Top 6 girls' schools in Canterbury (2026)
Single-sex girls' schools. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 6 schools shown.
- 185Craighead Diocesan SchoolWest End · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 409 · 410 students
- 281Christchurch Girls' High School -Te Kura o Hine WaioraRiccarton · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 419 · 1,308 students
- 377Villa Maria CollegeUpper Riccarton · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 411 · 831 students
- 475Marian CollegeNorthcote-Christchurch · State integrated Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 426 · 427 students
- 554Avonside Girls' High SchoolNorth New Brighton · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 472 · 1,090 students
- 649Timaru Girls' High SchoolTimaru · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 474 · 484 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Craighead Diocesan School West End · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 84.5 Top 5% | 409 | 410 |
| 2 | Christchurch Girls' High School -Te Kura o Hine Waiora Riccarton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 81.0 Top 10% | 419 | 1,308 |
| 3 | Villa Maria College Upper Riccarton · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 77.2 Top 25% | 411 | 831 |
| 4 | Marian College Northcote-Christchurch · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State integrated | 74.7 Top 25% | 426 | 427 |
| 5 | Avonside Girls' High School North New Brighton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 53.5 Top 50% | 472 | 1,090 |
| 6 | Timaru Girls' High School Timaru · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 48.5 Top 50% | 474 | 484 |
Craighead Diocesan School in West End leads the 2026 list of girls' schools in Canterbury with a Success Index (NZ) of 84.5. Of the 6 schools shown, 3 are state integrated, 3 are state.
Scores are percentiles within school type, so a primary school and a secondary school with the same score sit at the same point in their own distributions. Use the rankings to build a shortlist, then visit the schools and ask how they support students at your child's level.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best girls school in Canterbury?
Craighead Diocesan School in West End ranks first among girls' schools in Canterbury with a Success Index (NZ) of 84.5 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 409).
How are girls' schools in Canterbury 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.