Best primary schools in Waikato District (2026)
Contributing, full primary, intermediate and composite schools offering Years 1–8. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 44 schools in Waikato District, Waikato. Rank positions shown on each profile are within New Zealand and Waikato.
- 178Tamahere Model Country SchoolTamahere · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 372 · 378 students
- 277Te Kowhai SchoolTe Kowhai · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 414 · 314 students
- 377Matangi SchoolMatangi · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 398 · 192 students
- 475Pokeno SchoolPokeno · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 429 · 682 students
- 573Horsham Downs SchoolHorsham Downs · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 397 · 385 students
- 672Rotokauri SchoolHamilton · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 423 · 249 students
- 771Te Mata School (Raglan)Raglan · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 413 · 157 students
- 869Newstead Model SchoolNewstead · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 418 · 152 students
- 964Hamilton Seventh-Day Adventist SchoolHillcrest · State integrated Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 425 · 121 students
- 1064Te Uku SchoolRaglan · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 428 · 139 students
- 1164Gordonton SchoolGordonton · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 420 · 254 students
- 1264Puketaha SchoolPuketaha · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 421 · 304 students
- 1362Whatawhata SchoolWhatawhata · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 446 · 280 students
- 1462Waitetuna SchoolRaglan · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 423 · 64 students
- 1561Tauwhare SchoolHamilton · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 423 · 119 students
- 1658Otaua SchoolWaiuku · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 450 · 230 students
- 1757Pukeoware SchoolWaiuku · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 446 · 169 students
- 1856Mangatawhiri SchoolPokeno · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 436 · 172 students
- 1954Harrisville SchoolTuakau · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 450 · 215 students
- 2054Raglan Area SchoolRaglan · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 453 · 611 students
- 2152Te Kauwhata Primary SchoolTe Kauwhata · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 475 · 416 students
- 2251Waerenga SchoolTe Kauwhata · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 451 · 104 students
- 2349Glen Massey SchoolGlen Massey · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 459 · 126 students
- 2448St Anthony's Catholic School (Huntly)Huntly · State integrated Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 457 · 96 students
- 2546Pukekawa SchoolTuakau · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 452 · 83 students
- 2645St Paul's Catholic School (Ngaruawahia)Ngaruawahia · State integrated Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 456 · 117 students
- 2743Horotiu SchoolHorotiu · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 464 · 213 students
- 2843Orini Combined SchoolTaupiri · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 460 · 95 students
- 2942Onewhero Area SchoolOnewhero · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 467 · 382 students
- 3040Mangatangi SchoolMangatangi · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 477 · 116 students
- 3136Te Wharekura o RākaumangamangaHuntly · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 516 · 400 students
- 3235Tuakau SchoolTuakau · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 516 · 260 students
- 3334Ohinewai SchoolOhinewai · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 484 · 138 students
- 3432TKKM o Bernard FergussonNgaruawahia · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 510 · 173 students
- 3532Maramarua SchoolMaramarua · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 499 · 103 students
- 3632Taupiri SchoolTaupiri · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 502 · 117 students
- 3728Kimihia SchoolHuntly · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 510 · 332 students
- 3825Te Paina SchoolMercer · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 513 · 62 students
- 3925Te Kura o Ngaati HauaaCambridge · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 524 · 113 students
- 4023Ngaruawahia SchoolNgaruawahia · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 553 · 184 students
- 4123Waipa SchoolNgaruawahia · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 527 · 348 students
- 4219Te Kura o RangiririRangiriri · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 539 · 73 students
- 4317Huntly School (Waikato)Huntly · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 546 · 185 students
- 4414Huntly West SchoolHuntly · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 560 · 114 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tamahere Model Country School Tamahere · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 78.2 Top 25% | 372 | 378 |
| 2 | Te Kowhai School Te Kowhai · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 77.4 Top 25% | 414 | 314 |
| 3 | Matangi School Matangi · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 77.3 Top 25% | 398 | 192 |
| 4 | Pokeno School Pokeno · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 75.2 Top 25% | 429 | 682 |
| 5 | Horsham Downs School Horsham Downs · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 73.0 Top 25% | 397 | 385 |
| 6 | Rotokauri School Hamilton · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 71.5 Top 25% | 423 | 249 |
| 7 | Te Mata School (Raglan) Raglan · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 71.0 Top 25% | 413 | 157 |
| 8 | Newstead Model School Newstead · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 69.0 Top 25% | 418 | 152 |
| 9 | Hamilton Seventh-Day Adventist School Hillcrest · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 64.1 Top 50% | 425 | 121 |
| 10 | Te Uku School Raglan · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 63.8 Top 50% | 428 | 139 |
| 11 | Gordonton School Gordonton · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 63.7 Top 50% | 420 | 254 |
| 12 | Puketaha School Puketaha · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 63.5 Top 50% | 421 | 304 |
| 13 | Whatawhata School Whatawhata · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 61.9 Top 50% | 446 | 280 |
| 14 | Waitetuna School Raglan · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 61.8 Top 50% | 423 | 64 |
| 15 | Tauwhare School Hamilton · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 60.5 Top 50% | 423 | 119 |
| 16 | Otaua School Waiuku · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 57.5 Top 50% | 450 | 230 |
| 17 | Pukeoware School Waiuku · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 56.8 Top 50% | 446 | 169 |
| 18 | Mangatawhiri School Pokeno · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 55.8 Top 50% | 436 | 172 |
| 19 | Harrisville School Tuakau · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 53.7 Top 50% | 450 | 215 |
| 20 | Raglan Area School Raglan · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 53.5 Top 50% | 453 | 611 |
| 21 | Te Kauwhata Primary School Te Kauwhata · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 51.9 Top 50% | 475 | 416 |
| 22 | Waerenga School Te Kauwhata · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 50.5 Top 50% | 451 | 104 |
| 23 | Glen Massey School Glen Massey · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 48.6 Lower 50% | 459 | 126 |
| 24 | St Anthony's Catholic School (Huntly) Huntly · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 47.6 Lower 50% | 457 | 96 |
| 25 | Pukekawa School Tuakau · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 45.8 Lower 50% | 452 | 83 |
| 26 | St Paul's Catholic School (Ngaruawahia) Ngaruawahia · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 44.8 Lower 50% | 456 | 117 |
| 27 | Horotiu School Horotiu · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 43.1 Lower 50% | 464 | 213 |
| 28 | Orini Combined School Taupiri · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 42.9 Lower 50% | 460 | 95 |
| 29 | Onewhero Area School Onewhero · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 42.3 Lower 50% | 467 | 382 |
| 30 | Mangatangi School Mangatangi · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 40.0 Lower 50% | 477 | 116 |
| 31 | Te Wharekura o Rākaumangamanga Huntly · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 36.2 Lower 50% | 516 | 400 |
| 32 | Tuakau School Tuakau · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 34.9 Lower 50% | 516 | 260 |
| 33 | Ohinewai School Ohinewai · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 33.9 Lower 50% | 484 | 138 |
| 34 | TKKM o Bernard Fergusson Ngaruawahia · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 32.4 Lower 50% | 510 | 173 |
| 35 | Maramarua School Maramarua · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 31.9 Lower 50% | 499 | 103 |
| 36 | Taupiri School Taupiri · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 31.7 Lower 50% | 502 | 117 |
| 37 | Kimihia School Huntly · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 27.6 Lower 50% | 510 | 332 |
| 38 | Te Paina School Mercer · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 25.4 Lower 50% | 513 | 62 |
| 39 | Te Kura o Ngaati Hauaa Cambridge · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 25.1 Lower 50% | 524 | 113 |
| 40 | Ngaruawahia School Ngaruawahia · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 23.1 Lower 50% | 553 | 184 |
| 41 | Waipa School Ngaruawahia · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 23.1 Lower 50% | 527 | 348 |
| 42 | Te Kura o Rangiriri Rangiriri · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 19.2 Lower 50% | 539 | 73 |
| 43 | Huntly School (Waikato) Huntly · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 17.1 Lower 50% | 546 | 185 |
| 44 | Huntly West School Huntly · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 14.2 Lower 50% | 560 | 114 |
Tamahere Model Country School in Tamahere leads the 2026 list of primary schools in Waikato District with a Success Index (NZ) of 78.2. Of the 44 schools shown, 41 are state, 3 are state integrated.
For the full picture see the wider Waikato primary schools rankings, every school on the Waikato 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 Waikato District?
Tamahere Model Country School in Tamahere, Waikato ranks first among primary schools in Waikato District with a Success Index (NZ) of 78.2 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 372).
How are primary schools in Waikato 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.