Best state schools in Palmerston North City (2026)
Government schools across all year levels. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 33 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
- Secondary 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
- 178Palmerston North Girls' High SchoolPalmerston North · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 433 · 1,318 students
- 277Aokautere SchoolAokautere · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 393 · 162 students
- 377Palmerston North IntermediatePalmerston North · State IntermediateEquity Index (EQI) 426 · 751 students
- 472College Street Normal SchoolHokowhitu · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 409 · 623 students
- 572Russell Street SchoolPalmerston North · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 429 · 334 students
- 668Turitea SchoolTiritea · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 403 · 134 students
- 767Palmerston North Boys' High SchoolPalmerston North · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 441 · 1,794 students
- 865Whakarongo SchoolPalmerston North · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 424 · 490 students
- 965Winchester School (P North)Hokowhitu · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 420 · 342 students
- 1063Hokowhitu SchoolPalmerston North · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 426 · 385 students
- 1163Riverdale School (P North)Awapuni · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 426 · 378 students
- 1258Mana TamarikiPalmerston North CBD · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 444 · 70 students
- 1354West End School (P North)Palmerston North · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 458 · 358 students
- 1454Parkland School (P North)Palmerston North · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 443 · 325 students
- 1551ManukuraPalmerston North · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 494 · 188 students
- 1649Kairanga SchoolPalmerston North · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 449 · 155 students
- 1749Ashhurst SchoolAshhurst · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 459 · 456 students
- 1847Central Normal SchoolPalmerston North · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 491 · 485 students
- 1947Milson SchoolMilson · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 486 · 341 students
- 2042Freyberg High SchoolRoslyn · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 488 · 936 students
- 2142Ross IntermediatePalmerston North · State IntermediateEquity Index (EQI) 473 · 444 students
- 2237Awatapu CollegeWest End · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 492 · 869 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
- 3121Queen Elizabeth CollegePalmerston North · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 556 · 408 students
- 3220Takaro SchoolPalmerston North · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 534 · 200 students
- 3318Te Kura o WairauHighbury · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 541 · 156 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palmerston North Girls' High School Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 77.7 Top 25% | 433 | 1,318 |
| 2 | Aokautere School Aokautere · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 77.4 Top 25% | 393 | 162 |
| 3 | Palmerston North Intermediate Palmerston North · Intermediate · Years 7–8 | State | 76.7 Top 25% | 426 | 751 |
| 4 | College Street Normal School Hokowhitu · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 71.8 Top 25% | 409 | 623 |
| 5 | Russell Street School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 71.6 Top 25% | 429 | 334 |
| 6 | Turitea School Tiritea · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 67.8 Top 25% | 403 | 134 |
| 7 | Palmerston North Boys' High School Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 66.7 Top 25% | 441 | 1,794 |
| 8 | Whakarongo School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 65.1 Top 50% | 424 | 490 |
| 9 | Winchester School (P North) Hokowhitu · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 64.8 Top 50% | 420 | 342 |
| 10 | Hokowhitu School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 62.8 Top 50% | 426 | 385 |
| 11 | Riverdale School (P North) Awapuni · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 62.7 Top 50% | 426 | 378 |
| 12 | Mana Tamariki Palmerston North CBD · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 58.4 Top 50% | 444 | 70 |
| 13 | West End School (P North) Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 54.3 Top 50% | 458 | 358 |
| 14 | Parkland School (P North) Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 53.5 Top 50% | 443 | 325 |
| 15 | Manukura Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 50.9 Top 50% | 494 | 188 |
| 16 | Kairanga School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 48.7 Lower 50% | 449 | 155 |
| 17 | Ashhurst School Ashhurst · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 48.5 Lower 50% | 459 | 456 |
| 18 | Central Normal School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 46.9 Lower 50% | 491 | 485 |
| 19 | Milson School Milson · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 46.7 Lower 50% | 486 | 341 |
| 20 | Freyberg High School Roslyn · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 42.4 Lower 50% | 488 | 936 |
| 21 | Ross Intermediate Palmerston North · Intermediate · Years 7–8 | State | 42.2 Lower 50% | 473 | 444 |
| 22 | Awatapu College West End · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 37.1 Lower 50% | 492 | 869 |
| 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 | Queen Elizabeth College Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 20.7 Lower 50% | 556 | 408 |
| 32 | Takaro School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 20.1 Lower 50% | 534 | 200 |
| 33 | Te Kura o Wairau Highbury · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 17.7 Lower 50% | 541 | 156 |
Palmerston North Girls' High School in Palmerston North leads the 2026 list of state schools in Palmerston North City with a Success Index (NZ) of 77.7. Of the 33 schools shown, 33 are state.
For the full picture see the wider Manawatū-Whanganui state 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 state school in Palmerston North City?
Palmerston North Girls' High School in Palmerston North, Manawatū-Whanganui ranks first among state schools in Palmerston North City with a Success Index (NZ) of 77.7 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 433).
How are state 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.