Private school, catholic

St. Joseph Parish School

Waipahu, HI · Grades PK to 8 · 292 students

Can a 529 pay for St. Joseph Parish School?

Yes. Federal law lets a 529 plan pay tuition at a private, public or religious elementary or secondary school, up to $20,000 a year per student. St. Joseph Parish School is a private school serving grades pk to 8, so its tuition is the kind of cost this covers.

What a 529 can pay

Tuition, up to $20,000 a year per student
Curriculum, books and instructional materials
Tutoring and classes outside the home
Fees for SAT, ACT, AP and other exams
Online educational materials
Educational therapies for a student with a disability

What it can’t

Registration, application and building fees
Activity, field trip and technology fees
Uniforms, sports and extracurriculars
School meals and transportation
Aftercare and summer camps

Ask St. Joseph Parish School which of its charges are billed as tuition. Fees added to a tuition bill are not always covered.

What Hawaii does with it

The tax rule is your state of residence’s, so this applies if you live in Hawaii.

Hawaii does not follow the federal K-12 rule

Hawaii does not treat K-12 withdrawals from a 529 as qualified. The earnings part is generally taxed as Hawaii income, and a Hawaii deduction you took for contributing may be taken back. Federally the withdrawal can still be tax-free, so the question is whether the benefit is worth the state tax.

General information, not tax advice. Source: Saving for College, which states conform to federal 529 law (Jan. 2026). How it works

Plan and track St. Joseph Parish School costs

Add this school to a free plan, see how it fits with college savings, and log each tuition bill, book and test fee so it is checked against the rules and ready for tax time.

More private schools in Waipahu

School details: Waipahu, HI · Private (Catholic) · Grades PK to 8. Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (2021-22). General information, not tax advice.