Waimea Canyon Middle School

Hawaii Department of Education
9555 Huakai Rd
Waimea, HI 96796
477 Students
Middle School 6th - 8th
School Overview
Waimea Canyon Middle School (WCMS), located in the historic town of Waimea on the island of Kauai, serves as a central hub for students in grades 6 through 8 within the Hawaii State Department of Education system. The school is deeply rooted in its local community, often reflecting the unique cultural heritage and geography of the West Kauai region. By emphasizing a supportive learning environment, the school strives to prepare its students for the transition to high school while fostering academic growth, personal responsibility, and community engagement.

The school’s curriculum is designed to meet state standards while integrating various extracurricular opportunities that allow students to explore their interests in athletics, arts, and technology. Because of its location in a rural area, Waimea Canyon Middle School plays a significant role in the community’s social fabric, often partnering with local organizations to provide students with place-based learning experiences. With a commitment to "Menehune Pride," the school focuses on character development alongside rigorous academic instruction to help students navigate the challenges of middle school and build a foundation for future success.
477
Total Students
33.0
Full-Time Teachers
14.5
Student/Teacher Ratio
53.2%
Free/Reduced Lunch
Student Demographics
  • Pacific Islander
    140 (29.4 %)
  • Asian
    127 (26.6 %)
  • Two or More
    96 (20.1 %)
  • Hispanic
    85 (17.8 %)
  • White
    29 (6.1 %)
School Location
School Details
Status: Open
School Level: Middle School
School Type: Regular School
Charter Status:* Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction: No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status: No
District: Hawaii Department of Education
Phone: (808)338-6830
Grade Range: 6th - 8th
Total Students: 477
Full-Time Teachers (FTE): 33.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio: 14.5
NSLP Participation:1 Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch: 212
Qualified Reduced Lunch: 42

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

1 National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught
Grade 6 167
Grade 7 161
Grade 8 149
Gender Ratio