St. Michael's School: Best Catholic School on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii

On the north shore of Oahu there are only a handful of elementary schools. For such a large area you would think that there would be much more. However because of the size of the actual community and the fact that it is a rural area is the reason why there are not more schools.

One of only two catholic elementary schools and the only catholic middle school on the north shore is St. Michael's school. Named after the archangel Michael, this school sits in the middle of Waialua, an old sugar plantation town. First started out by the Mary knoll sisters, this school has withstood many things over the last decade. It has seen many come and go and still sits in the same location it has for years.

The school for a very long time was run and taught by nuns that were transferred from the Philippines. Over the years that had changed as there was a call for more certified teachers to cover the ever-growing curriculum.

The school teaches students in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade and also has a preschool. Students can participate in such extracurricular activities such as basketball, track and volleyball. St. Michael's school is the home of the Sharks, who participate in the Catholic School League. The Sharks basketball team was the first sports team to participate in the Catholic School League. The first game they ever played was in 1988 Boys basketball game, by students in grades 6th-8th.

It is mandatory for students to attend weekly services and to participate in religious activities such as lent and Easter. In addition to their normal classes like math, social studies and history, students must also attend Religion classes. It is also typical for students to participate in Holy Communion and other sacramental activities.

It is much easier for students coming from a school like St. Michael's to attend a private high school such as St. Louis or Mary knoll in Honolulu, making it very appealing to many parents. However this education does come at a price. Individual student tuition per year runs several thousand dollars.

One of the things I love about this school is the fact that class sizes are small. There are usually no more than 25 kids per class leaving plenty of time for personal attention. If you can afford the tuition, it would be a great investment in your child's future, if you live on the north shore. Stop in and take a tour, they will be glad to show you around.