An “A” rating placard from Public Health hangs proudly in Adacao Elementary School. But that wasn’t always the case. KUAM made our way over to the Home of the Hilitais to learn about their journey to bringing their campus up to code.

More than just a placard showing a safe and healthy school - an “A” rating from Public Health. For the Adacao community, it’s a symbol of resilience, teamwork, and an unwavering love for the young hilitai who call the Mangilao campus home.

Principal Janice Chargualaf shares what this milestone truly means, saying, “Collectively, it had taken the entire community to provide the resources and the manpower to ensure that we met the public health standards.”

This progress comes after the school faced challenges just last year, earning a “C” rating from Public Health inspectors. Chargualaf added, “We received 22 demerits at the time—but this just had happened after Typhoon Mawar. We had to create an action plan and specifically target those demerits.”

Damages from the storm - lighting, flooring, and plumbing issues - had challenged the campus. Still, the community coming together in an incredible way, turning those demerits into an “A” rating in record time.

The principal recalling one special day that captured the heart of this journey, saying, “We’ve had so many military personnel on campus supporting, and it just provided a lot of fun times with the families that came, and it just stood out to me—that was the day I believe that was the day we had over 50 volunteers, including our parents and families. It was a day I felt truly, it takes a community to come out and ensure our schools do receive a higher rating.”

And while every campus in the district has its unique challenges, Adacao Elementary now stands as an inspiration, proof that it takes a village to support our public schools.

Principal Chargualaf offering this message of encouragement to others, “Continue to work with you partners and GDOE

and whoever steps up to help our schools. But yes, it’s achievable.”5:22

GDOE confirms Adacao and Talofofo elementary schools are the only public campuses with "A" ratings.