Trinity Christian School Director Nancy Shaw says, "People walk onto this campus and they feel God's presence." Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

The school, on a ridge in Maunawili Valley, is rooted in Christianity, and mornings start with Bible study. Nancy Shaw, the school's director, said she emphasizes student character and spiritual well-being before academics. "I want children to apply God's word into whatever they see and read," she said.

But Trinity has a dynamic and rigorous curriculum, as its geography experiment shows, and student scores on national tests are higher than national and Christian school averages.

Students are arranged by grade level, but teachers often put students together as partners or in smaller groups, occasionally by ability, and focus on project-oriented lesson plans. A teacher's assistant is also present in each class, increasing the individual attention students receive from teachers.

"They make learning exciting and real to the kids," Shaw said of her teachers.

The school has a small swimming pool, so swimming is part of physical education, and students also take music, art, computer and Japanese.

Trinity accepts applications in September for the following school year, but has a waiting list. A family interview is required, and admission priority is given to the children of members at Trinity Christian Church, the children of school alumni and the siblings of Trinity students.

• What are you most proud of? Shaw said it's the school's students and their parents.

"Our graduates move on to excellent schools where they do well but always come back to help out on days off from school," Shaw said.

The school aggressively courts parents. The Parent Teacher Fellowship, a group of dedicated parents, organized the school's spring auction that raised money for teacher laptops and the student computer lab.

• Best-kept secret: Like many private schools, the school itself.

"People walk onto this campus and they feel God's presence," Shaw said.

• Everybody at our school knows: Linda Kawakami, the librarian and technology coordinator.

"She works closely with teachers and students to establish a creative, integrated learning environment," Shaw said.

• What we need: More space.

The school sits on 1 acre and has little room to grow. Students play in a converted parking lot or at Maunawili Park.

"We could use three times as much land as what we've got, and twice as many classrooms," Shaw said.

• Special events: The spring auction in April.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8084.