Schools in Palmerston North City, Manawatū-Whanganui (2026)
44 schools · 16,163 students · 36 state, 7 state integrated, 1 private · median Equity Index (EQI) 459.
Palmerston North City, in Manawatū-Whanganui, has 44 schools in New Zealand's 2026 data, together educating about 16,163 students. By level there are 19 contributing, 10 full primary, 5 secondary (year 9-15), 3 intermediate, 3 secondary (year 7-15), 2 composite, 1 activity centre, 1 teen parent unit; by sector 36 state, 7 state integrated, 1 private.
The median Equity Index (EQI) across Palmerston North City's schools is 459, below the Manawatū-Whanganui median of 487. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
40 of the 44 schools qualify for the Success Index (NZ). The highest-scoring is St Mary's School (P North) (81.4, top 10% of contributing schools nationally), followed by Cornerstone Christian School (79.5, top 10% of composite schools nationally), and Palmerston North Girls' High School (77.7, top 25% of secondary (year 9-15) 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 Palmerston North Boys' High School (1,794 students), Palmerston North Girls' High School (1,318 students), Freyberg High School (936 students). 2 schools are single-sex.
Schools are spread across 18 suburbs or towns, with the most in Palmerston North (17), Roslyn (3), Hokowhitu (3), Kelvin Grove (2).
Ranked schools in Palmerston North City
Ordered by Success Index (NZ). Rank positions shown on each profile are within New Zealand and Manawatū-Whanganui.
- 181St Mary's School (P North)Roslyn · State integrated ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 389 · 222 students
- 280Cornerstone Christian SchoolKelvin Grove · State integrated CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 417 · 612 students
- 378Palmerston North Girls' High SchoolPalmerston North · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 433 · 1,318 students
- 477Aokautere SchoolAokautere · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 393 · 162 students
- 577Palmerston North IntermediatePalmerston North · State IntermediateEquity Index (EQI) 426 · 751 students
- 672College Street Normal SchoolHokowhitu · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 409 · 623 students
- 772Russell Street SchoolPalmerston North · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 429 · 334 students
- 870St Peter's College (Palmerston North)Milson · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 436 · 789 students
- 968Our Lady of Lourdes School (P North)Takaro · State integrated ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 422 · 161 students
- 1068Turitea SchoolTiritea · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 403 · 134 students
- 1167Palmerston North Boys' High SchoolPalmerston North · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 441 · 1,794 students
- 1266St James' Catholic School Te Kura Katorika o Hato HeemiHokowhitu · State integrated ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 410 · 143 students
- 1365Whakarongo SchoolPalmerston North · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 424 · 490 students
- 1465Winchester School (P North)Hokowhitu · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 420 · 342 students
- 1563Hokowhitu SchoolPalmerston North · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 426 · 385 students
- 1663Riverdale School (P North)Awapuni · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 426 · 378 students
- 1758Mana TamarikiPalmerston North CBD · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 444 · 70 students
- 1856Palmerston North Adventist Christian SchoolPalmerston North · State integrated ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 433 · 103 students
- 1954West End School (P North)Palmerston North · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 458 · 358 students
- 2054Parkland School (P North)Palmerston North · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 443 · 325 students
- 2151ManukuraPalmerston North · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 494 · 188 students
- 2249Kairanga SchoolPalmerston North · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 449 · 155 students
- 2349Ashhurst SchoolAshhurst · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 459 · 456 students
- 2447Central Normal SchoolPalmerston North · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 491 · 485 students
- 2547Milson SchoolMilson · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 486 · 341 students
- 2642Freyberg High SchoolRoslyn · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 488 · 936 students
- 2742Ross IntermediatePalmerston North · State IntermediateEquity Index (EQI) 473 · 444 students
- 2842Longburn Adventist CollegeLongburn · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 474 · 220 students
- 2937Awatapu CollegeWest End · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 492 · 869 students
- 3037Monrad - Te Kura Waenga o TirohangaPalmerston North · State IntermediateEquity Index (EQI) 517 · 330 students
- 3136Terrace End SchoolTerrace End · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 505 · 222 students
- 3235Linton Camp SchoolLinton Camp · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 482 · 143 students
- 3332Cloverlea SchoolCloverlea · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 494 · 247 students
- 3431Longburn SchoolLongburn · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 489 · 87 students
- 3531TKKM o ManawatuKelvin Grove · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 506 · 119 students
- 3627Roslyn SchoolRoslyn · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 518 · 397 students
- 3723Awapuni School (P North)Awapuni · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 531 · 107 students
- 3821Queen Elizabeth CollegePalmerston North · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 556 · 408 students
- 3920Takaro SchoolPalmerston North · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 534 · 200 students
- 4018Te Kura o WairauHighbury · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 541 · 156 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Mary's School (P North) Roslyn · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State integrated | 81.4 Top 10% | 389 | 222 |
| 2 | Cornerstone Christian School Kelvin Grove · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 79.5 Top 10% | 417 | 612 |
| 3 | Palmerston North Girls' High School Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 77.7 Top 25% | 433 | 1,318 |
| 4 | Aokautere School Aokautere · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 77.4 Top 25% | 393 | 162 |
| 5 | Palmerston North Intermediate Palmerston North · Intermediate · Years 7–8 | State | 76.7 Top 25% | 426 | 751 |
| 6 | College Street Normal School Hokowhitu · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 71.8 Top 25% | 409 | 623 |
| 7 | Russell Street School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 71.6 Top 25% | 429 | 334 |
| 8 | St Peter's College (Palmerston North) Milson · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 69.6 Top 25% | 436 | 789 |
| 9 | Our Lady of Lourdes School (P North) Takaro · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State integrated | 67.9 Top 25% | 422 | 161 |
| 10 | Turitea School Tiritea · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 67.8 Top 25% | 403 | 134 |
| 11 | Palmerston North Boys' High School Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 66.7 Top 25% | 441 | 1,794 |
| 12 | St James' Catholic School Te Kura Katorika o Hato Heemi Hokowhitu · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State integrated | 66.0 Top 50% | 410 | 143 |
| 13 | Whakarongo School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 65.1 Top 50% | 424 | 490 |
| 14 | Winchester School (P North) Hokowhitu · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 64.8 Top 50% | 420 | 342 |
| 15 | Hokowhitu School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 62.8 Top 50% | 426 | 385 |
| 16 | Riverdale School (P North) Awapuni · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 62.7 Top 50% | 426 | 378 |
| 17 | Mana Tamariki Palmerston North CBD · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 58.4 Top 50% | 444 | 70 |
| 18 | Palmerston North Adventist Christian School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State integrated | 55.7 Top 50% | 433 | 103 |
| 19 | West End School (P North) Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 54.3 Top 50% | 458 | 358 |
| 20 | Parkland School (P North) Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 53.5 Top 50% | 443 | 325 |
| 21 | Manukura Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 50.9 Top 50% | 494 | 188 |
| 22 | Kairanga School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 48.7 Lower 50% | 449 | 155 |
| 23 | Ashhurst School Ashhurst · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 48.5 Lower 50% | 459 | 456 |
| 24 | Central Normal School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 46.9 Lower 50% | 491 | 485 |
| 25 | Milson School Milson · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 46.7 Lower 50% | 486 | 341 |
| 26 | Freyberg High School Roslyn · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 42.4 Lower 50% | 488 | 936 |
| 27 | Ross Intermediate Palmerston North · Intermediate · Years 7–8 | State | 42.2 Lower 50% | 473 | 444 |
| 28 | Longburn Adventist College Longburn · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 42.0 Lower 50% | 474 | 220 |
| 29 | Awatapu College West End · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 37.1 Lower 50% | 492 | 869 |
| 30 | Monrad - Te Kura Waenga o Tirohanga Palmerston North · Intermediate · Years 7–8 | State | 36.8 Lower 50% | 517 | 330 |
| 31 | Terrace End School Terrace End · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 36.3 Lower 50% | 505 | 222 |
| 32 | Linton Camp School Linton Camp · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 34.6 Lower 50% | 482 | 143 |
| 33 | Cloverlea School Cloverlea · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 31.7 Lower 50% | 494 | 247 |
| 34 | Longburn School Longburn · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 31.0 Lower 50% | 489 | 87 |
| 35 | TKKM o Manawatu Kelvin Grove · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 30.6 Lower 50% | 506 | 119 |
| 36 | Roslyn School Roslyn · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 26.7 Lower 50% | 518 | 397 |
| 37 | Awapuni School (P North) Awapuni · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 23.0 Lower 50% | 531 | 107 |
| 38 | Queen Elizabeth College Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 20.7 Lower 50% | 556 | 408 |
| 39 | Takaro School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 20.1 Lower 50% | 534 | 200 |
| 40 | Te Kura o Wairau Highbury · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 17.7 Lower 50% | 541 | 156 |
Other schools in Palmerston North City
Schools without a rank: fewer than 60 students, no published Equity Index (EQI), or a school type that is not scored.
Bunnythorpe School
Bunnythorpe · State full primary · Years 1–8
31 students
Carncot Independent School
Palmerston North · Private full primary · Years 1–8
128 students
Manawatu Community High School - Manawatu Kura a Iwi
West End · State activity centre
Whakatipuria Teen Parent Unit
Palmerston North CBD · State teen parent unit
Compare the top 4 schools in Palmerston North City side by side →
Suburb or towns in Palmerston North City
Other places in Manawatū-Whanganui
- Palmerston North(22)
- Whanganui(18)
- Feilding(12)
- Levin(12)
- Taumarunui(9)
- Marton(8)
- Dannevirke(7)
- Taihape(5)
- Foxton(5)
- Pahiatua(4)
- Roslyn(3)
- Whanganui East(3)
- Hokowhitu(3)
- Ohakune(3)
- Castlecliff(3)
- Awapuni(2)
- Tawhero(2)
- Palmerston North CBD(2)
- Kelvin Grove(2)
- West End(2)
- Longburn(2)
- Milson(2)
- Ashhurst(2)
- Bulls(2)
- Gonville(2)
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best school in Palmerston North City?
St Mary's School (P North) is the highest-ranked school in Palmerston North City with a Success Index (NZ) of 81.4 out of 100 (Top 10% of contributing schools in New Zealand).
How many schools are in Palmerston North City?
Palmerston North City has 44 schools (19 contributing, 2 composite, 5 secondary (year 9-15), 3 intermediate, 3 secondary (year 7-15), 10 full primary, 1 activity centre, 1 teen parent unit) educating 16,163 students in 2026.
What is the typical Equity Index (EQI) in Palmerston North City?
The median Equity Index (EQI) across schools in Palmerston North City is 459. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.