Best secondary schools in Palmerston North City (2026)
Secondary and composite schools offering Years 9–13. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 10 schools in Palmerston North City, Manawatū-Whanganui. Rank positions shown on each profile are within New Zealand and Manawatū-Whanganui.
- Primary 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
- 180Cornerstone Christian SchoolKelvin Grove · State integrated CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 417 · 612 students
- 278Palmerston North Girls' High SchoolPalmerston North · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 433 · 1,318 students
- 370St Peter's College (Palmerston North)Milson · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 436 · 789 students
- 467Palmerston North Boys' High SchoolPalmerston North · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 441 · 1,794 students
- 558Mana TamarikiPalmerston North CBD · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 444 · 70 students
- 651ManukuraPalmerston North · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 494 · 188 students
- 742Freyberg High SchoolRoslyn · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 488 · 936 students
- 842Longburn Adventist CollegeLongburn · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 474 · 220 students
- 937Awatapu CollegeWest End · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 492 · 869 students
- 1021Queen Elizabeth CollegePalmerston North · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 556 · 408 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cornerstone Christian School Kelvin Grove · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 79.5 Top 10% | 417 | 612 |
| 2 | Palmerston North Girls' High School Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 77.7 Top 25% | 433 | 1,318 |
| 3 | St Peter's College (Palmerston North) Milson · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 69.6 Top 25% | 436 | 789 |
| 4 | Palmerston North Boys' High School Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 66.7 Top 25% | 441 | 1,794 |
| 5 | Mana Tamariki Palmerston North CBD · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 58.4 Top 50% | 444 | 70 |
| 6 | Manukura Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 50.9 Top 50% | 494 | 188 |
| 7 | Freyberg High School Roslyn · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 42.4 Lower 50% | 488 | 936 |
| 8 | Longburn Adventist College Longburn · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 42.0 Lower 50% | 474 | 220 |
| 9 | Awatapu College West End · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 37.1 Lower 50% | 492 | 869 |
| 10 | Queen Elizabeth College Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 20.7 Lower 50% | 556 | 408 |
Cornerstone Christian School in Kelvin Grove leads the 2026 list of secondary schools in Palmerston North City with a Success Index (NZ) of 79.5. Of the 10 schools shown, 7 are state, 3 are state integrated.
For the full picture see the wider Manawatū-Whanganui secondary schools rankings, every school on the Palmerston North 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 Palmerston North City?
Cornerstone Christian School in Kelvin Grove, Manawatū-Whanganui ranks first among secondary schools in Palmerston North City with a Success Index (NZ) of 79.5 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 417).
How are secondary 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.