Top 100 largest schools in Manawatū-Whanganui (2026)

Schools with the largest rolls. Ordered by the measure shown, with the Success Index (NZ) for context; 100 schools shown.

#	School	Sector	Roll	Success Index (NZ)	Equity Index (EQI)	Students
1	Palmerston North Boys' High School Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	1,794	66.7 Top 25%	441	1,794
2	Feilding High School Feilding · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	1,650	51.6 Top 50%	472	1,650
3	Whanganui High School Whanganui · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	1,475	55.1 Top 50%	482	1,475
4	Palmerston North Girls' High School Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	1,318	77.7 Top 25%	433	1,318
5	Freyberg High School Roslyn · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	936	42.4 Lower 50%	488	936
6	Horowhenua College Levin · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	893	38.5 Lower 50%	495	893
7	Awatapu College West End · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	869	37.1 Lower 50%	492	869
8	St Peter's College (Palmerston North) Milson · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13	State integrated	789	69.6 Top 25%	436	789
9	Palmerston North Intermediate Palmerston North · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	751	76.7 Top 25%	426	751
10	College Street Normal School Hokowhitu · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	623	71.8 Top 25%	409	623
11	Cornerstone Christian School Kelvin Grove · Composite · Years 1–13	State integrated	612	79.5 Top 10%	417	612
12	Lytton Street School Feilding · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	582	41.2 Lower 50%	478	582
13	Waiopehu College Levin · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	540	25.5 Lower 50%	513	540
14	Cullinane College Whanganui · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State integrated	492	52.2 Top 50%	497	492
15	Whakarongo School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	490	65.1 Top 50%	424	490
16	Central Normal School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	485	46.9 Lower 50%	491	485
17	Ashhurst School Ashhurst · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	456	48.5 Lower 50%	459	456
18	Ross Intermediate Palmerston North · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	444	42.2 Lower 50%	473	444
19	St Johns Hill School Whanganui · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	415	78.4 Top 25%	416	415
20	Whanganui Intermediate Whanganui · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	415	30.6 Lower 50%	505	415
21	Queen Elizabeth College Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13	State	408	20.7 Lower 50%	556	408
22	Levin East School Levin · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	405	35.4 Lower 50%	526	405
23	Manchester Street School Feilding · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	404	51.9 Top 50%	449	404
24	Dannevirke High School Dannevirke · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	400	34.1 Lower 50%	501	400
25	Fairfield School (Levin) Levin · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	399	41.1 Lower 50%	474	399
26	Roslyn School Roslyn · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	397	26.7 Lower 50%	518	397
27	Hokowhitu School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	385	62.8 Top 50%	426	385
28	Tararua College Pahiatua · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	379	35.8 Lower 50%	510	379
29	Riverdale School (P North) Awapuni · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	378	62.7 Top 50%	426	378
30	Whanganui Collegiate School Whanganui · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State integrated	371	69.6 Top 25%	417	371
31	Whanganui Girls' College Whanganui East · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	362	39.8 Lower 50%	493	362
32	West End School (P North) Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	358	54.3 Top 50%	458	358
33	North Street School Feilding · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	349	40.3 Lower 50%	506	349
34	Winchester School (P North) Hokowhitu · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	342	64.8 Top 50%	420	342
35	Milson School Milson · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	341	46.7 Lower 50%	486	341
36	Pahiatua School Pahiatua · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	335	38.1 Lower 50%	478	335
37	Russell Street School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	334	71.6 Top 25%	429	334
38	Monrad - Te Kura Waenga o Tirohanga Palmerston North · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	330	36.8 Lower 50%	517	330
39	Rangitīkei College Marton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	329	31.6 Lower 50%	515	329
40	Feilding Intermediate Feilding · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	329	37.9 Lower 50%	478	329
41	Parkland School (P North) Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	325	53.5 Top 50%	443	325
42	Manawatū College Foxton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	295	16.1 Lower 50%	528	295
43	Taumarunui High School Taumarunui · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	295	17.3 Lower 50%	528	295
44	Whanganui City College Whanganui · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	286	9.3 Lower 50%	547	286
45	Levin Intermediate Levin · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	279	35.4 Lower 50%	517	279
46	Dannevirke South School Dannevirke · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	270	28.8 Lower 50%	504	270
47	Levin School Levin · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	267	37.3 Lower 50%	508	267
48	Ohakune School Ohakune · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	267	49.8 Top 50%	472	267
49	Carlton School Whanganui · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	265	37.6 Lower 50%	507	265
50	St Mary's School (Wanganui) Whanganui · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	248	46.6 Lower 50%	469	248
51	Cloverlea School Cloverlea · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	247	31.7 Lower 50%	494	247
52	Ruapehu College Ohakune · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	246	31.2 Lower 50%	502	246
53	Taihape Area School Taihape · Composite · Years 1–13	State	245	34.6 Lower 50%	514	245
54	Levin North School Levin · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	244	27.9 Lower 50%	506	244
55	Taitoko School Levin · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	241	27.5 Lower 50%	541	241
56	Westmere School - Whanganui Whanganui · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	238	65.1 Top 50%	427	238
57	Te Kura o Kokohuia Castlecliff · Composite · Years 1–13	State	230	25.7 Lower 50%	532	230
58	St Anne's School (Wanganui) Whanganui East · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	223	45.5 Lower 50%	459	223
59	St Mary's School (P North) Roslyn · Contributing · Years 1–6	State integrated	222	81.4 Top 10%	389	222
60	Terrace End School Terrace End · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	222	36.3 Lower 50%	505	222
61	Longburn Adventist College Longburn · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13	State integrated	220	42.0 Lower 50%	474	220
62	Coley Street School Foxton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	219	25.0 Lower 50%	516	219
63	Huia Range School Dannevirke · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	217	21.3 Lower 50%	529	217
64	Newbury School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	203	58.9 Top 50%	445	203
65	Takaro School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	200	20.1 Lower 50%	534	200
66	Marton School Marton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	200	39.7 Lower 50%	491	200
67	Halcombe Primary School Halcombe · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	195	64.3 Top 50%	427	195
68	Nga Tawa Diocesan School Marton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State integrated	193	74.8 Top 25%	431	193
69	Koputaroa School Levin · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	191	47.8 Lower 50%	452	191
70	Durie Hill School Durie Hill · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	189	43.2 Lower 50%	463	189
71	Turaki School Taumarunui · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	189	25.7 Lower 50%	512	189
72	Manukura Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	188	50.9 Top 50%	494	188
73	St Joseph's School (Levin) Levin · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	186	50.5 Top 50%	462	186
74	Mosston School Westmere · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	181	58.4 Top 50%	444	181
75	TKKM o Tupoho Castlecliff · Composite · Years 1–13	State	179	18.7 Lower 50%	549	179
76	Keith Street School Whanganui · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	179	27.8 Lower 50%	528	179
77	Gonville School Gonville · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	177	25.4 Lower 50%	513	177
78	Tawhero School Whanganui · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	173	23.1 Lower 50%	547	173
79	Bulls School Bulls · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	169	41.7 Lower 50%	481	169
80	Ruahine School Dannevirke · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	167	54.1 Top 50%	451	167
81	Whanganui East School Whanganui East · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	167	16.6 Lower 50%	547	167
82	Castlecliff School Castlecliff · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	163	19.3 Lower 50%	535	163
83	Aokautere School Aokautere · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	162	77.4 Top 25%	393	162
84	Our Lady of Lourdes School (P North) Takaro · Contributing · Years 1–6	State integrated	161	67.9 Top 25%	422	161
85	Ohau School Ohau · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	159	41.0 Lower 50%	467	159
86	Faith City School Springvale · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	157	58.7 Top 50%	441	157
87	Te Kura o Wairau Highbury · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	156	17.7 Lower 50%	541	156
88	Kairanga School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	155	48.7 Lower 50%	449	155
89	South Makirikiri School Marton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	154	51.2 Top 50%	444	154
90	Colyton School Feilding · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	154	62.4 Top 50%	433	154
91	Rongotea School Rongotea · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	151	45.2 Lower 50%	470	151
92	Taonui School Feilding · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	150	48.6 Lower 50%	462	150
93	James Cook School Marton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	148	29.0 Lower 50%	499	148
94	Manunui School Taumarunui · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	148	31.7 Lower 50%	508	148
95	Taumarunui Primary School Taumarunui · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	147	21.0 Lower 50%	554	147
96	Te Kura Waenga O Rutherford \| Rutherford Intermediate School Tawhero · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	143	17.9 Lower 50%	539	143
97	St James' Catholic School Te Kura Katorika o Hato Heemi Hokowhitu · Contributing · Years 1–6	State integrated	143	66.0 Top 50%	410	143
98	Linton Camp School Linton Camp · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	143	34.6 Lower 50%	482	143
99	Turitea School Tiritea · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	134	67.8 Top 25%	403	134
100	Hiwinui School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	134	63.8 Top 50%	415	134

Palmerston North Boys' High School in Palmerston North leads the 2026 list of largest schools in Manawatū-Whanganui with Roll 1,794. Of the 100 schools shown, 87 are state, 13 are state integrated.

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 largest school in Manawatū-Whanganui?

Palmerston North Boys' High School in Palmerston North ranks first among largest schools in Manawatū-Whanganui with Roll 1,794 (Equity Index (EQI): 441).

How are largest schools in Manawatū-Whanganui ranked?

Schools with the largest rolls. Only schools eligible for the Success Index (NZ) are included; the index is shown alongside for context.

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.