Administrators have a number of concerns about the Chapter 19 statistics because different schools report the data differently. At Kapa'a Intermediate, Principal Nathan Aiwohi said a slap or a shove is reported as an assault at his school, while some other schools only classify a case as an assault if it results in significant injuries, or the attack is so serious that it warrants an arrest.

Those differences in reporting lead to some seemingly absurd statistics. For example, Farrington and Campbell high schools, which are two of the largest high schools in the state, each reported five assaults last year, while Waiau Elementary and tiny Pu'ohala Elementary each reported nine.

Those inconsistencies have shown up in the data for years, but Superintendent Pat Hamamoto said Department of Education staff is working on refining the reporting process so schools consistently and accurately report offenses that occur. That way, the statistics should properly reflect what is happening on campus.

Administrators and other school officials around the state also have suggested that some schools deliberately underreport campus incidents because those incidents might reflect badly on the school or its staff.

Hamamoto said she can understand those concerns but said she has "just the opposite philosophy. When you report it, it allows us to identify it and go in and offer assistance and get resources."

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com.