Best schools in New Zealand (2026)
The top five of 2,564 schools in each category, with links to the full top 100. Rankings use the Success Index (NZ), built only from official New Zealand data.
New Zealand has 2,564 schools educating 864,830 students in 2026: 2,132 state, 331 state integrated, 82 private, 19 charter.
The median Equity Index (EQI) across New Zealand is 461. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
Best primary schools in New Zealand
Contributing, full primary, intermediate and composite schools offering Years 1–8.
Meadowbank School
Remuera, Auckland · State contributing · Years 1–6
805 students
Cornwall Park District School
Greenlane, Auckland · State contributing · Years 1–6
699 students
Scott Point School
Hobsonville, Auckland · State full primary · Years 1–8
918 students
Hauraki School
Takapuna, Auckland · State contributing · Years 1–6
536 students
Milford School (Auckland)
Milford, Auckland · State contributing · Years 1–6
580 students
Best secondary schools in New Zealand
Secondary and composite schools offering Years 9–13.
Carmel College
Milford, Auckland · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,102 students
Baradene College
Remuera, Auckland · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,522 students
KingsWay School
Red Beach, Auckland · State integrated composite · Years 1–13
2,086 students
Hutt International Boys' School
Trentham, Wellington · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
652 students
Rosmini College
Takapuna, Auckland · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,208 students
Best state schools in New Zealand
Government schools across all year levels.
Meadowbank School
Remuera, Auckland · State contributing · Years 1–6
805 students
Cornwall Park District School
Greenlane, Auckland · State contributing · Years 1–6
699 students
Scott Point School
Hobsonville, Auckland · State full primary · Years 1–8
918 students
Hauraki School
Takapuna, Auckland · State contributing · Years 1–6
536 students
Milford School (Auckland)
Milford, Auckland · State contributing · Years 1–6
580 students
Best state integrated schools in New Zealand
State integrated (mostly church-affiliated) schools.
St Joseph's Catholic School (Takapuna)
Takapuna, Auckland · State integrated contributing · Years 1–6
431 students
Westminster Christian School
Glenfield, Auckland · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
377 students
Carmel College
Milford, Auckland · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,102 students
Baradene College
Remuera, Auckland · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,522 students
KingsWay School
Red Beach, Auckland · State integrated composite · Years 1–13
2,086 students
Best girls' schools in New Zealand
Single-sex girls' schools.
Carmel College
Milford, Auckland · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,102 students
Baradene College
Remuera, Auckland · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,522 students
Westlake Girls' High School
Takapuna, Auckland · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
2,297 students
Marist College
Mount Albert, Auckland · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
770 students
Woodford House
Havelock North, Hawke's Bay · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
378 students
Best boys' schools in New Zealand
Single-sex boys' schools.
Hutt International Boys' School
Trentham, Wellington · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
652 students
Rosmini College
Takapuna, Auckland · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,208 students
Westlake Boys High School
Takapuna, Auckland · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
2,778 students
Wellington College
Mount Victoria, Wellington · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,934 students
Sacred Heart College (Auckland)
Glendowie, Auckland · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,504 students
Best secondary schools by ncea level 2 attainment in New Zealand
Secondary schools ranked by the percentage of school leavers who left with at least NCEA Level 2 (Ministry of Education), for schools with 30 or more leavers.
Pinehurst School
Albany, Auckland · Private composite · Years 1–13
1,157 students
St Hildas Collegiate
Dunedin, Otago · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
464 students
Iona College
Havelock North, Hawke's Bay · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
340 students
Woodford House
Havelock North, Hawke's Bay · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
378 students
Carmel College
Milford, Auckland · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,102 students
Best secondary schools by university entrance in New Zealand
Secondary schools ranked by the percentage of school leavers who attained the University Entrance award (Ministry of Education).
Pinehurst School
Albany, Auckland · Private composite · Years 1–13
1,157 students
Diocesan School For Girls
Epsom, Auckland · Private composite · Years 1–13
1,727 students
Hutt International Boys' School
Trentham, Wellington · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
652 students
St Hildas Collegiate
Dunedin, Otago · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
464 students
Iona College
Havelock North, Hawke's Bay · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
340 students
Best largest schools in New Zealand
Schools with the largest rolls.
Rangitoto College
Browns Bay, Auckland · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
4,189 students
Mt Albert Grammar School
Mount Albert, Auckland · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
3,651 students
Macleans College
Bucklands Beach, Auckland · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
3,069 students
Avondale College
Avondale, Auckland · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
2,813 students
Westlake Boys High School
Takapuna, Auckland · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
2,778 students
Rankings by region
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best primary school in New Zealand?
Meadowbank School in Remuera, Auckland ranks first among primary schools in New Zealand with a Success Index (NZ) of 95.1 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 349).
How are primary schools in New Zealand 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.