Top 3 girls' schools in Manawatū-Whanganui (2026)
Single-sex girls' schools. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 3 schools shown.
- 178Palmerston North Girls' High SchoolPalmerston North · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 433 · 1,318 students
- 275Nga Tawa Diocesan SchoolMarton · State integrated Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 431 · 193 students
- 340Whanganui Girls' CollegeWhanganui East · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 493 · 362 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palmerston North Girls' High School Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 77.7 Top 25% | 433 | 1,318 |
| 2 | Nga Tawa Diocesan School Marton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State integrated | 74.8 Top 25% | 431 | 193 |
| 3 | Whanganui Girls' College Whanganui East · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 39.8 Lower 50% | 493 | 362 |
Palmerston North Girls' High School in Palmerston North leads the 2026 list of girls' schools in Manawatū-Whanganui with a Success Index (NZ) of 77.7. Of the 3 schools shown, 2 are state, 1 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.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best girls school in Manawatū-Whanganui?
Palmerston North Girls' High School in Palmerston North ranks first among girls' schools in Manawatū-Whanganui with a Success Index (NZ) of 77.7 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 433).
How are girls' schools in Manawatū-Whanganui 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.