VOLCANO SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES

Where: P.O. Box 845, Volcano Village, Hawai'i

Grade span: Kindergarten through eighth grade

Enrollment: 147 students

Race/ethnicity enrollment: Hawaiian/part-Hawaiian, 30 percent; Caucasian, 43 percent; Asian, 3 percent; Black, 5 percent; Native American, 4 percent; 0ther 19 percent.

Free and reduced-price lunch eligible: 53 percent.

Special-education students: 17.6 percent.

Computers on campus: One computer for every middle school student and two per every elementary school classroom.

Principal: David Rizor

School nickname: Apapane

School colors: Red and white

What are you most proud of?

"We are proud of our small class sizes and individual attention that we are able to give to every student," Rizor said. "The school emphasizes development of the whole child, believing that art, music and social development are essential components of a high-quality education. The key of both the formation and success of our school is the level of community involvement that cannot be found in a centralized system like the state Department of Education.

"We follow an 'inclusion' model for special education that keeps all students in the regular classrooms by providing additional classroom support."

What is your biggest challenge? "Like all charter schools, a per-pupil funding amount consistently lower than other public schools receive, along with no funding help for facilities, is our biggest challenge — and of course, living on an actively erupting volcano."

Special events: Cultural exchange with Waseda University in Japan; May Day, multi-age projects, middle school theater, elementary spring science musical, student treasures books, restoration projects in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Kaho'olawe and the Annual Art Auction fundraiser.

History: The school was chartered as a public school in 2001. The founders envisioned a school that works with community partners, taking advantage of the many artists and scientists who live in the area. The school has grown from 67 students to 147 today and has a waiting list of 90 students.

Web address: www.volcanovillage.net/charterschool/

Phone: 808-985-9800