Top 100 state schools in Manawatū-Whanganui (2026)

Government schools across all year levels. 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 Johns Hill School Whanganui · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	78.4 Top 25%	416	415
2	Palmerston North Girls' High School Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	77.7 Top 25%	433	1,318
3	Aokautere School Aokautere · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	77.4 Top 25%	393	162
4	Palmerston North Intermediate Palmerston North · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	76.7 Top 25%	426	751
5	College Street Normal School Hokowhitu · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	71.8 Top 25%	409	623
6	Russell Street School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	71.6 Top 25%	429	334
7	Turitea School Tiritea · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	67.8 Top 25%	403	134
8	Mount Biggs School Feilding · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	67.5 Top 25%	415	114
9	Palmerston North Boys' High School Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	66.7 Top 25%	441	1,794
10	Glen Oroua School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	65.4 Top 50%	415	75
11	Westmere School - Whanganui Whanganui · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	65.1 Top 50%	427	238
12	Whakarongo School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	65.1 Top 50%	424	490
13	Winchester School (P North) Hokowhitu · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	64.8 Top 50%	420	342
14	Halcombe Primary School Halcombe · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	64.3 Top 50%	427	195
15	Hiwinui School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	63.8 Top 50%	415	134
16	Hokowhitu School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	62.8 Top 50%	426	385
17	Riverdale School (P North) Awapuni · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	62.7 Top 50%	426	378
18	Colyton School Feilding · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	62.4 Top 50%	433	154
19	Newbury School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	58.9 Top 50%	445	203
20	Mana Tamariki Palmerston North CBD · Composite · Years 1–13	State	58.4 Top 50%	444	70
21	Mosston School Westmere · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	58.4 Top 50%	444	181
22	Whanganui High School Whanganui · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	55.1 Top 50%	482	1,475
23	Opiki School Opiki · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	54.9 Top 50%	435	113
24	West End School (P North) Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	54.3 Top 50%	458	358
25	Ruahine School Dannevirke · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	54.1 Top 50%	451	167
26	Parkland School (P North) Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	53.5 Top 50%	443	325
27	Manchester Street School Feilding · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	51.9 Top 50%	449	404
28	Feilding High School Feilding · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	51.6 Top 50%	472	1,650
29	South Makirikiri School Marton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	51.2 Top 50%	444	154
30	Manukura Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	50.9 Top 50%	494	188
31	Fordell School Fordell · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	50.3 Top 50%	455	130
32	Kaitoke School (Wanganui) Whanganui · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	50.2 Top 50%	453	116
33	Ohakune School Ohakune · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	49.8 Top 50%	472	267
34	Hunterville Consolidated School Hunterville · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	49.4 Top 50%	446	116
35	Kairanga School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	48.7 Lower 50%	449	155
36	Taonui School Feilding · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	48.6 Lower 50%	462	150
37	Ashhurst School Ashhurst · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	48.5 Lower 50%	459	456
38	Koputaroa School Levin · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	47.8 Lower 50%	452	191
39	Central Normal School Palmerston North · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	46.9 Lower 50%	491	485
40	Milson School Milson · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	46.7 Lower 50%	486	341
41	Manakau School Manakau · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	46.0 Lower 50%	452	97
42	Rongotea School Rongotea · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	45.2 Lower 50%	470	151
43	Kiwitea School Kiwitea · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	44.3 Lower 50%	455	70
44	Durie Hill School Durie Hill · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	43.2 Lower 50%	463	189
45	Freyberg High School Roslyn · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	42.4 Lower 50%	488	936
46	Ross Intermediate Palmerston North · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	42.2 Lower 50%	473	444
47	Bulls School Bulls · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	41.7 Lower 50%	481	169
48	Lytton Street School Feilding · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	41.2 Lower 50%	478	582
49	Fairfield School (Levin) Levin · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	41.1 Lower 50%	474	399
50	Brunswick School Whanganui · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	41.0 Lower 50%	474	110
51	Ohau School Ohau · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	41.0 Lower 50%	467	159
52	North Street School Feilding · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	40.3 Lower 50%	506	349
53	Ōwhango School Owhango · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	40.2 Lower 50%	471	73
54	Whanganui Girls' College Whanganui East · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	39.8 Lower 50%	493	362
55	Marton School Marton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	39.7 Lower 50%	491	200
56	Horowhenua College Levin · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	38.5 Lower 50%	495	893
57	Pahiatua School Pahiatua · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	38.1 Lower 50%	478	335
58	Feilding Intermediate Feilding · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	37.9 Lower 50%	478	329
59	Carlton School Whanganui · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	37.6 Lower 50%	507	265
60	Levin School Levin · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	37.3 Lower 50%	508	267
61	Awatapu College West End · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	37.1 Lower 50%	492	869
62	Oroua Downs School Foxton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	37.0 Lower 50%	473	84
63	Monrad - Te Kura Waenga o Tirohanga Palmerston North · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	36.8 Lower 50%	517	330
64	Kai Iwi School Kai Iwi · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	36.7 Lower 50%	483	95
65	Terrace End School Terrace End · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	36.3 Lower 50%	505	222
66	Poroutawhao School Levin · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	35.9 Lower 50%	476	99
67	Tararua College Pahiatua · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	35.8 Lower 50%	510	379
68	Levin East School Levin · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	35.4 Lower 50%	526	405
69	Levin Intermediate Levin · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	35.4 Lower 50%	517	279
70	Bainesse School Palmerston North · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	35.3 Lower 50%	485	80
71	Linton Camp School Linton Camp · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	34.6 Lower 50%	482	143
72	Taihape Area School Taihape · Composite · Years 1–13	State	34.6 Lower 50%	514	245
73	Dannevirke High School Dannevirke · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	34.1 Lower 50%	501	400
74	Waiouru School Waiouru · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	32.8 Lower 50%	484	93
75	Clifton School (Bulls) Bulls · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	32.7 Lower 50%	487	133
76	Eketāhuna School Eketahuna · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	31.9 Lower 50%	487	99
77	Cloverlea School Cloverlea · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	31.7 Lower 50%	494	247
78	Manunui School Taumarunui · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	31.7 Lower 50%	508	148
79	Rangitīkei College Marton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	31.6 Lower 50%	515	329
80	Ruapehu College Ohakune · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	31.2 Lower 50%	502	246
81	Longburn School Longburn · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	31.0 Lower 50%	489	87
82	TKKM o Te Atihaunui-A-Paparangi Putiki · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	30.7 Lower 50%	507	127
83	TKKM o Manawatu Kelvin Grove · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	30.6 Lower 50%	506	119
84	Whanganui Intermediate Whanganui · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	30.6 Lower 50%	505	415
85	Woodville School Woodville · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	30.4 Lower 50%	507	122
86	Tokomaru School Tokomaru · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	30.3 Lower 50%	490	70
87	James Cook School Marton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	29.0 Lower 50%	499	148
88	Dannevirke South School Dannevirke · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	28.8 Lower 50%	504	270
89	Shannon School Shannon · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	28.1 Lower 50%	517	130
90	Levin North School Levin · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	27.9 Lower 50%	506	244
91	Keith Street School Whanganui · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	27.8 Lower 50%	528	179
92	Taitoko School Levin · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	27.5 Lower 50%	541	241
93	Roslyn School Roslyn · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	26.7 Lower 50%	518	397
94	Foxton Beach School Foxton Beach · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	25.7 Lower 50%	507	110
95	Te Kura o Kokohuia Castlecliff · Composite · Years 1–13	State	25.7 Lower 50%	532	230
96	Turaki School Taumarunui · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	25.7 Lower 50%	512	189
97	Waiopehu College Levin · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13	State	25.5 Lower 50%	513	540
98	Gonville School Gonville · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	25.4 Lower 50%	513	177
99	Coley Street School Foxton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	25.0 Lower 50%	516	219
100	Churton School Aramoho · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	23.4 Lower 50%	516	119

St Johns Hill School in Whanganui leads the 2026 list of state schools in Manawatū-Whanganui with a Success Index (NZ) of 78.4. Of the 100 schools shown, 100 are state.

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 state school in Manawatū-Whanganui?

St Johns Hill School in Whanganui ranks first among state schools in Manawatū-Whanganui with a Success Index (NZ) of 78.4 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 416).

How are state 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.