Best primary schools in Palmerston North City (2026)
Contributing, full primary, intermediate and composite schools offering Years 1–8. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 32 schools in Palmerston North City, Manawatū-Whanganui. Rank positions shown on each profile are within New Zealand and Manawatū-Whanganui.
- Secondary Schools in Palmerston North City
- State Schools in Palmerston North City
- State Integrated Schools in Palmerston North City
- Secondary Schools by NCEA Level 2 Attainment in Palmerston North City
- Secondary Schools by University Entrance in Palmerston North City
- Largest Schools in Palmerston North City
- 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
- 377Aokautere SchoolAokautere · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 393 · 162 students
- 477Palmerston North IntermediatePalmerston North · State IntermediateEquity Index (EQI) 426 · 751 students
- 572College Street Normal SchoolHokowhitu · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 409 · 623 students
- 672Russell Street SchoolPalmerston North · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 429 · 334 students
- 768Our Lady of Lourdes School (P North)Takaro · State integrated ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 422 · 161 students
- 868Turitea SchoolTiritea · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 403 · 134 students
- 966St James' Catholic School Te Kura Katorika o Hato HeemiHokowhitu · State integrated ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 410 · 143 students
- 1065Whakarongo SchoolPalmerston North · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 424 · 490 students
- 1165Winchester School (P North)Hokowhitu · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 420 · 342 students
- 1263Hokowhitu SchoolPalmerston North · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 426 · 385 students
- 1363Riverdale School (P North)Awapuni · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 426 · 378 students
- 1458Mana TamarikiPalmerston North CBD · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 444 · 70 students
- 1556Palmerston North Adventist Christian SchoolPalmerston North · State integrated ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 433 · 103 students
- 1654West End School (P North)Palmerston North · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 458 · 358 students
- 1754Parkland School (P North)Palmerston North · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 443 · 325 students
- 1849Kairanga SchoolPalmerston North · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 449 · 155 students
- 1949Ashhurst SchoolAshhurst · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 459 · 456 students
- 2047Central Normal SchoolPalmerston North · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 491 · 485 students
- 2147Milson SchoolMilson · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 486 · 341 students
- 2242Ross IntermediatePalmerston North · State IntermediateEquity Index (EQI) 473 · 444 students
- 2337Monrad - Te Kura Waenga o TirohangaPalmerston North · State IntermediateEquity Index (EQI) 517 · 330 students
- 2436Terrace End SchoolTerrace End · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 505 · 222 students
- 2535Linton Camp SchoolLinton Camp · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 482 · 143 students
- 2632Cloverlea SchoolCloverlea · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 494 · 247 students
- 2731Longburn SchoolLongburn · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 489 · 87 students
- 2831TKKM o ManawatuKelvin Grove · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 506 · 119 students
- 2927Roslyn SchoolRoslyn · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 518 · 397 students
- 3023Awapuni School (P North)Awapuni · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 531 · 107 students
- 3120Takaro SchoolPalmerston North · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 534 · 200 students
- 3218Te 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 | Aokautere School Aokautere · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 77.4 Top 25% | 393 | 162 |
| 4 | Palmerston North Intermediate Palmerston North · Intermediate · Years 7–8 | State | 76.7 Top 25% | 426 | 751 |
| 5 | College Street Normal School Hokowhitu · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 71.8 Top 25% | 409 | 623 |
| 6 | Russell Street School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 71.6 Top 25% | 429 | 334 |
| 7 | Our Lady of Lourdes School (P North) Takaro · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State integrated | 67.9 Top 25% | 422 | 161 |
| 8 | Turitea School Tiritea · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 67.8 Top 25% | 403 | 134 |
| 9 | St James' Catholic School Te Kura Katorika o Hato Heemi Hokowhitu · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State integrated | 66.0 Top 50% | 410 | 143 |
| 10 | Whakarongo School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 65.1 Top 50% | 424 | 490 |
| 11 | Winchester School (P North) Hokowhitu · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 64.8 Top 50% | 420 | 342 |
| 12 | Hokowhitu School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 62.8 Top 50% | 426 | 385 |
| 13 | Riverdale School (P North) Awapuni · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 62.7 Top 50% | 426 | 378 |
| 14 | Mana Tamariki Palmerston North CBD · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 58.4 Top 50% | 444 | 70 |
| 15 | Palmerston North Adventist Christian School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State integrated | 55.7 Top 50% | 433 | 103 |
| 16 | West End School (P North) Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 54.3 Top 50% | 458 | 358 |
| 17 | Parkland School (P North) Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 53.5 Top 50% | 443 | 325 |
| 18 | Kairanga School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 48.7 Lower 50% | 449 | 155 |
| 19 | Ashhurst School Ashhurst · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 48.5 Lower 50% | 459 | 456 |
| 20 | Central Normal School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 46.9 Lower 50% | 491 | 485 |
| 21 | Milson School Milson · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 46.7 Lower 50% | 486 | 341 |
| 22 | Ross Intermediate Palmerston North · Intermediate · Years 7–8 | State | 42.2 Lower 50% | 473 | 444 |
| 23 | Monrad - Te Kura Waenga o Tirohanga Palmerston North · Intermediate · Years 7–8 | State | 36.8 Lower 50% | 517 | 330 |
| 24 | Terrace End School Terrace End · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 36.3 Lower 50% | 505 | 222 |
| 25 | Linton Camp School Linton Camp · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 34.6 Lower 50% | 482 | 143 |
| 26 | Cloverlea School Cloverlea · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 31.7 Lower 50% | 494 | 247 |
| 27 | Longburn School Longburn · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 31.0 Lower 50% | 489 | 87 |
| 28 | TKKM o Manawatu Kelvin Grove · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 30.6 Lower 50% | 506 | 119 |
| 29 | Roslyn School Roslyn · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 26.7 Lower 50% | 518 | 397 |
| 30 | Awapuni School (P North) Awapuni · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 23.0 Lower 50% | 531 | 107 |
| 31 | Takaro School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 20.1 Lower 50% | 534 | 200 |
| 32 | Te Kura o Wairau Highbury · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 17.7 Lower 50% | 541 | 156 |
St Mary's School (P North) in Roslyn leads the 2026 list of primary schools in Palmerston North City with a Success Index (NZ) of 81.4. Of the 32 schools shown, 27 are state, 5 are state integrated.
For the full picture see the wider Manawatū-Whanganui primary schools rankings, every school on the Palmerston North City page, or the comparison tool to put a shortlist side by side.
Free academic assessment
Is your child on track for NCEA?
Success Tutoring runs personalised English and Maths tutoring for Years 1–13 in New Zealand. Start with a free assessment mapped to the New Zealand Curriculum.
- Personalised learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum
- English & Maths from Kindergarten to Year 12
- Flexible memberships, no lock-in contracts
- Centres across NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA and ACT
Frequently asked questions
What is the best primary school in Palmerston North City?
St Mary's School (P North) in Roslyn, Manawatū-Whanganui ranks first among primary schools in Palmerston North City with a Success Index (NZ) of 81.4 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 389).
How are primary schools in Palmerston North 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.