Best primary schools in Whanganui District (2026)
Contributing, full primary, intermediate and composite schools offering Years 1–8. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 25 schools in Whanganui District, Manawatū-Whanganui. Rank positions shown on each profile are within New Zealand and Manawatū-Whanganui.
- 178St Johns Hill SchoolWhanganui · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 416 · 415 students
- 265Westmere School - WhanganuiWhanganui · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 427 · 238 students
- 359Faith City SchoolSpringvale · State integrated Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 441 · 157 students
- 458Mosston SchoolWestmere · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 444 · 181 students
- 550Fordell SchoolFordell · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 455 · 130 students
- 650Kaitoke School (Wanganui)Whanganui · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 453 · 116 students
- 747St Mary's School (Wanganui)Whanganui · State integrated Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 469 · 248 students
- 846St Anne's School (Wanganui)Whanganui East · State integrated Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 459 · 223 students
- 943Durie Hill SchoolDurie Hill · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 463 · 189 students
- 1041Brunswick SchoolWhanganui · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 474 · 110 students
- 1138Carlton SchoolWhanganui · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 507 · 265 students
- 1237Kai Iwi SchoolKai Iwi · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 483 · 95 students
- 1331TKKM o Te Atihaunui-A-PaparangiPutiki · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 507 · 127 students
- 1431Whanganui IntermediateWhanganui · State IntermediateEquity Index (EQI) 505 · 415 students
- 1528Keith Street SchoolWhanganui · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 528 · 179 students
- 1626Te Kura o KokohuiaCastlecliff · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 532 · 230 students
- 1725Gonville SchoolGonville · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 513 · 177 students
- 1823Churton SchoolAramoho · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 516 · 119 students
- 1923Tawhero SchoolWhanganui · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 547 · 173 students
- 2020Upokongaro SchoolUpokongaro · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 524 · 90 students
- 2119Aranui School (Wanganui)Whanganui · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 536 · 65 students
- 2219Castlecliff SchoolCastlecliff · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 535 · 163 students
- 2319TKKM o TupohoCastlecliff · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 549 · 179 students
- 2418Te Kura Waenga O Rutherford | Rutherford Intermediate SchoolTawhero · State IntermediateEquity Index (EQI) 539 · 143 students
- 2517Whanganui East SchoolWhanganui East · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 547 · 167 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Johns Hill School Whanganui · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 78.4 Top 25% | 416 | 415 |
| 2 | Westmere School - Whanganui Whanganui · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 65.1 Top 50% | 427 | 238 |
| 3 | Faith City School Springvale · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 58.7 Top 50% | 441 | 157 |
| 4 | Mosston School Westmere · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 58.4 Top 50% | 444 | 181 |
| 5 | Fordell School Fordell · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 50.3 Top 50% | 455 | 130 |
| 6 | Kaitoke School (Wanganui) Whanganui · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 50.2 Top 50% | 453 | 116 |
| 7 | St Mary's School (Wanganui) Whanganui · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 46.6 Lower 50% | 469 | 248 |
| 8 | St Anne's School (Wanganui) Whanganui East · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 45.5 Lower 50% | 459 | 223 |
| 9 | Durie Hill School Durie Hill · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 43.2 Lower 50% | 463 | 189 |
| 10 | Brunswick School Whanganui · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 41.0 Lower 50% | 474 | 110 |
| 11 | Carlton School Whanganui · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 37.6 Lower 50% | 507 | 265 |
| 12 | Kai Iwi School Kai Iwi · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 36.7 Lower 50% | 483 | 95 |
| 13 | TKKM o Te Atihaunui-A-Paparangi Putiki · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 30.7 Lower 50% | 507 | 127 |
| 14 | Whanganui Intermediate Whanganui · Intermediate · Years 7–8 | State | 30.6 Lower 50% | 505 | 415 |
| 15 | Keith Street School Whanganui · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 27.8 Lower 50% | 528 | 179 |
| 16 | Te Kura o Kokohuia Castlecliff · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 25.7 Lower 50% | 532 | 230 |
| 17 | Gonville School Gonville · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 25.4 Lower 50% | 513 | 177 |
| 18 | Churton School Aramoho · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 23.4 Lower 50% | 516 | 119 |
| 19 | Tawhero School Whanganui · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 23.1 Lower 50% | 547 | 173 |
| 20 | Upokongaro School Upokongaro · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 20.4 Lower 50% | 524 | 90 |
| 21 | Aranui School (Wanganui) Whanganui · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 19.4 Lower 50% | 536 | 65 |
| 22 | Castlecliff School Castlecliff · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 19.3 Lower 50% | 535 | 163 |
| 23 | TKKM o Tupoho Castlecliff · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 18.7 Lower 50% | 549 | 179 |
| 24 | Te Kura Waenga O Rutherford | Rutherford Intermediate School Tawhero · Intermediate · Years 7–8 | State | 17.9 Lower 50% | 539 | 143 |
| 25 | Whanganui East School Whanganui East · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 16.6 Lower 50% | 547 | 167 |
St Johns Hill School in Whanganui leads the 2026 list of primary schools in Whanganui District with a Success Index (NZ) of 78.4. Of the 25 schools shown, 22 are state, 3 are state integrated.
For the full picture see the wider Manawatū-Whanganui primary schools rankings, every school on the Whanganui District page, or the comparison tool to put a shortlist side by side.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best primary school in Whanganui District?
St Johns Hill School in Whanganui, Manawatū-Whanganui ranks first among primary schools in Whanganui District with a Success Index (NZ) of 78.4 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 416).
How are primary schools in Whanganui 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.