Best state schools in Whanganui District (2026)
Government schools across all year levels. 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
- 358Mosston SchoolWestmere · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 444 · 181 students
- 455Whanganui High SchoolWhanganui · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 482 · 1,475 students
- 550Fordell SchoolFordell · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 455 · 130 students
- 650Kaitoke School (Wanganui)Whanganui · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 453 · 116 students
- 743Durie Hill SchoolDurie Hill · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 463 · 189 students
- 841Brunswick SchoolWhanganui · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 474 · 110 students
- 940Whanganui Girls' CollegeWhanganui East · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 493 · 362 students
- 1038Carlton SchoolWhanganui · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 507 · 265 students
- 1137Kai Iwi SchoolKai Iwi · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 483 · 95 students
- 1231TKKM o Te Atihaunui-A-PaparangiPutiki · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 507 · 127 students
- 1331Whanganui IntermediateWhanganui · State IntermediateEquity Index (EQI) 505 · 415 students
- 1428Keith Street SchoolWhanganui · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 528 · 179 students
- 1526Te Kura o KokohuiaCastlecliff · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 532 · 230 students
- 1625Gonville SchoolGonville · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 513 · 177 students
- 1723Churton SchoolAramoho · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 516 · 119 students
- 1823Tawhero SchoolWhanganui · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 547 · 173 students
- 1920Upokongaro SchoolUpokongaro · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 524 · 90 students
- 2019Aranui School (Wanganui)Whanganui · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 536 · 65 students
- 2119Castlecliff SchoolCastlecliff · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 535 · 163 students
- 2219TKKM o TupohoCastlecliff · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 549 · 179 students
- 2318Te Kura Waenga O Rutherford | Rutherford Intermediate SchoolTawhero · State IntermediateEquity Index (EQI) 539 · 143 students
- 2417Whanganui East SchoolWhanganui East · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 547 · 167 students
- 259Whanganui City CollegeWhanganui · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 547 · 286 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 | Mosston School Westmere · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 58.4 Top 50% | 444 | 181 |
| 4 | Whanganui High School Whanganui · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 55.1 Top 50% | 482 | 1,475 |
| 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 | Durie Hill School Durie Hill · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 43.2 Lower 50% | 463 | 189 |
| 8 | Brunswick School Whanganui · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 41.0 Lower 50% | 474 | 110 |
| 9 | Whanganui Girls' College Whanganui East · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 39.8 Lower 50% | 493 | 362 |
| 10 | Carlton School Whanganui · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 37.6 Lower 50% | 507 | 265 |
| 11 | Kai Iwi School Kai Iwi · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 36.7 Lower 50% | 483 | 95 |
| 12 | TKKM o Te Atihaunui-A-Paparangi Putiki · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 30.7 Lower 50% | 507 | 127 |
| 13 | Whanganui Intermediate Whanganui · Intermediate · Years 7–8 | State | 30.6 Lower 50% | 505 | 415 |
| 14 | Keith Street School Whanganui · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 27.8 Lower 50% | 528 | 179 |
| 15 | Te Kura o Kokohuia Castlecliff · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 25.7 Lower 50% | 532 | 230 |
| 16 | Gonville School Gonville · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 25.4 Lower 50% | 513 | 177 |
| 17 | Churton School Aramoho · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 23.4 Lower 50% | 516 | 119 |
| 18 | Tawhero School Whanganui · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 23.1 Lower 50% | 547 | 173 |
| 19 | Upokongaro School Upokongaro · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 20.4 Lower 50% | 524 | 90 |
| 20 | Aranui School (Wanganui) Whanganui · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 19.4 Lower 50% | 536 | 65 |
| 21 | Castlecliff School Castlecliff · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 19.3 Lower 50% | 535 | 163 |
| 22 | TKKM o Tupoho Castlecliff · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 18.7 Lower 50% | 549 | 179 |
| 23 | Te Kura Waenga O Rutherford | Rutherford Intermediate School Tawhero · Intermediate · Years 7–8 | State | 17.9 Lower 50% | 539 | 143 |
| 24 | Whanganui East School Whanganui East · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 16.6 Lower 50% | 547 | 167 |
| 25 | Whanganui City College Whanganui · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 9.3 Lower 50% | 547 | 286 |
St Johns Hill School in Whanganui leads the 2026 list of state schools in Whanganui District with a Success Index (NZ) of 78.4. Of the 25 schools shown, 25 are state.
For the full picture see the wider Manawatū-Whanganui state 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 state school in Whanganui District?
St Johns Hill School in Whanganui, Manawatū-Whanganui ranks first among state schools in Whanganui District with a Success Index (NZ) of 78.4 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 416).
How are state 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.