Top 29 primary schools in Gisborne (2026)
Contributing, full primary, intermediate and composite schools offering Years 1–8. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 29 schools shown.
- 171St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne)Gisborne · State integrated ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 423 · 228 students
- 270Wainui Beach SchoolWainui · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 401 · 239 students
- 361Gisborne Central SchoolWhataupoko · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 430 · 379 students
- 455Makauri SchoolGisborne · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 438 · 165 students
- 550Makaraka SchoolMakaraka · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 444 · 100 students
- 645Sonrise Christian SchoolGisborne · State integrated CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 480 · 145 students
- 743Ormond SchoolOrmond · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 460 · 95 students
- 842Awapuni School (Gisborne)Gisborne · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 499 · 306 students
- 939Mangapapa SchoolMangapapa · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 478 · 410 students
- 1038Gisborne IntermediateGisborne · State IntermediateEquity Index (EQI) 486 · 501 students
- 1137Whangara SchoolWhangara · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 479 · 84 students
- 1235TKKM o Nga Uri A MauiGisborne · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 515 · 221 students
- 1334Kaiti SchoolKaiti · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 535 · 415 students
- 1432TKKM o Te Waiu o Ngati PorouRuatoria · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 516 · 159 students
- 1531Manutuke SchoolManutuke · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 522 · 230 students
- 1628Ilminster IntermediateGisborne · State IntermediateEquity Index (EQI) 508 · 308 students
- 1727Te Wharau School (Gisborne)Kaiti · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 514 · 341 students
- 1824Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Horouta WanangaTe Hapara · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 519 · 186 students
- 1924Waikirikiri SchoolKaiti · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 559 · 219 students
- 2023TKKM o Kawakawa mai TawhitiHicks Bay · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 523 · 82 students
- 2123Tolaga Bay Area SchoolTolaga Bay · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 526 · 243 students
- 2223Te Hapara SchoolTe Hapara · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 524 · 205 students
- 2322Patutahi SchoolPatutahi · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 526 · 70 students
- 2417Ngata Memorial CollegeRuatoria · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 560 · 91 students
- 2517Te Karaka Area SchoolTe Karaka · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 545 · 105 students
- 2616Hiruharama SchoolWaitakaro · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 543 · 108 students
- 2716Riverdale School (Gisborne)Gisborne · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 552 · 159 students
- 2811Te Waha O Rerekohu Area SchoolTe Araroa · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 555 · 62 students
- 294Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hawaiki HouElgin-Gisborne · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 555 · 89 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne) Gisborne · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State integrated | 70.6 Top 25% | 423 | 228 |
| 2 | Wainui Beach School Wainui · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 69.7 Top 25% | 401 | 239 |
| 3 | Gisborne Central School Whataupoko · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 60.9 Top 50% | 430 | 379 |
| 4 | Makauri School Gisborne · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 54.7 Top 50% | 438 | 165 |
| 5 | Makaraka School Makaraka · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 50.0 Top 50% | 444 | 100 |
| 6 | Sonrise Christian School Gisborne · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 45.3 Lower 50% | 480 | 145 |
| 7 | Ormond School Ormond · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 42.9 Lower 50% | 460 | 95 |
| 8 | Awapuni School (Gisborne) Gisborne · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 41.6 Lower 50% | 499 | 306 |
| 9 | Mangapapa School Mangapapa · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 39.4 Lower 50% | 478 | 410 |
| 10 | Gisborne Intermediate Gisborne · Intermediate · Years 7–8 | State | 37.9 Lower 50% | 486 | 501 |
| 11 | Whangara School Whangara · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 37.3 Lower 50% | 479 | 84 |
| 12 | TKKM o Nga Uri A Maui Gisborne · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 34.6 Lower 50% | 515 | 221 |
| 13 | Kaiti School Kaiti · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 33.6 Lower 50% | 535 | 415 |
| 14 | TKKM o Te Waiu o Ngati Porou Ruatoria · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 32.0 Lower 50% | 516 | 159 |
| 15 | Manutuke School Manutuke · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 30.9 Lower 50% | 522 | 230 |
| 16 | Ilminster Intermediate Gisborne · Intermediate · Years 7–8 | State | 27.7 Lower 50% | 508 | 308 |
| 17 | Te Wharau School (Gisborne) Kaiti · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 26.8 Lower 50% | 514 | 341 |
| 18 | Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Horouta Wananga Te Hapara · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 24.2 Lower 50% | 519 | 186 |
| 19 | Waikirikiri School Kaiti · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 24.1 Lower 50% | 559 | 219 |
| 20 | TKKM o Kawakawa mai Tawhiti Hicks Bay · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 22.7 Lower 50% | 523 | 82 |
| 21 | Tolaga Bay Area School Tolaga Bay · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 22.7 Lower 50% | 526 | 243 |
| 22 | Te Hapara School Te Hapara · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 22.6 Lower 50% | 524 | 205 |
| 23 | Patutahi School Patutahi · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 22.0 Lower 50% | 526 | 70 |
| 24 | Ngata Memorial College Ruatoria · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 17.3 Lower 50% | 560 | 91 |
| 25 | Te Karaka Area School Te Karaka · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 17.3 Lower 50% | 545 | 105 |
| 26 | Hiruharama School Waitakaro · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 16.1 Lower 50% | 543 | 108 |
| 27 | Riverdale School (Gisborne) Gisborne · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 16.0 Lower 50% | 552 | 159 |
| 28 | Te Waha O Rerekohu Area School Te Araroa · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 11.2 Lower 50% | 555 | 62 |
| 29 | Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hawaiki Hou Elgin-Gisborne · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 3.5 Lower 50% | 555 | 89 |
St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne) in Gisborne leads the 2026 list of primary schools in Gisborne with a Success Index (NZ) of 70.6. Of the 29 schools shown, 27 are state, 2 are state integrated.
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
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 primary school in Gisborne?
St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne) in Gisborne ranks first among primary schools in Gisborne with a Success Index (NZ) of 70.6 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 423).
How are primary schools in Gisborne 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.