KA‘I Middle & High School Program (est. 2010):

The KA‘I Middle & High School Program is a partnership between ‘Iolani School and Jarrett Middle School that provides low-income students who are in the academic middle with a free, high-quality, six-summer program at ‘Iolani School during their middle and high school years. All of our students will be the first generation in their family to graduate from  college and many will be the first generation in their family to graduate from high school. To be a part of our KAʻI Middle & High School program, students must commit to six-years of our summer program as well as regular attendance to our school year Tutoring Program.

By engaging students in a free, high-quality, six-year summer program at ‘Iolani School throughout their middle and high school years, this program has been highly successful in counteracting the summer learning loss that usually occurs for low-income youth, closing the academic achievement gap, and drastically raising high school graduation and postsecondary matriculation rates of low-income youth from Pālolo Valley.

Since the KA‘I Program began 13 years ago, we have earned a 96 percent on-time high school graduation rate, far exceeding the high school graduation rates of low-income youth statewide and nationwide.

During the school year, we provide both in-person and online tutoring to our middle and high school students with the goal of improving our students’ academic skills and grades and all but ensuring that each student will persist through middle and high school. This program also plays a critical role in the social-emotional well-being of our students and has become an essential, ongoing support system during the school year for our students.