Enrollment declines in 2 Big Isle complex areas

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Enrollment declined in two of the Big Island’s public school complex areas, while increasing slightly in the third, according to data released Friday by the state Department of Education.

The number of students in grades K-12 enrolled in the Ka‘u-Keaau-Pahoa Complex Area totaled 5,501 compared to the 5,457 students enrolled last fall.

In the Hilo-Waiakea Complex Area, a total of 7,749 students are enrolled, which is down slightly from the 7,893 students enrolled last fall.

Enrollment in the Honokaa-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena Complex Area also dipped this year to 9,914 compared with 10,061 students in 2019-20.

Statewide, enrollment declined 2.6% compared to last year, according to the DOE.

A total of 174,704 students are enrolled for the 2020-21 school year compared to 179,331 last year. Of those, 12,213 are enrolled in charter schools.