Best secondary schools in Rotorua District (2026)
Secondary and composite schools offering Years 9–13. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 10 schools in Rotorua District, Bay of Plenty. Rank positions shown on each profile are within New Zealand and Bay of Plenty.
- 173John Paul CollegeUtuhina · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 415 · 1,090 students
- 261TKKM o Te KoutuRotorua Central · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 485 · 383 students
- 352TKKM o RuamataRotokawa · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 494 · 272 students
- 446Rotorua Lakes High SchoolTe Ngae · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 473 · 622 students
- 542Rotorua Boys' High SchoolRotorua · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 504 · 1,138 students
- 638Te Wharekura o Ngāti RongomaiHannahs Bay · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 500 · 106 students
- 735Western Heights High SchoolRotorua Central · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 499 · 1,187 students
- 828Te Rangihakahaka Centre for Science and TechnologyRotorua · State Composite (Year 1-10)Equity Index (EQI) 513 · 105 students
- 927Rotorua Girls' High SchoolHillcrest · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 522 · 605 students
- 1016TKKM o HurungaterangiMangakakahi · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 550 · 89 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Paul College Utuhina · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 72.8 Top 25% | 415 | 1,090 |
| 2 | TKKM o Te Koutu Rotorua Central · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 61.4 Top 50% | 485 | 383 |
| 3 | TKKM o Ruamata Rotokawa · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 51.5 Top 50% | 494 | 272 |
| 4 | Rotorua Lakes High School Te Ngae · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 45.9 Lower 50% | 473 | 622 |
| 5 | Rotorua Boys' High School Rotorua · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 41.6 Lower 50% | 504 | 1,138 |
| 6 | Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai Hannahs Bay · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 37.8 Lower 50% | 500 | 106 |
| 7 | Western Heights High School Rotorua Central · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 34.9 Lower 50% | 499 | 1,187 |
| 8 | Te Rangihakahaka Centre for Science and Technology Rotorua · Composite (Year 1-10) · Years 1–13 | State | 28.1 Lower 50% | 513 | 105 |
| 9 | Rotorua Girls' High School Hillcrest · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 26.5 Lower 50% | 522 | 605 |
| 10 | TKKM o Hurungaterangi Mangakakahi · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 15.7 Lower 50% | 550 | 89 |
John Paul College in Utuhina leads the 2026 list of secondary schools in Rotorua District with a Success Index (NZ) of 72.8. Of the 10 schools shown, 9 are state, 1 are state integrated.
For the full picture see the wider Bay of Plenty secondary schools rankings, every school on the Rotorua District page, or the comparison tool to put a shortlist side by side.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best secondary school in Rotorua District?
John Paul College in Utuhina, Bay of Plenty ranks first among secondary schools in Rotorua District with a Success Index (NZ) of 72.8 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 415).
How are secondary schools in Rotorua District ranked?
Each school's Success Index (NZ) combines 5 factors: equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (45%), roll size (10%), roll growth (5 years) (15%), school leavers with ncea level 2+ (20%), school leavers with university entrance (10%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type across New Zealand. Schools with fewer than 60 students are excluded from rankings.
Are these 2026 rankings official?
No. They are computed by Success Tutoring from official New Zealand data (Ministry of Education – Schools Directory; Ministry of Education – School leaver attainment (Find a school)). The Equity Index describes the student community, not teaching quality.