Best primary schools in Christchurch City (2026)

Contributing, full primary, intermediate and composite schools offering Years 1–8. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 100 schools in Christchurch City, Canterbury. Rank positions shown on each profile are within New Zealand and Canterbury.

#	School	Sector	Success Index (NZ)	Equity Index (EQI)	Students
1	Cashmere Primary Te Pae Kererū Cashmere · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	91.5 Top 5%	368	501
2	Elmwood Normal School Merivale · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	90.7 Top 5%	376	564
3	Te Kura o te Tauawa Halswell School Halswell · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	90.0 Top 5%	385	740
4	Knights Stream School- Mingimingi Hautoa Halswell · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	89.8 Top 5%	385	682
5	Te Kura o Huriawa Thorrington Cashmere · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	89.5 Top 5%	377	456
6	Wigram Primary School - Te Piki Kāhu Wigram · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	87.0 Top 5%	392	492
7	Mt Pleasant School Mt Pleasant · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	85.5 Top 5%	393	398
8	Our Lady of Victories Sockburn · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	85.5 Top 5%	376	263
9	Aidanfield Christian School Aidanfield · Composite · Years 1–13	State integrated	85.0 Top 5%	377	477
10	Middleton Grange School Riccarton · Composite · Years 1–13	State integrated	84.4 Top 5%	404	1,395
11	Te Rito Harakeke - Marshland School Marshland · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	84.1 Top 5%	404	609
12	Oaklands Te Kura o Ōwaka Halswell · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	82.8 Top 5%	410	646
13	Our Lady of the Assumption School (Chch) Hoon Hay · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	81.9 Top 10%	401	335
14	St Francis of Assisi Catholic School Mairehau · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	81.9 Top 10%	408	476
15	Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto Beckenham · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	80.8 Top 10%	412	489
16	Te Raekura Redcliffs School Redcliffs · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	79.9 Top 10%	400	264
17	Tūora Fendalton School Burnside · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	79.3 Top 10%	371	445
18	Cotswold Mātāhae School Bishopdale · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	79.2 Top 10%	419	568
19	Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo Somerfield · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	79.2 Top 10%	419	571
20	Hoon Hay Te Kura Kōaka Hoon Hay · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	78.8 Top 10%	416	454
21	Christ The King School (Burnside) Burnside · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	77.5 Top 25%	369	322
22	Westburn Te Kura O Hereora Ilam · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	77.5 Top 25%	383	484
23	Emmanuel Christian School Bishopdale · Composite (Year 1-10) · Years 1–13	State integrated	77.4 Top 25%	409	301
24	Hillview Christian School St Martins · Composite · Years 1–13	State integrated	77.0 Top 25%	418	562
25	St Peter's School Te Kura Haoika Beckenham · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	76.2 Top 25%	397	163
26	St Mark's School (Christchurch) Opawa · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	75.9 Top 25%	398	241
27	St Patrick's School (Bryndwr) Bryndwr · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	75.1 Top 25%	376	175
28	Sumner School Sumner · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	75.1 Top 25%	382	323
29	St Joseph's School (Papanui) Papanui · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	74.4 Top 25%	395	448
30	Ilam School Ilam · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	74.3 Top 25%	394	411
31	St Mary's School (Christchurch) Christchurch · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	74.1 Top 25%	397	127
32	St Teresa's School (Riccarton) Christchurch · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	73.8 Top 25%	398	173
33	Merrin School Ngā Whetū Kohara Avonhead · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	73.7 Top 25%	398	469
34	Te Kura o Ōhinetahi - Governors Bay Governors Bay · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	73.6 Top 25%	386	93
35	Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate Fendalton · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	73.1 Top 25%	405	678
36	St Martins School St Martins · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	72.8 Top 25%	402	492
37	Avonhead School - Rakipaoa Avonhead · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	72.6 Top 25%	406	614
38	Sacred Heart School (Christchurch) Addington · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	72.5 Top 25%	404	195
39	Te Ara Maurea Roydvale School Burnside · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	71.9 Top 25%	395	294
40	He Tīwai Mātauranga Heaton Normal Intermediate Merivale · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	71.8 Top 25%	407	541
41	Paparoa Street School Papanui · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	71.8 Top 25%	398	341
42	Our Lady Star of the Sea School (Christchurch) Sumner · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	71.7 Top 25%	401	106
43	Christchurch Adventist School Papanui · Composite · Years 1–13	State integrated	70.9 Top 25%	435	293
44	Christchurch South Karamata Intermediate School Spreydon · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	70.2 Top 25%	411	492
45	St Albans Catholic School (Christchurch) St Albans · Contributing · Years 1–6	State integrated	70.0 Top 25%	394	114
46	St Albans School St Albans · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	70.0 Top 25%	414	599
47	St Bernadette's School (Hornby) Hornby · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	67.6 Top 25%	423	166
48	Harewood School Harewood · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	66.5 Top 50%	410	167
49	Te Parito Kōwhai Russley School Avonhead · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	66.3 Top 50%	420	440
50	Waimairi School Christchurch · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	65.3 Top 50%	418	330
51	Diamond Harbour School Diamond Harbour · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	64.8 Top 50%	412	122
52	Heathcote Valley School Heathcote Valley · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	61.4 Top 50%	424	188
53	Lyttelton Primary School Lyttelton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	60.5 Top 50%	424	134
54	Wharenui School Riccarton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	60.1 Top 50%	457	441
55	Kahikatea Kirkwood Intermediate Riccarton · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	59.4 Top 50%	430	291
56	Mastery Schools New Zealand - Arapaki Hillsborough · Full Primary · Years 1–8	Charter	59.4 Top 50%	434	124
57	TKKM o Te Whanau Tahi Spreydon · Composite · Years 1–13	State	59.1 Top 50%	494	234
58	Christchurch East School Christchurch Central · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	58.7 Top 50%	454	301
59	Te Kura o Mōkihi Spreydon School Hoon Hay · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	58.7 Top 50%	453	289
60	New Brighton Catholic School (Chch) New Brighton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	58.6 Top 50%	445	196
61	Papanui Primary School Papanui · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	56.9 Top 50%	452	236
62	St Anne's School (Woolston) Woolston · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	56.9 Top 50%	447	182
63	Te Kāpehu Riccarton School Sockburn · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	56.9 Top 50%	462	371
64	Yaldhurst School – Tōtara Tūkaha Yaldhurst · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	56.9 Top 50%	432	132
65	Tuia Burnside Primary School Ilam · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	56.8 Top 50%	437	326
66	Rudolf Steiner School (Chch) Opawa · Composite · Years 1–13	State integrated	56.6 Top 50%	410	283
67	Te Kura o Ōpāwaho – Opawa School Opawa · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	56.5 Top 50%	463	376
68	Akaroa Area School Akaroa · Composite · Years 1–13	State	55.2 Top 50%	455	115
69	Pareawa Banks Avenue School Richmond · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	55.0 Top 50%	466	363
70	Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery Christchurch · Composite · Years 1–13	State	54.2 Top 50%	442	654
71	Addington Te Kura Taumatua Addington · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	53.3 Top 50%	470	361
72	Redwood School (Christchurch) Redwood · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	53.1 Top 50%	443	303
73	Breens Intermediate Bishopdale · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	52.9 Top 50%	443	274
74	Waitākiri Primary School Burwood · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	52.2 Top 50%	452	558
75	Te Ara Koropiko West Spreydon School Spreydon · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	52.0 Top 50%	445	283
76	Queenspark Te Hua Mānuka Parklands · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	50.7 Top 50%	453	459
77	Te Kura o Rātā Templeton School Templeton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	49.9 Top 50%	449	287
78	South New Brighton School South New Brighton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	49.4 Top 50%	454	393
79	Pūtahi Belfast School Belfast · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	48.8 Lower 50%	458	453
80	Rāwhiti School North New Brighton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	47.4 Lower 50%	478	551
81	Gilberthorpe School Hei Hei · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	47.1 Lower 50%	475	236
82	Casebrook Intermediate Casebrook · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	44.9 Lower 50%	466	438
83	Te Hiwa Shirley Primary School Shirley · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	44.7 Lower 50%	494	379
84	Mairehau Primary School Christchurch · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	44.3 Lower 50%	466	386
85	Te Manu Tukutuku South Hornby School Hornby · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	43.7 Lower 50%	464	310
86	Te Kura o Te Mātāpuna Isleworth School Bishopdale · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	42.3 Lower 50%	466	247
87	Te Waka Unua School Woolston · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	41.5 Lower 50%	509	501
88	Parkview Pārua Parklands · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	39.6 Lower 50%	477	393
89	Chisnallwood Intermediate Avondale · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	38.1 Lower 50%	482	411
90	Whītau School Linwood · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	37.6 Lower 50%	513	314
91	Wairakei School (Christchurch) Bryndwr · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	36.9 Lower 50%	478	210
92	Te Pā o Rākaihautū Linwood · Composite · Years 1–13	State	36.8 Lower 50%	517	205
93	Te Oraka Shirley · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	35.0 Lower 50%	505	194
94	Hornby Primary School Hornby · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	33.6 Lower 50%	489	275
95	Waltham School Waltham · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	33.5 Lower 50%	489	263
96	TKKM o Waitaha Waltham · Composite · Years 1–13	State	32.3 Lower 50%	519	225
97	Te Huarahi Linwood Avenue School Linwood · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	31.5 Lower 50%	499	355
98	Bishopdale School Te Kura o Papakōhatu Bishopdale · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	29.8 Lower 50%	521	177
99	Te Kōmanawa Rowley School Hoon Hay · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	28.4 Lower 50%	535	227
100	Te Ahuwai Bromley School Bromley · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	27.6 Lower 50%	513	371

Cashmere Primary Te Pae Kererū in Cashmere leads the 2026 list of primary schools in Christchurch City with a Success Index (NZ) of 91.5. Of the 100 schools shown, 77 are state, 22 are state integrated, 1 are charter.

For the full picture see the wider Canterbury primary schools rankings, every school on the Christchurch City page, or the comparison tool to put a shortlist side by side.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best primary school in Christchurch City?

Cashmere Primary Te Pae Kererū in Cashmere, Canterbury ranks first among primary schools in Christchurch City with a Success Index (NZ) of 91.5 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 368).

How are primary schools in Christchurch 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.