Best schools in Northland (2026)
The top five of 154 schools in each category, with links to the full top 100. Rankings use the Success Index (NZ), built only from official New Zealand data.
Northland has 154 schools educating 31,780 students in 2026: 138 state, 9 state integrated, 6 private, 1 charter.
The median Equity Index (EQI) across Northland is 516. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
Browse every school in Northland →
Best primary schools in Northland
Contributing, full primary, intermediate and composite schools offering Years 1–8.
St Francis Xavier Catholic School (Whangarei)
Whau Valley · State integrated contributing · Years 1–6
466 students
Mangawhai Beach School
Mangawhai · State full primary · Years 1–8
738 students
Whangarei Heads School
Whangarei Heads · State full primary · Years 1–8
148 students
Maungatapere School
Maungatapere · State full primary · Years 1–8
310 students
Hurupaki School
Kamo · State contributing · Years 1–6
335 students
Best secondary schools in Northland
Secondary and composite schools offering Years 9–13.
Pompallier Catholic College
Maunu · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
646 students
Kerikeri High School
Kerikeri · State secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,632 students
Whangārei Girls' High School
Regent · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,496 students
Whangārei Boys' High School
Avenues · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,404 students
Excellere College
Kamo · State integrated composite · Years 1–13
370 students
Best state schools in Northland
Government schools across all year levels.
Mangawhai Beach School
Mangawhai · State full primary · Years 1–8
738 students
Whangarei Heads School
Whangarei Heads · State full primary · Years 1–8
148 students
Maungatapere School
Maungatapere · State full primary · Years 1–8
310 students
Hurupaki School
Kamo · State contributing · Years 1–6
335 students
Maunu School
Maunu · State contributing · Years 1–6
320 students
Best state integrated schools in Northland
State integrated (mostly church-affiliated) schools.
St Francis Xavier Catholic School (Whangarei)
Whau Valley · State integrated contributing · Years 1–6
466 students
Pompallier Catholic College
Maunu · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
646 students
Harvest Christian School
Kerikeri · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
78 students
Pompallier Catholic School
Kaitaia · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
167 students
Excellere College
Kamo · State integrated composite · Years 1–13
370 students
Best girls' schools in Northland
Single-sex girls' schools.
Best boys' schools in Northland
Single-sex boys' schools.
Best secondary schools by ncea level 2 attainment in Northland
Secondary schools ranked by the percentage of school leavers who left with at least NCEA Level 2 (Ministry of Education), for schools with 30 or more leavers.
Huanui College
Glenbervie · Private secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
353 students
Pompallier Catholic College
Maunu · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
646 students
Tauraroa Area School
Maungakaramea · State composite · Years 1–13
425 students
Whangārei Girls' High School
Regent · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,496 students
Otamatea High School
Maungaturoto · State secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
566 students
Best secondary schools by university entrance in Northland
Secondary schools ranked by the percentage of school leavers who attained the University Entrance award (Ministry of Education).
Huanui College
Glenbervie · Private secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
353 students
Pompallier Catholic College
Maunu · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
646 students
Whangārei Girls' High School
Regent · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,496 students
Kerikeri High School
Kerikeri · State secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,632 students
Kaitaia College
Kaitaia · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
700 students
Best largest schools in Northland
Schools with the largest rolls.
Kerikeri High School
Kerikeri · State secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,632 students
Whangārei Girls' High School
Regent · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,496 students
Whangārei Boys' High School
Avenues · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,404 students
Te Kamo High School
Kamo · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
776 students
Mangawhai Beach School
Mangawhai · State full primary · Years 1–8
738 students
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best primary school in Northland?
St Francis Xavier Catholic School (Whangarei) in Whau Valley ranks first among primary schools in Northland with a Success Index (NZ) of 78.3 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 404).
How are primary schools in Northland 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.