Top 45 secondary schools by university entrance in Canterbury (2026)
Secondary schools ranked by the percentage of school leavers who attained the University Entrance award (Ministry of Education). Ordered by the measure shown, with the Success Index (NZ) for context; 45 schools shown.
- 1–St Andrew's College (Christchurch)Bryndwr · Private CompositeUE: 92.9%
- 285Craighead Diocesan SchoolWest End · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)UE: 92.7%
- 3–Rangi Ruru Girls' SchoolMerivale · Private Secondary (Year 7-15)UE: 92.4%
- 4–Christ's CollegeChristchurch Central · Private Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 91%
- 5–St Margaret's CollegeMerivale · Private CompositeUE: 90%
- 677Villa Maria CollegeUpper Riccarton · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)UE: 89.3%
- 784Middleton Grange SchoolRiccarton · State integrated CompositeUE: 83.5%
- 881Christchurch Girls' High School -Te Kura o Hine WaioraRiccarton · State Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 82%
- 977St Thomas of Canterbury CollegeSockburn · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)UE: 76%
- 1075Marian CollegeNorthcote-Christchurch · State integrated Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 75%
- 1180Burnside High SchoolBurnside · State Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 74.5%
- 1267Catholic Cathedral CollegePhillipstown · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)UE: 73.2%
- 1380Cashmere High SchoolSomerfield · State Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 72.9%
- 1478Lincoln High SchoolLincoln · State Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 69.5%
- 1574St Bede's CollegePapanui · State integrated Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 68.2%
- 1675Christchurch Boys' High SchoolRiccarton · State Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 63.3%
- 1758Roncalli CollegeTimaru · State integrated Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 62.5%
- 1854Avonside Girls' High SchoolNorth New Brighton · State Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 57.4%
- 1949Timaru Girls' High SchoolTimaru · State Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 57.3%
- 2065Rolleston CollegeRolleston · State Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 56.6%
- 2167Mount Hutt CollegeMethven · State Secondary (Year 7-15)UE: 56.1%
- 2267Rangiora New Life SchoolSouthbrook · State integrated CompositeUE: 56.1%
- 2362Riccarton High SchoolSockburn · State Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 55.4%
- 2455Kaiapoi High SchoolKaiapoi · State Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 54.6%
- 2559Rangiora High SchoolRangiora · State Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 51.2%
- 2654Oxford Area SchoolOxford · State CompositeUE: 50.9%
- 2747Shirley Boys' High School - Ngā Tama o ŌruapaeroaChristchurch · State Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 50.6%
- 2864Darfield High SchoolDarfield · State Secondary (Year 7-15)UE: 50.5%
- 2958Geraldine High SchoolGeraldine · State Secondary (Year 7-15)UE: 50%
- 3048Amuri Area SchoolCulverden · State CompositeUE: 50%
- 3150Te Kura Tuarua o Horomaka Hillmorton High SchoolBarrington · State Secondary (Year 7-15)UE: 50%
- 3253Ashburton CollegeAllenton · State Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 48.9%
- 3352Ellesmere CollegeLeeston · State Secondary (Year 7-15)UE: 47.1%
- 3454Timaru Boys' High SchoolWest End · State Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 45.8%
- 3545Papanui High SchoolPapanui · State Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 45.4%
- 3648Mackenzie CollegeFairlie · State Secondary (Year 7-15)UE: 44.1%
- 3754Ao Tawhiti Unlimited DiscoveryChristchurch · State CompositeUE: 44.1%
- 3843Waimate High SchoolWaimate · State Secondary (Year 7-15)UE: 41.5%
- 3940Te Puna Wai o Waipapa - Hagley CollegeChristchurch Central · State Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 40.8%
- 4036Mountainview High SchoolTimaru · State Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 40%
- 4130Mairehau High SchoolChristchurch · State Secondary (Year 9-15)UE: 36.1%
- 4235Te Aratai CollegePhillipstown · State Secondary (Year 7-15)UE: 33.3%
- 4312Haeata Community CampusWainoni · State CompositeUE: 32.7%
- 4440Hornby High SchoolHornby · State Secondary (Year 7-15)UE: 32.5%
- 4531Opihi CollegeTemuka · State Secondary (Year 7-15)UE: 25%
| # | School | Sector | UE | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Andrew's College (Christchurch) Bryndwr · Composite · Years 1–13 | Private | 92.9% | – Not rated | – | 1,650 |
| 2 | Craighead Diocesan School West End · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 92.7% | 84.5 Top 5% | 409 | 410 |
| 3 | Rangi Ruru Girls' School Merivale · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | Private | 92.4% | – Not rated | – | 704 |
| 4 | Christ's College Christchurch Central · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | Private | 91% | – Not rated | – | 707 |
| 5 | St Margaret's College Merivale · Composite · Years 1–13 | Private | 90% | – Not rated | – | 866 |
| 6 | Villa Maria College Upper Riccarton · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 89.3% | 77.2 Top 25% | 411 | 831 |
| 7 | Middleton Grange School Riccarton · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 83.5% | 84.4 Top 5% | 404 | 1,395 |
| 8 | Christchurch Girls' High School -Te Kura o Hine Waiora Riccarton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 82% | 81.0 Top 10% | 419 | 1,308 |
| 9 | St Thomas of Canterbury College Sockburn · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 76% | 77.3 Top 25% | 430 | 686 |
| 10 | Marian College Northcote-Christchurch · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State integrated | 75% | 74.7 Top 25% | 426 | 427 |
| 11 | Burnside High School Burnside · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 74.5% | 79.9 Top 10% | 416 | 2,736 |
| 12 | Catholic Cathedral College Phillipstown · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 73.2% | 67.2 Top 25% | 448 | 597 |
| 13 | Cashmere High School Somerfield · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 72.9% | 80.0 Top 10% | 413 | 2,450 |
| 14 | Lincoln High School Lincoln · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 69.5% | 77.9 Top 25% | 423 | 1,438 |
| 15 | St Bede's College Papanui · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State integrated | 68.2% | 73.8 Top 25% | 415 | 795 |
| 16 | Christchurch Boys' High School Riccarton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 63.3% | 75.2 Top 25% | 418 | 1,403 |
| 17 | Roncalli College Timaru · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State integrated | 62.5% | 58.1 Top 50% | 446 | 500 |
| 18 | Avonside Girls' High School North New Brighton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 57.4% | 53.5 Top 50% | 472 | 1,090 |
| 19 | Timaru Girls' High School Timaru · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 57.3% | 48.5 Top 50% | 474 | 484 |
| 20 | Rolleston College Rolleston · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 56.6% | 65.0 Top 50% | 449 | 1,963 |
| 21 | Mount Hutt College Methven · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 56.1% | 67.3 Top 25% | 438 | 573 |
| 22 | Rangiora New Life School Southbrook · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 56.1% | 67.3 Top 25% | 434 | 469 |
| 23 | Riccarton High School Sockburn · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 55.4% | 61.8 Top 50% | 440 | 1,111 |
| 24 | Kaiapoi High School Kaiapoi · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 54.6% | 55.0 Top 50% | 465 | 1,044 |
| 25 | Rangiora High School Rangiora · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 51.2% | 58.8 Top 50% | 454 | 1,675 |
| 26 | Oxford Area School Oxford · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 50.9% | 54.0 Top 50% | 465 | 496 |
| 27 | Shirley Boys' High School - Ngā Tama o Ōruapaeroa Christchurch · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 50.6% | 46.9 Lower 50% | 464 | 1,295 |
| 28 | Darfield High School Darfield · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 50.5% | 64.4 Top 50% | 447 | 821 |
| 29 | Geraldine High School Geraldine · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 50% | 57.6 Top 50% | 453 | 598 |
| 30 | Amuri Area School Culverden · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 50% | 48.4 Top 50% | 444 | 355 |
| 31 | Te Kura Tuarua o Horomaka Hillmorton High School Barrington · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 50% | 49.7 Top 50% | 467 | 1,415 |
| 32 | Ashburton College Allenton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 48.9% | 53.3 Top 50% | 467 | 1,363 |
| 33 | Ellesmere College Leeston · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 47.1% | 52.3 Top 50% | 462 | 575 |
| 34 | Timaru Boys' High School West End · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 45.8% | 53.8 Top 50% | 457 | 793 |
| 35 | Papanui High School Papanui · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 45.4% | 44.9 Lower 50% | 461 | 1,416 |
| 36 | Mackenzie College Fairlie · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 44.1% | 48.1 Top 50% | 451 | 195 |
| 37 | Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery Christchurch · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 44.1% | 54.2 Top 50% | 442 | 654 |
| 38 | Waimate High School Waimate · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 41.5% | 43.3 Lower 50% | 481 | 291 |
| 39 | Te Puna Wai o Waipapa - Hagley College Christchurch Central · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 40.8% | 40.2 Lower 50% | 468 | 1,967 |
| 40 | Mountainview High School Timaru · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 40% | 35.6 Lower 50% | 494 | 448 |
| 41 | Mairehau High School Christchurch · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 36.1% | 29.5 Lower 50% | 510 | 407 |
| 42 | Te Aratai College Phillipstown · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 33.3% | 34.7 Lower 50% | 507 | 1,240 |
| 43 | Haeata Community Campus Wainoni · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 32.7% | 12.2 Lower 50% | 545 | 634 |
| 44 | Hornby High School Hornby · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 32.5% | 39.5 Lower 50% | 489 | 1,015 |
| 45 | Opihi College Temuka · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 25% | 30.5 Lower 50% | 504 | 273 |
St Andrew's College (Christchurch) in Bryndwr leads the 2026 list of secondary schools by university entrance in Canterbury with UE 92.9%. Of the 45 schools shown, 32 are state, 9 are state integrated, 4 are private.
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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Secondary Schools by University Entrance in:New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWaikatoBay of PlentyGisborneHawke's BayTaranakiManawatū-WhanganuiWellingtonTasmanNelsonMarlboroughWest CoastOtagoSouthlandChatham Islands
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best ue results school in Canterbury?
St Andrew's College (Christchurch) in Bryndwr ranks first among secondary schools by university entrance in Canterbury with UE 92.9%.
How are secondary schools by university entrance in Canterbury ranked?
Secondary schools ranked by the percentage of school leavers who attained the University Entrance award (Ministry of Education). Figures are the most recent published by the national authority and matched to the school directory.
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.