Best secondary schools in Timaru District (2026)
Secondary and composite schools offering Years 9–13. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 8 schools in Timaru District, Canterbury. Rank positions shown on each profile are within New Zealand and Canterbury.
- 185Craighead Diocesan SchoolWest End · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 409 · 410 students
- 260Timaru Christian SchoolWatlington · State integrated Composite (Year 1-10)Equity Index (EQI) 446 · 170 students
- 358Roncalli CollegeTimaru · State integrated Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 446 · 500 students
- 458Geraldine High SchoolGeraldine · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 453 · 598 students
- 554Timaru Boys' High SchoolWest End · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 457 · 793 students
- 649Timaru Girls' High SchoolTimaru · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 474 · 484 students
- 736Mountainview High SchoolTimaru · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 494 · 448 students
- 831Opihi CollegeTemuka · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 504 · 273 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Craighead Diocesan School West End · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 84.5 Top 5% | 409 | 410 |
| 2 | Timaru Christian School Watlington · Composite (Year 1-10) · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 60.4 Top 50% | 446 | 170 |
| 3 | Roncalli College Timaru · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State integrated | 58.1 Top 50% | 446 | 500 |
| 4 | Geraldine High School Geraldine · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 57.6 Top 50% | 453 | 598 |
| 5 | Timaru Boys' High School West End · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 53.8 Top 50% | 457 | 793 |
| 6 | Timaru Girls' High School Timaru · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 48.5 Top 50% | 474 | 484 |
| 7 | Mountainview High School Timaru · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 35.6 Lower 50% | 494 | 448 |
| 8 | Opihi College Temuka · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 30.5 Lower 50% | 504 | 273 |
Craighead Diocesan School in West End leads the 2026 list of secondary schools in Timaru District with a Success Index (NZ) of 84.5. Of the 8 schools shown, 5 are state, 3 are state integrated.
For the full picture see the wider Canterbury secondary schools rankings, every school on the Timaru 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 Timaru District?
Craighead Diocesan School in West End, Canterbury ranks first among secondary schools in Timaru District with a Success Index (NZ) of 84.5 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 409).
How are secondary schools in Timaru 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.