Best primary schools in Waipa District (2026)
Contributing, full primary, intermediate and composite schools offering Years 1–8. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 28 schools in Waipa District, Waikato. Rank positions shown on each profile are within New Zealand and Waikato.
- 187Goodwood SchoolCambridge · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 388 · 448 students
- 284Southcity Christian SchoolGlenview · State integrated Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 380 · 247 students
- 378St Peter's Catholic School (Cambridge)Cambridge · State integrated Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 399 · 202 students
- 472Cambridge SchoolCambridge · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 403 · 429 students
- 568Waipa Christian SchoolTe Awamutu · State integrated CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 421 · 111 students
- 666Puahue SchoolTe Awamutu · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 425 · 159 students
- 766Cambridge East SchoolCambridge · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 419 · 369 students
- 865Ngahinapouri SchoolNgahinapouri · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 415 · 192 students
- 963Hautapu SchoolHautapu · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 420 · 202 students
- 1063Kaipaki SchoolOhaupo · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 417 · 136 students
- 1163Ohaupo SchoolOhaupo · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 421 · 218 students
- 1263Cambridge Middle SchoolCambridge · State Restricted Composite (Year 7-10)Equity Index (EQI) 431 · 597 students
- 1363Rukuhia SchoolOhaupo · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 426 · 103 students
- 1460St Patrick's Catholic School (Te Awamutu)Te Awamutu · State integrated Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 427 · 253 students
- 1560Pirongia SchoolPirongia · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 432 · 374 students
- 1660Te Awamutu Primary SchoolTe Awamutu · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 461 · 605 students
- 1756Leamington SchoolLeamington · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 444 · 507 students
- 1853Te Pahu SchoolTe Pahu · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 438 · 93 students
- 1948Koromatua SchoolHamilton · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 473 · 222 students
- 2044Pekapekarau SchoolTe Awamutu · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 493 · 320 students
- 2144Pokuru SchoolPokuru · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 461 · 145 students
- 2241Pukeatua SchoolPukeatua · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 464 · 100 students
- 2340Te Awamutu IntermediateTe Awamutu · State IntermediateEquity Index (EQI) 479 · 531 students
- 2440Paterangi SchoolPaterangi · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 467 · 94 students
- 2539Roto-O-Rangi SchoolCambridge · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 468 · 92 students
- 2631Te Wharekura o Nga Purapura o Te ArohaTe Awamutu · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 505 · 96 students
- 2728Kihikihi SchoolKihikihi · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 524 · 169 students
- 2823Te Kura Amorangi o WhakawateaMelville · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 520 · 127 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goodwood School Cambridge · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 87.4 Top 5% | 388 | 448 |
| 2 | Southcity Christian School Glenview · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 83.9 Top 5% | 380 | 247 |
| 3 | St Peter's Catholic School (Cambridge) Cambridge · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 77.5 Top 25% | 399 | 202 |
| 4 | Cambridge School Cambridge · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 71.7 Top 25% | 403 | 429 |
| 5 | Waipa Christian School Te Awamutu · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 68.2 Top 25% | 421 | 111 |
| 6 | Puahue School Te Awamutu · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 66.4 Top 50% | 425 | 159 |
| 7 | Cambridge East School Cambridge · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 65.7 Top 50% | 419 | 369 |
| 8 | Ngahinapouri School Ngahinapouri · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 64.8 Top 50% | 415 | 192 |
| 9 | Hautapu School Hautapu · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 63.4 Top 50% | 420 | 202 |
| 10 | Kaipaki School Ohaupo · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 63.3 Top 50% | 417 | 136 |
| 11 | Ohaupo School Ohaupo · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 63.0 Top 50% | 421 | 218 |
| 12 | Cambridge Middle School Cambridge · Restricted Composite (Year 7-10) · Years 7–10 | State | 62.9 Top 50% | 431 | 597 |
| 13 | Rukuhia School Ohaupo · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 62.5 Top 50% | 426 | 103 |
| 14 | St Patrick's Catholic School (Te Awamutu) Te Awamutu · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 60.4 Top 50% | 427 | 253 |
| 15 | Pirongia School Pirongia · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 60.0 Top 50% | 432 | 374 |
| 16 | Te Awamutu Primary School Te Awamutu · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 60.0 Top 50% | 461 | 605 |
| 17 | Leamington School Leamington · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 55.7 Top 50% | 444 | 507 |
| 18 | Te Pahu School Te Pahu · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 53.2 Top 50% | 438 | 93 |
| 19 | Koromatua School Hamilton · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 47.5 Lower 50% | 473 | 222 |
| 20 | Pekapekarau School Te Awamutu · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 43.8 Lower 50% | 493 | 320 |
| 21 | Pokuru School Pokuru · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 43.5 Lower 50% | 461 | 145 |
| 22 | Pukeatua School Pukeatua · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 41.1 Lower 50% | 464 | 100 |
| 23 | Te Awamutu Intermediate Te Awamutu · Intermediate · Years 7–8 | State | 40.3 Lower 50% | 479 | 531 |
| 24 | Paterangi School Paterangi · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 39.5 Lower 50% | 467 | 94 |
| 25 | Roto-O-Rangi School Cambridge · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 39.1 Lower 50% | 468 | 92 |
| 26 | Te Wharekura o Nga Purapura o Te Aroha Te Awamutu · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 30.6 Lower 50% | 505 | 96 |
| 27 | Kihikihi School Kihikihi · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 28.4 Lower 50% | 524 | 169 |
| 28 | Te Kura Amorangi o Whakawatea Melville · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 22.5 Lower 50% | 520 | 127 |
Goodwood School in Cambridge leads the 2026 list of primary schools in Waipa District with a Success Index (NZ) of 87.4. Of the 28 schools shown, 24 are state, 4 are state integrated.
For the full picture see the wider Waikato primary schools rankings, every school on the Waipa 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 Waipa District?
Goodwood School in Cambridge, Waikato ranks first among primary schools in Waipa District with a Success Index (NZ) of 87.4 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 388).
How are primary schools in Waipa 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.