The Admissions Assessment Specialist serves as a core practitioner within Punahou’s K–3 holistic evaluation process. This role is responsible for the direct administration of standardized individual screenings, ensuring that cognitive and academic assessments are conducted with professional precision, warmth, and consistency. Working under the guidance of the Admissions Assessment Manager, the Specialist focuses on the frontline execution of individual assessments. By providing detailed data and observations, the Specialist contributes to the voice needed to identify a child’s unique learning profile and developmental readiness for a Punahou education. Essential functions include, but are not limited to:

Assessment & Evaluative Practice

• Execute a high-volume of individual assessments during the peak admissions season, personally administering standardized cognitive and developmental tests.
• Score assessment results under the supervision of the Admissions Assessment Manager, ensuring all data is processed with a high degree of accuracy and according to established professional standards.
• Administer and score assessment measures; synthesize and interpret results; and draft daily summary reports for calibration review and final approval by the Admissions Assessment Manager.
• Observe group-based observation sessions as requested, recording objective data on social-emotional dynamics and classroom readiness to be synthesized by the Manager.
• Maintain rigorous documentation of every applicant session, ensuring organized and secure records that support a transparent, defensible, and equitable admissions process.
   

Admissions Project Support 

• Support the Admissions Assessment Manager in the preparation of factual data summaries and candidate profiles for Admissions Committee review, as needed.
• Safeguard applicant confidentiality and uphold the highest ethical standards of the admissions office in all communications, data handling, and record-keeping.
   
   

Position Details

• Work Year: 9 months
• School Year: 2026-2027
• Work Hours: Monday – Friday, Hours between 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM; schedule may vary based on needs
• Minimum Annual Salary*: $70,100 - Compensation is commensurate with qualifications

*Punahou School offers a comprehensive total rewards program that includes competitive pay and benefits. The pay rate, if displayed, is the minimum annual rate for the position. Pay for selected candidates will be determined by various factors such as knowledge, skills, abilities, relevant training and experience, and internal equity. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in School Psychology, Educational Psychology, or a related field. 
• Demonstrated experience in the administration of standardized educational assessments. One (1) year of experience working with preschool and/or elementary-age children is highly preferred.
• Ability to administer standardized cognitive and readiness tests with strict adherence to standardized protocols and ethical "best practice" standards.
• Proficiency in drafting clear, factual reports based on objective assessment data and behavioral observations; ability to produce high-volume documentation within rigorous seasonal timelines.
• Mastery of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word) and Google Workspace (Docs, Gmail) for secure data management and professional report production.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to maintain objective, analytical focus during high-volume testing cycles.
• A growth mindset and a commitment to maintaining the highest levels of applicant confidentiality and professional integrity.
   

About Punahou School

Punahou School nurtures the individuality of each child within a vibrant K – 12 school community that celebrates diversity, inspires excellence and connects students for life. Located in Honolulu, Hawai`i, Punahou is the largest coeducational, independent K – 12 school on a single campus in the United States. Students at Punahou have unparalleled opportunities to cultivate their unique interests and talents under the guidance of attentive and caring teachers. Rigorous academics, robust programs in athletics and the arts, and an array of co-curricular opportunities offer an integrated, 21st-century education for the whole child. Students exemplify the diversity and strength of Hawai`i and reflect the School’s commitment to providing robust, need-based financial aid. When students graduate from Punahou, they join a network of 30,000 alumni spanning the globe. Beyond excellent scholars, the School seeks to develop engaged global citizens who can strengthen their communities.

Connections working at Punahou School