Best primary schools in Tauranga City (2026)
Contributing, full primary, intermediate and composite schools offering Years 1–8. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 36 schools in Tauranga City, Bay of Plenty. Rank positions shown on each profile are within New Zealand and Bay of Plenty.
- 188St Mary's Catholic School (Tauranga)Tauranga · State integrated ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 385 · 474 students
- 284Bethlehem CollegeBethlehem · State integrated CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 409 · 2,108 students
- 381Taumata SchoolPyes Pa · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 415 · 669 students
- 480Suzanne Aubert Catholic SchoolPapamoa · State integrated ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 393 · 215 students
- 580Matua SchoolMatua · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 401 · 544 students
- 676Tahatai Coast SchoolPapamoa · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 428 · 804 students
- 773Omanu SchoolMount Maunganui · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 403 · 560 students
- 873Mount Maunganui Primary SchoolMount Maunganui · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 399 · 408 students
- 972Pillans Point SchoolPillans Point · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 405 · 500 students
- 1067Te Manawa ō Pāpāmoa SchoolPapamoa Beach · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 443 · 506 students
- 1166Tauranga Waldorf SchoolWelcome Bay · State integrated Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 413 · 196 students
- 1265Tauranga Primary SchoolTauranga · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 423 · 478 students
- 1365Bethlehem SchoolBethlehem · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 423 · 434 students
- 1464Golden Sands SchoolPapamoa Beach · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 426 · 505 students
- 1563Pāpāmoa Primary SchoolPapamoa · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 432 · 611 students
- 1662Ōtūmoetai Primary SchoolOtumoetai · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 433 · 582 students
- 1759Ōtūmoetai IntermediateOtumoetai · State IntermediateEquity Index (EQI) 440 · 957 students
- 1858Arataki SchoolMount Maunganui · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 465 · 590 students
- 1958Tauranga Adventist SchoolBethlehem · State integrated Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 429 · 116 students
- 2058Greenpark School (Tauranga)Greerton · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 443 · 725 students
- 2157Maungatapu SchoolMaungatapu-Tauranga · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 468 · 603 students
- 2257Mount Maunganui Intermediate SchoolMount Maunganui · State IntermediateEquity Index (EQI) 444 · 666 students
- 2356St Thomas More Catholic SchoolBayfair · State integrated ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 432 · 105 students
- 2454Tauriko SchoolTauriko · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 440 · 245 students
- 2554Te Akau ki Papamoa Primary SchoolPapamoa · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 448 · 520 students
- 2653Selwyn Ridge SchoolWelcome Bay · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 449 · 492 students
- 2752Bellevue School (Tauranga)Bellevue · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 445 · 304 students
- 2844Tauranga IntermediateThe Avenues · State IntermediateEquity Index (EQI) 475 · 1,225 students
- 2941Welcome Bay SchoolWelcome Bay · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 469 · 299 students
- 3041Gate Pa SchoolGate Pa · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 507 · 398 students
- 3140Te Kura o ManunuiBrookfield · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 508 · 355 students
- 3235Te Kura o MatapihiMatapihi · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 503 · 182 students
- 3330Greerton Village School - Te Kura o MaarawaewaeGreerton · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 507 · 379 students
- 3422Merivale SchoolTauranga · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 548 · 157 students
- 3518TKKM o OtepouTauranga Central · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 546 · 74 students
- 3614TKKM o Te Kura KokiriWelcome Bay · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 551 · 220 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Mary's Catholic School (Tauranga) Tauranga · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State integrated | 88.3 Top 5% | 385 | 474 |
| 2 | Bethlehem College Bethlehem · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 84.3 Top 10% | 409 | 2,108 |
| 3 | Taumata School Pyes Pa · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 80.9 Top 10% | 415 | 669 |
| 4 | Suzanne Aubert Catholic School Papamoa · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State integrated | 80.0 Top 10% | 393 | 215 |
| 5 | Matua School Matua · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 79.7 Top 10% | 401 | 544 |
| 6 | Tahatai Coast School Papamoa · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 75.9 Top 25% | 428 | 804 |
| 7 | Omanu School Mount Maunganui · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 73.1 Top 25% | 403 | 560 |
| 8 | Mount Maunganui Primary School Mount Maunganui · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 72.6 Top 25% | 399 | 408 |
| 9 | Pillans Point School Pillans Point · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 71.9 Top 25% | 405 | 500 |
| 10 | Te Manawa ō Pāpāmoa School Papamoa Beach · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 67.3 Top 25% | 443 | 506 |
| 11 | Tauranga Waldorf School Welcome Bay · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 65.8 Top 50% | 413 | 196 |
| 12 | Tauranga Primary School Tauranga · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 65.4 Top 50% | 423 | 478 |
| 13 | Bethlehem School Bethlehem · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 64.9 Top 50% | 423 | 434 |
| 14 | Golden Sands School Papamoa Beach · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 64.3 Top 50% | 426 | 505 |
| 15 | Pāpāmoa Primary School Papamoa · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 62.6 Top 50% | 432 | 611 |
| 16 | Ōtūmoetai Primary School Otumoetai · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 61.8 Top 50% | 433 | 582 |
| 17 | Ōtūmoetai Intermediate Otumoetai · Intermediate · Years 7–8 | State | 59.4 Top 50% | 440 | 957 |
| 18 | Arataki School Mount Maunganui · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 58.0 Top 50% | 465 | 590 |
| 19 | Tauranga Adventist School Bethlehem · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 57.7 Top 50% | 429 | 116 |
| 20 | Greenpark School (Tauranga) Greerton · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 57.5 Top 50% | 443 | 725 |
| 21 | Maungatapu School Maungatapu-Tauranga · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 56.7 Top 50% | 468 | 603 |
| 22 | Mount Maunganui Intermediate School Mount Maunganui · Intermediate · Years 7–8 | State | 56.7 Top 50% | 444 | 666 |
| 23 | St Thomas More Catholic School Bayfair · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State integrated | 56.3 Top 50% | 432 | 105 |
| 24 | Tauriko School Tauriko · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 54.4 Top 50% | 440 | 245 |
| 25 | Te Akau ki Papamoa Primary School Papamoa · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 53.7 Top 50% | 448 | 520 |
| 26 | Selwyn Ridge School Welcome Bay · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 53.0 Top 50% | 449 | 492 |
| 27 | Bellevue School (Tauranga) Bellevue · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 52.1 Top 50% | 445 | 304 |
| 28 | Tauranga Intermediate The Avenues · Intermediate · Years 7–8 | State | 43.5 Lower 50% | 475 | 1,225 |
| 29 | Welcome Bay School Welcome Bay · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 41.4 Lower 50% | 469 | 299 |
| 30 | Gate Pa School Gate Pa · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 40.9 Lower 50% | 507 | 398 |
| 31 | Te Kura o Manunui Brookfield · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 39.8 Lower 50% | 508 | 355 |
| 32 | Te Kura o Matapihi Matapihi · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 35.1 Lower 50% | 503 | 182 |
| 33 | Greerton Village School - Te Kura o Maarawaewae Greerton · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 29.5 Lower 50% | 507 | 379 |
| 34 | Merivale School Tauranga · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 22.1 Lower 50% | 548 | 157 |
| 35 | TKKM o Otepou Tauranga Central · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 17.7 Lower 50% | 546 | 74 |
| 36 | TKKM o Te Kura Kokiri Welcome Bay · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 14.3 Lower 50% | 551 | 220 |
St Mary's Catholic School (Tauranga) in Tauranga leads the 2026 list of primary schools in Tauranga City with a Success Index (NZ) of 88.3. Of the 36 schools shown, 30 are state, 6 are state integrated.
For the full picture see the wider Bay of Plenty primary schools rankings, every school on the Tauranga City page, or the comparison tool to put a shortlist side by side.
Free academic assessment
Is your child on track for NCEA?
Success Tutoring runs personalised English and Maths tutoring for Years 1–13 in New Zealand. Start with a free assessment mapped to the New Zealand Curriculum.
- Personalised learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum
- English & Maths from Kindergarten to Year 12
- Flexible memberships, no lock-in contracts
- Centres across NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA and ACT
Frequently asked questions
What is the best primary school in Tauranga City?
St Mary's Catholic School (Tauranga) in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty ranks first among primary schools in Tauranga City with a Success Index (NZ) of 88.3 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 385).
How are primary schools in Tauranga City 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.