Best schools in Otago (2026)
The top five of 146 schools in each category, with links to the full top 100. Rankings use the Success Index (NZ), built only from official New Zealand data.
Otago has 146 schools educating 34,962 students in 2026: 121 state, 23 state integrated, 2 private.
The median Equity Index (EQI) across Otago is 441. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
Browse every school in Otago →
Best primary schools in Otago
Contributing, full primary, intermediate and composite schools offering Years 1–8.
Shotover Primary School
Queenstown · State full primary · Years 1–8
580 students
Māori Hill School
Maori Hill · State contributing · Years 1–6
247 students
Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau
Queenstown · State full primary · Years 1–8
566 students
Te Kura O Take Kārara
Wanaka · State contributing · Years 1–6
331 students
Hāwea Flat School
Hawea Flat · State contributing · Years 1–6
417 students
Best secondary schools in Otago
Secondary and composite schools offering Years 9–13.
Wakatipu High School
Frankton · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,552 students
Mt Aspiring College
Wanaka · State secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,315 students
Columba College
Roslyn · State integrated composite · Years 1–13
607 students
St Hildas Collegiate
Dunedin · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
464 students
John McGlashan College
Maori Hill · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
526 students
Best state schools in Otago
Government schools across all year levels.
Shotover Primary School
Queenstown · State full primary · Years 1–8
580 students
Māori Hill School
Maori Hill · State contributing · Years 1–6
247 students
Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau
Queenstown · State full primary · Years 1–8
566 students
Te Kura O Take Kārara
Wanaka · State contributing · Years 1–6
331 students
Wakatipu High School
Frankton · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,552 students
Best state integrated schools in Otago
State integrated (mostly church-affiliated) schools.
Columba College
Roslyn · State integrated composite · Years 1–13
607 students
St Hildas Collegiate
Dunedin · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
464 students
Liberton Christian School
Pine Hill · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
140 students
John McGlashan College
Maori Hill · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
526 students
St Joseph's School (Queenstown)
Queenstown · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
130 students
Best girls' schools in Otago
Single-sex girls' schools.
Columba College
Roslyn · State integrated composite · Years 1–13
607 students
St Hildas Collegiate
Dunedin · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
464 students
Otago Girls' High School
Dunedin · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
715 students
Queen's High School
St Clair · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
588 students
Waitaki Girls' High School
Oamaru · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
399 students
Best boys' schools in Otago
Single-sex boys' schools.
John McGlashan College
Maori Hill · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
526 students
Otago Boys' High School
Dunedin · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
853 students
Kings High School (Dunedin)
Dunedin · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
876 students
Waitaki Boys' High School
Oamaru · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
418 students
Best secondary schools by ncea level 2 attainment in Otago
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.
St Hildas Collegiate
Dunedin · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
464 students
Columba College
Roslyn · State integrated composite · Years 1–13
607 students
John McGlashan College
Maori Hill · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
526 students
Wakatipu High School
Frankton · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,552 students
Mt Aspiring College
Wanaka · State secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,315 students
Best secondary schools by university entrance in Otago
Secondary schools ranked by the percentage of school leavers who attained the University Entrance award (Ministry of Education).
St Hildas Collegiate
Dunedin · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
464 students
Columba College
Roslyn · State integrated composite · Years 1–13
607 students
John McGlashan College
Maori Hill · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
526 students
Wakatipu High School
Frankton · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,552 students
Otago Girls' High School
Dunedin · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
715 students
Best largest schools in Otago
Schools with the largest rolls.
Wakatipu High School
Frankton · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,552 students
Mt Aspiring College
Wanaka · State secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,315 students
Taieri College
Mosgiel · State secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,202 students
Kings High School (Dunedin)
Dunedin · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
876 students
Trinity Catholic College
City Rise · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
868 students
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best primary school in Otago?
Shotover Primary School in Queenstown ranks first among primary schools in Otago with a Success Index (NZ) of 86.4 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 396).
How are primary schools in Otago 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.