Top 100 primary schools in Manawatū-Whanganui (2026)

Contributing, full primary, intermediate and composite schools offering Years 1–8. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 100 schools shown.

#	School	Sector	Success Index (NZ)	Equity Index (EQI)	Students
1	St Mary's School (P North) Roslyn · Contributing · Years 1–6	State integrated	81.4 Top 10%	389	222
2	Cornerstone Christian School Kelvin Grove · Composite · Years 1–13	State integrated	79.5 Top 10%	417	612
3	St Johns Hill School Whanganui · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	78.4 Top 25%	416	415
4	Aokautere School Aokautere · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	77.4 Top 25%	393	162
5	Palmerston North Intermediate Palmerston North · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	76.7 Top 25%	426	751
6	College Street Normal School Hokowhitu · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	71.8 Top 25%	409	623
7	Russell Street School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	71.6 Top 25%	429	334
8	Our Lady of Lourdes School (P North) Takaro · Contributing · Years 1–6	State integrated	67.9 Top 25%	422	161
9	Turitea School Tiritea · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	67.8 Top 25%	403	134
10	Mount Biggs School Feilding · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	67.5 Top 25%	415	114
11	St James' Catholic School Te Kura Katorika o Hato Heemi Hokowhitu · Contributing · Years 1–6	State integrated	66.0 Top 50%	410	143
12	Glen Oroua School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	65.4 Top 50%	415	75
13	Westmere School - Whanganui Whanganui · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	65.1 Top 50%	427	238
14	Whakarongo School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	65.1 Top 50%	424	490
15	Winchester School (P North) Hokowhitu · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	64.8 Top 50%	420	342
16	Halcombe Primary School Halcombe · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	64.3 Top 50%	427	195
17	Hiwinui School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	63.8 Top 50%	415	134
18	Hokowhitu School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	62.8 Top 50%	426	385
19	Riverdale School (P North) Awapuni · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	62.7 Top 50%	426	378
20	Colyton School Feilding · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	62.4 Top 50%	433	154
21	Newbury School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	58.9 Top 50%	445	203
22	Faith City School Springvale · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	58.7 Top 50%	441	157
23	Mana Tamariki Palmerston North CBD · Composite · Years 1–13	State	58.4 Top 50%	444	70
24	Mosston School Westmere · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	58.4 Top 50%	444	181
25	St Anthony's School (Pahiatua) Pahiatua · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	57.0 Top 50%	441	128
26	Palmerston North Adventist Christian School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6	State integrated	55.7 Top 50%	433	103
27	Opiki School Opiki · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	54.9 Top 50%	435	113
28	West End School (P North) Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	54.3 Top 50%	458	358
29	St Joseph's School (Feilding) Feilding · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	54.2 Top 50%	435	74
30	St Joseph's School (Taihape) Taihape · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	54.2 Top 50%	435	79
31	Ruahine School Dannevirke · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	54.1 Top 50%	451	167
32	Parkland School (P North) Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	53.5 Top 50%	443	325
33	Manchester Street School Feilding · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	51.9 Top 50%	449	404
34	South Makirikiri School Marton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	51.2 Top 50%	444	154
35	St Joseph's School (Levin) Levin · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	50.5 Top 50%	462	186
36	Fordell School Fordell · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	50.3 Top 50%	455	130
37	Kaitoke School (Wanganui) Whanganui · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	50.2 Top 50%	453	116
38	Ohakune School Ohakune · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	49.8 Top 50%	472	267
39	Hunterville Consolidated School Hunterville · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	49.4 Top 50%	446	116
40	Kairanga School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	48.7 Lower 50%	449	155
41	Taonui School Feilding · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	48.6 Lower 50%	462	150
42	Ashhurst School Ashhurst · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	48.5 Lower 50%	459	456
43	Koputaroa School Levin · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	47.8 Lower 50%	452	191
44	Central Normal School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	46.9 Lower 50%	491	485
45	Milson School Milson · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	46.7 Lower 50%	486	341
46	St Mary's School (Wanganui) Whanganui · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	46.6 Lower 50%	469	248
47	Manakau School Manakau · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	46.0 Lower 50%	452	97
48	St Anne's School (Wanganui) Whanganui East · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	45.5 Lower 50%	459	223
49	Rongotea School Rongotea · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	45.2 Lower 50%	470	151
50	Kiwitea School Kiwitea · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	44.3 Lower 50%	455	70
51	Durie Hill School Durie Hill · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	43.2 Lower 50%	463	189
52	St Patrick's Catholic School (Taumarunui) Taumarunui · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	43.0 Lower 50%	465	77
53	Ross Intermediate Palmerston North · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	42.2 Lower 50%	473	444
54	Bulls School Bulls · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	41.7 Lower 50%	481	169
55	Lytton Street School Feilding · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	41.2 Lower 50%	478	582
56	Fairfield School (Levin) Levin · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	41.1 Lower 50%	474	399
57	Brunswick School Whanganui · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	41.0 Lower 50%	474	110
58	Ohau School Ohau · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	41.0 Lower 50%	467	159
59	North Street School Feilding · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	40.3 Lower 50%	506	349
60	Ōwhango School Owhango · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	40.2 Lower 50%	471	73
61	Marton School Marton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	39.7 Lower 50%	491	200
62	Pahiatua School Pahiatua · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	38.1 Lower 50%	478	335
63	Feilding Intermediate Feilding · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	37.9 Lower 50%	478	329
64	St Joseph's School (Dannevirke) Dannevirke · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	37.9 Lower 50%	473	131
65	Carlton School Whanganui · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	37.6 Lower 50%	507	265
66	Levin School Levin · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	37.3 Lower 50%	508	267
67	Oroua Downs School Foxton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	37.0 Lower 50%	473	84
68	Monrad - Te Kura Waenga o Tirohanga Palmerston North · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	36.8 Lower 50%	517	330
69	Kai Iwi School Kai Iwi · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	36.7 Lower 50%	483	95
70	Terrace End School Terrace End · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	36.3 Lower 50%	505	222
71	Totara College of Accelerated Learning Dannevirke · Composite · Years 1–13	State integrated	36.2 Lower 50%	498	78
72	Poroutawhao School Levin · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	35.9 Lower 50%	476	99
73	Levin East School Levin · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	35.4 Lower 50%	526	405
74	Levin Intermediate Levin · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	35.4 Lower 50%	517	279
75	Bainesse School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	35.3 Lower 50%	485	80
76	Linton Camp School Linton Camp · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	34.6 Lower 50%	482	143
77	Taihape Area School Taihape · Composite · Years 1–13	State	34.6 Lower 50%	514	245
78	Waiouru School Waiouru · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	32.8 Lower 50%	484	93
79	Clifton School (Bulls) Bulls · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	32.7 Lower 50%	487	133
80	Eketāhuna School Eketahuna · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	31.9 Lower 50%	487	99
81	Cloverlea School Cloverlea · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	31.7 Lower 50%	494	247
82	Manunui School Taumarunui · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	31.7 Lower 50%	508	148
83	Longburn School Longburn · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	31.0 Lower 50%	489	87
84	TKKM o Te Atihaunui-A-Paparangi Putiki · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	30.7 Lower 50%	507	127
85	TKKM o Manawatu Kelvin Grove · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	30.6 Lower 50%	506	119
86	Whanganui Intermediate Whanganui · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	30.6 Lower 50%	505	415
87	Woodville School Woodville · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	30.4 Lower 50%	507	122
88	Tokomaru School Tokomaru · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	30.3 Lower 50%	490	70
89	James Cook School Marton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	29.0 Lower 50%	499	148
90	Dannevirke South School Dannevirke · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	28.8 Lower 50%	504	270
91	Shannon School Shannon · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	28.1 Lower 50%	517	130
92	Levin North School Levin · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	27.9 Lower 50%	506	244
93	Keith Street School Whanganui · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	27.8 Lower 50%	528	179
94	Taitoko School Levin · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	27.5 Lower 50%	541	241
95	Roslyn School Roslyn · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	26.7 Lower 50%	518	397
96	Foxton Beach School Foxton Beach · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	25.7 Lower 50%	507	110
97	Te Kura o Kokohuia Castlecliff · Composite · Years 1–13	State	25.7 Lower 50%	532	230
98	Turaki School Taumarunui · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	25.7 Lower 50%	512	189
99	Gonville School Gonville · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	25.4 Lower 50%	513	177
100	Coley Street School Foxton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	25.0 Lower 50%	516	219

St Mary's School (P North) in Roslyn leads the 2026 list of primary schools in Manawatū-Whanganui with a Success Index (NZ) of 81.4. Of the 100 schools shown, 85 are state, 15 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 primary school in Manawatū-Whanganui?

St Mary's School (P North) in Roslyn ranks first among primary schools in Manawatū-Whanganui with a Success Index (NZ) of 81.4 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 389).

How are primary 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.