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Schools in Timaru District, Canterbury (2026)

28 schools · 8,008 students · 20 state, 7 state integrated, 1 private · median Equity Index (EQI) 453.

Timaru District, in Canterbury, has 28 schools in New Zealand's 2026 data, together educating about 8,008 students. By level there are 16 full primary, 4 contributing, 4 secondary (year 9-15), 3 secondary (year 7-15), 1 composite (year 1-10); by sector 20 state, 7 state integrated, 1 private.

The median Equity Index (EQI) across Timaru District's schools is 453, above the Canterbury median of 440. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.

25 of the 28 schools qualify for the Success Index (NZ). The highest-scoring is Craighead Diocesan School (84.5, top 5% of secondary (year 7-15) schools nationally), followed by Gleniti School (78.8, top 10% of full primary schools nationally), and Barton Rural School (70.6, top 25% of full primary schools nationally). 2 schools sit in the top 10% of New Zealand for their type. Scores are percentiles within school type, so compare a primary school with other primary schools.

The largest schools are Timaru Boys' High School (793 students), Geraldine High School (598 students), Roncalli College (500 students). 3 schools are single-sex.

Schools are spread across 12 suburbs or towns, with the most in Timaru (6), Temuka (4), West End (3), Gleniti (3).

Ranked schools in Timaru District

Ordered by Success Index (NZ). Rank positions shown on each profile are within New Zealand and Canterbury.

  1. 1
    85
    Craighead Diocesan SchoolWest End · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 409 · 410 students
  2. 2
    79
    Gleniti SchoolGleniti · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 414 · 385 students
  3. 3
    71
    Barton Rural SchoolGleniti · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 419 · 187 students
  4. 4
    69
    Woodbury SchoolGeraldine · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 412 · 119 students
  5. 5
    69
    St Joseph's School (Timaru)Timaru · State integrated Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 403 · 218 students
  6. 6
    64
    Sacred Heart School (Timaru)Timaru · State integrated Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 438 · 232 students
  7. 7
    60
    Timaru Christian SchoolWatlington · State integrated Composite (Year 1-10)Equity Index (EQI) 446 · 170 students
  8. 8
    59
    Beaconsfield SchoolGleniti · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 438 · 126 students
  9. 9
    58
    Roncalli CollegeTimaru · State integrated Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 446 · 500 students
  10. 10
    58
    Geraldine High SchoolGeraldine · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 453 · 598 students
  11. 11
    55
    Geraldine Primary SchoolGeraldine · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 439 · 278 students
  12. 12
    54
    Timaru Boys' High SchoolWest End · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 457 · 793 students
  13. 13
    53
    Bluestone SchoolWest End · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 474 · 474 students
  14. 14
    52
    Pleasant Point Primary SchoolPleasant Point · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 444 · 245 students
  15. 15
    49
    Highfield SchoolGlenwood · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 477 · 316 students
  16. 16
    49
    Timaru Girls' High SchoolTimaru · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 474 · 484 students
  17. 17
    47
    St Joseph's School (Temuka)Temuka · State integrated Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 451 · 110 students
  18. 18
    46
    Waimataitai SchoolTimaru · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 464 · 475 students
  19. 19
    45
    Winchester Rural SchoolWinchester · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 457 · 121 students
  20. 20
    38
    Temuka Primary SchoolTemuka · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 476 · 215 students
  21. 21
    36
    Mountainview High SchoolTimaru · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 494 · 448 students
  22. 22
    33
    Timaru South SchoolParkside · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 511 · 191 students
  23. 23
    31
    Grantlea Downs SchoolMarchwiel · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 498 · 309 students
  24. 24
    31
    Opihi CollegeTemuka · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 504 · 273 students
  25. 25
    25
    Oceanview Heights SchoolMarchwiel · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 523 · 102 students

Compare the top 4 schools in Timaru District side by side →

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best school in Timaru District?

Craighead Diocesan School is the highest-ranked school in Timaru District with a Success Index (NZ) of 84.5 out of 100 (Top 5% of secondary (year 7-15) schools in New Zealand).

How many schools are in Timaru District?

Timaru District has 28 schools (3 secondary (year 7-15), 16 full primary, 4 contributing, 1 composite (year 1-10), 4 secondary (year 9-15)) educating 8,008 students in 2026.

What is the typical Equity Index (EQI) in Timaru District?

The median Equity Index (EQI) across schools in Timaru District is 453. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.