HONOLULU — ʻAiea Intermediate, ʻĪao Intermediate, Niu Valley Middle and Pāhoa High & Intermediate schools are named 2026 “Schools of Distinction” by the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE), placing them among only 39 schools in the U.S. to earn the honor this year. These four Hawai‘i middle schools are setting the standard for middle-grade best practices. 

AMLE Schools of Distinction recognize and celebrate schools that are actively implementing the five essential attributes and characteristics (responsive, challenging, empowering, equitable and engaging) of successful middle grades schools. Schools are selected through a rigorous application process that includes a schoolwide assessment and submission of a continuous improvement process plan based on criteria from more than 50 years of research on middle level education.

“The recognition is a powerful statement that our school leaders and teachers are creating learning environments where every student feels like they belong. These thriving school communities are rooted in aloha and driven by purpose, guiding students on a path to achieve their full potential,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said.

Hawaiʻi’s 2026 AMLE Schools of Distinction

โรงเรียนมัธยมอาอีอา (Video and images courtesy AMLE)  

Guided by its core P.R.I.D.E. values, ʻAiea Intermediate School (AIS) delivers a challenging and engaging curriculum that inspires academic growth, personal integrity and lifelong success. AIS is committed to building a community of learners through strong relationships among students, teachers and support services staff, and through meaningful engagement with families and external partners.

“The AMLE School of Distinction is not just for ʻAiea Intermediate, it is a recognition of the strong collaborative efforts between students, teachers, administrators, families and our community partners,” Principal Michael John Jose said. “The award is the pinnacle of P.R.I.D.E. and I congratulate everyone on their hard work as we strive higher for the Kamaliʻi!”

โรงเรียนมัธยมต้นอีโอ (Video and images courtesy AMLE)  

ʻĪao Intermediate School meets the unique needs of middle school students by creating a thriving learning environment through a “school-within-a-school” teaming model where every student is known and heard by a core group of teachers. This supportive structure prioritizes students’ social-emotional wellness that bolsters high academic expectations and achievement, student agency and robust extracurricular programs. 

“Receiving the AMLE School of Distinction award is an incredible point of pride for our entire community and confirms what they already knows — ʻĪao School is ʻThe Place to Be,’” Principal Matt Dillon said. “It is a direct reflection of our dedicated staff, who bring passion every day to support our middle school students during these pivotal years. Pairing ʻāina-based learning with vibrant programs in athletics, arts and beyond, we ensure every single student finds their passion and a true sense of belonging.”

โรงเรียนมัธยมต้น Niu Valley (Video and images courtesy AMLE) 

Niu Valley Middle School (NVMS) inspires compassionate learners to live aloha and impact the world. This vision guides daily practices and global initiatives such as partnerships in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, alongside building strong family, community and school ties. Academically, NVMS blends the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme with middle-level education best practices, empowering adolescents to think critically, collaborate and apply their learning in the real world.

“Being recognized by AMLE is deeply humbling, but this distinction belongs entirely to our faculty, staff, parents and students who do the heavy lifting every day,” Principal Jeffrey Shitaoka said. “We must remain relentless and intentional in refining our systems to ensure every student feels a true sense of belonging during this critical developmental period — each day and every interaction counts!”

ปาฮัวโรงเรียนมัธยมและระดับกลาง (Video and images courtesy AMLE) 

Grounded in traditional Hawaiian values, Pāhoa High and Intermediate School serves as a “kīpuka” of safety and learning for its diverse rural community. Student-developed dress and school ID policies empower students through voice and choice. Serving as a stable “home base,” traditions like the annual Trunk or Treat and Hoʻolauleʻa welcome families to build strong pilina with staff and thrive together.

“Earning the recognition of the AMLE is a testament to the hard work of the staff of Pāhoa High and Intermediate School,” Principal Kim Williamson said. “We are always working to grow and support our community and earning the School of Distinction is an endorsement of the changes we have made and will continue to make for our students and families.”

Nine Hawaiʻi public schools have earned the Schools of Distinction title since 2023, and the state tops the list in school recognitions. When aloha meets purpose, Hawaiʻi public middle schools succeed on the national stage. The 2026 Schools of Distinction will present and be celebrated at AMLE26: The 53rd Annual Conference for Middle Level Education this November in Nashville. 

For more information about the AMLE Schools of Distinction program, visit www.amle.org.