Top 57 secondary schools in Canterbury (2026)
Secondary and composite schools offering Years 9–13. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 57 schools shown.
- 185Aidanfield Christian SchoolAidanfield · State integrated CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 377 · 477 students
- 285Craighead Diocesan SchoolWest End · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 409 · 410 students
- 384Middleton Grange SchoolRiccarton · State integrated CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 404 · 1,395 students
- 481Christchurch Girls' High School -Te Kura o Hine WaioraRiccarton · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 419 · 1,308 students
- 580Cashmere High SchoolSomerfield · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 413 · 2,450 students
- 680Burnside High SchoolBurnside · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 416 · 2,736 students
- 778Lincoln High SchoolLincoln · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 423 · 1,438 students
- 877Emmanuel Christian SchoolBishopdale · State integrated Composite (Year 1-10)Equity Index (EQI) 409 · 301 students
- 977St Thomas of Canterbury CollegeSockburn · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 430 · 686 students
- 1077Villa Maria CollegeUpper Riccarton · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 411 · 831 students
- 1177Hillview Christian SchoolSt Martins · State integrated CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 418 · 562 students
- 1275Christchurch Boys' High SchoolRiccarton · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 418 · 1,403 students
- 1375Marian CollegeNorthcote-Christchurch · State integrated Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 426 · 427 students
- 1474St Bede's CollegePapanui · State integrated Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 415 · 795 students
- 1571Christchurch Adventist SchoolPapanui · State integrated CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 435 · 293 students
- 1667Mount Hutt CollegeMethven · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 438 · 573 students
- 1767Rangiora New Life SchoolSouthbrook · State integrated CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 434 · 469 students
- 1867Catholic Cathedral CollegePhillipstown · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 448 · 597 students
- 1967Ashburton Christian SchoolElgin · State integrated Composite (Year 1-10)Equity Index (EQI) 439 · 264 students
- 2065Rolleston CollegeRolleston · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 449 · 1,963 students
- 2164Darfield High SchoolDarfield · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 447 · 821 students
- 2262Riccarton High SchoolSockburn · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 440 · 1,111 students
- 2360Timaru Christian SchoolWatlington · State integrated Composite (Year 1-10)Equity Index (EQI) 446 · 170 students
- 2460Twizel Area SchoolTwizel · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 452 · 251 students
- 2559TKKM o Te Whanau TahiSpreydon · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 494 · 234 students
- 2659Rangiora High SchoolRangiora · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 454 · 1,675 students
- 2759Christchurch North CollegeBurnside · Charter Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 446 · 85 students
- 2858Roncalli CollegeTimaru · State integrated Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 446 · 500 students
- 2958Geraldine High SchoolGeraldine · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 453 · 598 students
- 3057Rudolf Steiner School (Chch)Opawa · State integrated CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 410 · 283 students
- 3155Akaroa Area SchoolAkaroa · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 455 · 115 students
- 3255Kaiapoi High SchoolKaiapoi · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 465 · 1,044 students
- 3354Ao Tawhiti Unlimited DiscoveryChristchurch · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 442 · 654 students
- 3454Oxford Area SchoolOxford · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 465 · 496 students
- 3554Timaru Boys' High SchoolWest End · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 457 · 793 students
- 3654Avonside Girls' High SchoolNorth New Brighton · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 472 · 1,090 students
- 3753Ashburton CollegeAllenton · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 467 · 1,363 students
- 3852Ellesmere CollegeLeeston · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 462 · 575 students
- 3950Te Kura Tuarua o Horomaka Hillmorton High SchoolBarrington · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 467 · 1,415 students
- 4049Timaru Girls' High SchoolTimaru · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 474 · 484 students
- 4148Amuri Area SchoolCulverden · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 444 · 355 students
- 4248Mackenzie CollegeFairlie · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 451 · 195 students
- 4348Cheviot Area SchoolCheviot · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 463 · 173 students
- 4447Shirley Boys' High School - Ngā Tama o ŌruapaeroaChristchurch · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 464 · 1,295 students
- 4545Papanui High SchoolPapanui · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 461 · 1,416 students
- 4644Hurunui CollegeHawarden · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 465 · 197 students
- 4743Waimate High SchoolWaimate · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 481 · 291 students
- 4840Te Puna Wai o Waipapa - Hagley CollegeChristchurch Central · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 468 · 1,967 students
- 4940Hornby High SchoolHornby · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 489 · 1,015 students
- 5039Kaikōura High SchoolKaikoura · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 475 · 192 students
- 5137Te Pā o RākaihautūLinwood · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 517 · 205 students
- 5236Mountainview High SchoolTimaru · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 494 · 448 students
- 5335Te Aratai CollegePhillipstown · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 507 · 1,240 students
- 5432TKKM o WaitahaWaltham · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 519 · 225 students
- 5531Opihi CollegeTemuka · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 504 · 273 students
- 5630Mairehau High SchoolChristchurch · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 510 · 407 students
- 5712Haeata Community CampusWainoni · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 545 · 634 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aidanfield Christian School Aidanfield · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 85.0 Top 5% | 377 | 477 |
| 2 | Craighead Diocesan School West End · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 84.5 Top 5% | 409 | 410 |
| 3 | Middleton Grange School Riccarton · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 84.4 Top 5% | 404 | 1,395 |
| 4 | 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 |
| 5 | Cashmere High School Somerfield · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 80.0 Top 10% | 413 | 2,450 |
| 6 | Burnside High School Burnside · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 79.9 Top 10% | 416 | 2,736 |
| 7 | Lincoln High School Lincoln · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 77.9 Top 25% | 423 | 1,438 |
| 8 | Emmanuel Christian School Bishopdale · Composite (Year 1-10) · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 77.4 Top 25% | 409 | 301 |
| 9 | St Thomas of Canterbury College Sockburn · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 77.3 Top 25% | 430 | 686 |
| 10 | Villa Maria College Upper Riccarton · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 77.2 Top 25% | 411 | 831 |
| 11 | Hillview Christian School St Martins · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 77.0 Top 25% | 418 | 562 |
| 12 | Christchurch Boys' High School Riccarton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 75.2 Top 25% | 418 | 1,403 |
| 13 | Marian College Northcote-Christchurch · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State integrated | 74.7 Top 25% | 426 | 427 |
| 14 | St Bede's College Papanui · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State integrated | 73.8 Top 25% | 415 | 795 |
| 15 | Christchurch Adventist School Papanui · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 70.9 Top 25% | 435 | 293 |
| 16 | Mount Hutt College Methven · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 67.3 Top 25% | 438 | 573 |
| 17 | Rangiora New Life School Southbrook · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 67.3 Top 25% | 434 | 469 |
| 18 | Catholic Cathedral College Phillipstown · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 67.2 Top 25% | 448 | 597 |
| 19 | Ashburton Christian School Elgin · Composite (Year 1-10) · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 66.5 Top 25% | 439 | 264 |
| 20 | Rolleston College Rolleston · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 65.0 Top 50% | 449 | 1,963 |
| 21 | Darfield High School Darfield · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 64.4 Top 50% | 447 | 821 |
| 22 | Riccarton High School Sockburn · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 61.8 Top 50% | 440 | 1,111 |
| 23 | Timaru Christian School Watlington · Composite (Year 1-10) · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 60.4 Top 50% | 446 | 170 |
| 24 | Twizel Area School Twizel · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 60.3 Top 50% | 452 | 251 |
| 25 | TKKM o Te Whanau Tahi Spreydon · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 59.1 Top 50% | 494 | 234 |
| 26 | Rangiora High School Rangiora · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 58.8 Top 50% | 454 | 1,675 |
| 27 | Christchurch North College Burnside · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | Charter | 58.6 Top 50% | 446 | 85 |
| 28 | Roncalli College Timaru · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State integrated | 58.1 Top 50% | 446 | 500 |
| 29 | Geraldine High School Geraldine · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 57.6 Top 50% | 453 | 598 |
| 30 | Rudolf Steiner School (Chch) Opawa · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 56.6 Top 50% | 410 | 283 |
| 31 | Akaroa Area School Akaroa · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 55.2 Top 50% | 455 | 115 |
| 32 | Kaiapoi High School Kaiapoi · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 55.0 Top 50% | 465 | 1,044 |
| 33 | Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery Christchurch · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 54.2 Top 50% | 442 | 654 |
| 34 | Oxford Area School Oxford · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 54.0 Top 50% | 465 | 496 |
| 35 | Timaru Boys' High School West End · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 53.8 Top 50% | 457 | 793 |
| 36 | Avonside Girls' High School North New Brighton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 53.5 Top 50% | 472 | 1,090 |
| 37 | Ashburton College Allenton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 53.3 Top 50% | 467 | 1,363 |
| 38 | Ellesmere College Leeston · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 52.3 Top 50% | 462 | 575 |
| 39 | Te Kura Tuarua o Horomaka Hillmorton High School Barrington · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 49.7 Top 50% | 467 | 1,415 |
| 40 | Timaru Girls' High School Timaru · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 48.5 Top 50% | 474 | 484 |
| 41 | Amuri Area School Culverden · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 48.4 Top 50% | 444 | 355 |
| 42 | Mackenzie College Fairlie · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 48.1 Top 50% | 451 | 195 |
| 43 | Cheviot Area School Cheviot · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 47.6 Lower 50% | 463 | 173 |
| 44 | Shirley Boys' High School - Ngā Tama o Ōruapaeroa Christchurch · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 46.9 Lower 50% | 464 | 1,295 |
| 45 | Papanui High School Papanui · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 44.9 Lower 50% | 461 | 1,416 |
| 46 | Hurunui College Hawarden · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 44.0 Lower 50% | 465 | 197 |
| 47 | Waimate High School Waimate · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 43.3 Lower 50% | 481 | 291 |
| 48 | Te Puna Wai o Waipapa - Hagley College Christchurch Central · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 40.2 Lower 50% | 468 | 1,967 |
| 49 | Hornby High School Hornby · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 39.5 Lower 50% | 489 | 1,015 |
| 50 | Kaikōura High School Kaikoura · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 38.6 Lower 50% | 475 | 192 |
| 51 | Te Pā o Rākaihautū Linwood · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 36.8 Lower 50% | 517 | 205 |
| 52 | Mountainview High School Timaru · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 35.6 Lower 50% | 494 | 448 |
| 53 | Te Aratai College Phillipstown · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 34.7 Lower 50% | 507 | 1,240 |
| 54 | TKKM o Waitaha Waltham · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 32.3 Lower 50% | 519 | 225 |
| 55 | Opihi College Temuka · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 30.5 Lower 50% | 504 | 273 |
| 56 | Mairehau High School Christchurch · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 29.5 Lower 50% | 510 | 407 |
| 57 | Haeata Community Campus Wainoni · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 12.2 Lower 50% | 545 | 634 |
Aidanfield Christian School in Aidanfield leads the 2026 list of secondary schools in Canterbury with a Success Index (NZ) of 85.0. Of the 57 schools shown, 40 are state, 16 are state integrated, 1 are charter.
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.
Download this table as CSV · free to reuse with attribution to the original sources and Success Tutoring
Secondary Schools in:New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWaikatoBay of PlentyGisborneHawke's BayTaranakiManawatū-WhanganuiWellingtonTasmanNelsonMarlboroughWest CoastOtagoSouthlandChatham Islands
Free academic assessment
Is your child on track for NCEA?
Success Tutoring runs personalised English and Maths tutoring for Years 1–13 in New Zealand. Start with a free assessment mapped to the New Zealand Curriculum.
- Personalised learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum
- English & Maths from Kindergarten to Year 12
- Flexible memberships, no lock-in contracts
- Centres across NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA and ACT
Frequently asked questions
What is the best secondary school in Canterbury?
Aidanfield Christian School in Aidanfield ranks first among secondary schools in Canterbury with a Success Index (NZ) of 85.0 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 377).
How are secondary 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.