsibility for their own learning and contribute positively to the world around them.

Pahoa High and Intermediate School (PHIS) empowers students to take active responsibility for their learning while making positive contributions to the world around them. Our middle school model is deeply rooted in school-wide values, collaborative teaming, and robust advisory programs. This intentional structure fosters a profound sense of belonging and builds the meaningful teacher-student relationships necessary for a safe space of academic exploration and personal growth. We place a high premium on Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), weaving it into the very fabric of our middle school experience. Through weekly advisory lessons, a dedicated SEL elective, and specialized professional development, we equip students with the mindset to navigate the complexities of adolescence. A cornerstone of this effort is the Wayfinder curriculum, which helps students build confidence, adaptability, and a sense of purpose. By connecting these lessons to career readiness and traditional Hawaiian values, we ensure our students remain grounded in their heritage while looking toward the future. Our teacher partnerships drive student responsibility through collective efficacy. By maintaining common expectations across grade levels, we create a predictable environment where students can truly "own" their educational journey. This is reinforced by our PBIS system, which rewards social responsibility and positive community contributions. Beyond the classroom, students put their passions into action through diverse clubs—ranging from Spoken Word and Lei making to Chess and Art. We also prioritize student voice, using surveys and reflections to ensure their feedback drives our continuous improvement. At PHIS, we are dedicated to nurturing well-rounded individuals ready to thrive in an ever-changing world.

4: EQUITABLE - Providing socially just learning opportunities and environments for every student.

We are committed to providing socially just learning opportunities and environments for every student. All students deserve access to high-quality education, regardless of their background, socioeconomic status, or learning needs.

Pāhoa High and Intermediate School (PHIS) serves a diverse, low-income population, with a median household income significantly below the national average and a high poverty rate of approximately 34.7%. Recognizing the importance of addressing the unique needs of our students, PHIS is committed to equity, ensuring all students have opportunities to succeed.

We provide comprehensive supports to remove barriers to learning. A dedicated counselor, School Based Behavior Health (SBBH) professional, and community schools coordinator work to support students with basic needs, offering food, clothing, and hygiene products free of charge. Our staff is trained in trauma-informed care, approaching student needs mindfully and maximizing our position as a community resource hub.

PHIS is committed to restorative practices in discipline, offering alternatives to lengthy suspensions to avoid contributing to the “pipeline to prison.” Equity is further achieved through instructional practices designed to support every student. Teachers analyze student data weekly to identify learning gaps and adjust instruction, using universal screeners like i-Ready and DIBELS to identify students needing additional support. We provide advanced courses to maintain a high level of standard for all. Furthermore, teachers utilize common preparation time to meet consistently, discuss student progress and teaching practices, and plan collaboratively, fostering a high-quality, equitable learning environment for all students.