Best secondary schools in Christchurch City (2026)
Secondary and composite schools offering Years 9–13. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 31 schools in Christchurch City, Canterbury. Rank positions shown on each profile are within New Zealand and Canterbury.
- 185Aidanfield Christian SchoolAidanfield · State integrated CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 377 · 477 students
- 284Middleton Grange SchoolRiccarton · State integrated CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 404 · 1,395 students
- 381Christchurch Girls' High School -Te Kura o Hine WaioraRiccarton · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 419 · 1,308 students
- 480Cashmere High SchoolSomerfield · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 413 · 2,450 students
- 580Burnside High SchoolBurnside · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 416 · 2,736 students
- 677Emmanuel Christian SchoolBishopdale · State integrated Composite (Year 1-10)Equity Index (EQI) 409 · 301 students
- 777St Thomas of Canterbury CollegeSockburn · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 430 · 686 students
- 877Villa Maria CollegeUpper Riccarton · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 411 · 831 students
- 977Hillview Christian SchoolSt Martins · State integrated CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 418 · 562 students
- 1075Christchurch Boys' High SchoolRiccarton · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 418 · 1,403 students
- 1175Marian CollegeNorthcote-Christchurch · State integrated Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 426 · 427 students
- 1274St Bede's CollegePapanui · State integrated Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 415 · 795 students
- 1371Christchurch Adventist SchoolPapanui · State integrated CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 435 · 293 students
- 1467Catholic Cathedral CollegePhillipstown · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 448 · 597 students
- 1562Riccarton High SchoolSockburn · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 440 · 1,111 students
- 1659TKKM o Te Whanau TahiSpreydon · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 494 · 234 students
- 1759Christchurch North CollegeBurnside · Charter Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 446 · 85 students
- 1857Rudolf Steiner School (Chch)Opawa · State integrated CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 410 · 283 students
- 1955Akaroa Area SchoolAkaroa · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 455 · 115 students
- 2054Ao Tawhiti Unlimited DiscoveryChristchurch · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 442 · 654 students
- 2154Avonside Girls' High SchoolNorth New Brighton · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 472 · 1,090 students
- 2250Te Kura Tuarua o Horomaka Hillmorton High SchoolBarrington · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 467 · 1,415 students
- 2347Shirley Boys' High School - Ngā Tama o ŌruapaeroaChristchurch · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 464 · 1,295 students
- 2445Papanui High SchoolPapanui · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 461 · 1,416 students
- 2540Te Puna Wai o Waipapa - Hagley CollegeChristchurch Central · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 468 · 1,967 students
- 2640Hornby High SchoolHornby · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 489 · 1,015 students
- 2737Te Pā o RākaihautūLinwood · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 517 · 205 students
- 2835Te Aratai CollegePhillipstown · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 507 · 1,240 students
- 2932TKKM o WaitahaWaltham · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 519 · 225 students
- 3030Mairehau High SchoolChristchurch · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 510 · 407 students
- 3112Haeata Community CampusWainoni · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 545 · 634 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aidanfield Christian School Aidanfield · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 85.0 Top 5% | 377 | 477 |
| 2 | Middleton Grange School Riccarton · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 84.4 Top 5% | 404 | 1,395 |
| 3 | Christchurch Girls' High School -Te Kura o Hine Waiora Riccarton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 81.0 Top 10% | 419 | 1,308 |
| 4 | Cashmere High School Somerfield · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 80.0 Top 10% | 413 | 2,450 |
| 5 | Burnside High School Burnside · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 79.9 Top 10% | 416 | 2,736 |
| 6 | Emmanuel Christian School Bishopdale · Composite (Year 1-10) · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 77.4 Top 25% | 409 | 301 |
| 7 | St Thomas of Canterbury College Sockburn · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 77.3 Top 25% | 430 | 686 |
| 8 | Villa Maria College Upper Riccarton · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 77.2 Top 25% | 411 | 831 |
| 9 | Hillview Christian School St Martins · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 77.0 Top 25% | 418 | 562 |
| 10 | Christchurch Boys' High School Riccarton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 75.2 Top 25% | 418 | 1,403 |
| 11 | Marian College Northcote-Christchurch · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State integrated | 74.7 Top 25% | 426 | 427 |
| 12 | St Bede's College Papanui · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State integrated | 73.8 Top 25% | 415 | 795 |
| 13 | Christchurch Adventist School Papanui · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 70.9 Top 25% | 435 | 293 |
| 14 | Catholic Cathedral College Phillipstown · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 67.2 Top 25% | 448 | 597 |
| 15 | Riccarton High School Sockburn · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 61.8 Top 50% | 440 | 1,111 |
| 16 | TKKM o Te Whanau Tahi Spreydon · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 59.1 Top 50% | 494 | 234 |
| 17 | Christchurch North College Burnside · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | Charter | 58.6 Top 50% | 446 | 85 |
| 18 | Rudolf Steiner School (Chch) Opawa · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 56.6 Top 50% | 410 | 283 |
| 19 | Akaroa Area School Akaroa · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 55.2 Top 50% | 455 | 115 |
| 20 | Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery Christchurch · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 54.2 Top 50% | 442 | 654 |
| 21 | Avonside Girls' High School North New Brighton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 53.5 Top 50% | 472 | 1,090 |
| 22 | Te Kura Tuarua o Horomaka Hillmorton High School Barrington · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 49.7 Top 50% | 467 | 1,415 |
| 23 | Shirley Boys' High School - Ngā Tama o Ōruapaeroa Christchurch · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 46.9 Lower 50% | 464 | 1,295 |
| 24 | Papanui High School Papanui · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 44.9 Lower 50% | 461 | 1,416 |
| 25 | Te Puna Wai o Waipapa - Hagley College Christchurch Central · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 40.2 Lower 50% | 468 | 1,967 |
| 26 | Hornby High School Hornby · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 39.5 Lower 50% | 489 | 1,015 |
| 27 | Te Pā o Rākaihautū Linwood · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 36.8 Lower 50% | 517 | 205 |
| 28 | Te Aratai College Phillipstown · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 34.7 Lower 50% | 507 | 1,240 |
| 29 | TKKM o Waitaha Waltham · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 32.3 Lower 50% | 519 | 225 |
| 30 | Mairehau High School Christchurch · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 29.5 Lower 50% | 510 | 407 |
| 31 | Haeata Community Campus Wainoni · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 12.2 Lower 50% | 545 | 634 |
Aidanfield Christian School in Aidanfield leads the 2026 list of secondary schools in Christchurch City with a Success Index (NZ) of 85.0. Of the 31 schools shown, 19 are state, 11 are state integrated, 1 are charter.
For the full picture see the wider Canterbury secondary 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 secondary school in Christchurch City?
Aidanfield Christian School in Aidanfield, Canterbury ranks first among secondary schools in Christchurch City with a Success Index (NZ) of 85.0 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 377).
How are secondary 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.