Top 91 primary schools in Otago (2026)

Contributing, full primary, intermediate and composite schools offering Years 1–8. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 91 schools shown.

#	School	Sector	Success Index (NZ)	Equity Index (EQI)	Students
1	Shotover Primary School Queenstown · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	86.4 Top 5%	396	580
2	Māori Hill School Maori Hill · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	85.3 Top 5%	373	247
3	Te Kura Whakatipu o Kawarau Queenstown · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	83.6 Top 5%	405	566
4	Te Kura O Take Kārara Wanaka · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	80.6 Top 10%	405	331
5	Hāwea Flat School Hawea Flat · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	80.0 Top 10%	412	417
6	Columba College Roslyn · Composite · Years 1–13	State integrated	79.3 Top 25%	391	607
7	Liberton Christian School Pine Hill · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	79.0 Top 10%	379	140
8	Fairfield School (Dunedin) Fairfield · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	78.3 Top 25%	420	513
9	Wanaka Primary School Wanaka · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	75.9 Top 25%	393	524
10	St Joseph's School (Queenstown) Queenstown · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	75.6 Top 25%	393	130
11	Arrowtown School Arrowtown · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	74.4 Top 25%	395	454
12	Cromwell Primary School Cromwell · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	74.3 Top 25%	426	417
13	Holy Family School (Wanaka) Wanaka · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	73.5 Top 25%	387	212
14	Remarkables Primary School Frankton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	73.5 Top 25%	397	426
15	Queenstown Primary School Queenstown · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	73.1 Top 25%	402	522
16	Macandrew Bay School Macandrew Bay · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	72.3 Top 25%	387	133
17	Kaikorai School Roslyn · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	71.6 Top 25%	397	317
18	St Francis Xavier School (Mornington) Mornington · Contributing · Years 1–6	State integrated	71.5 Top 25%	387	96
19	Grants Braes School Waverley · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	71.4 Top 25%	395	215
20	George Street Normal School Dunedin · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	71.3 Top 25%	403	399
21	St John's School (Ranfurly) Ranfurly · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	71.3 Top 25%	395	67
22	St Mary's School (Mosgiel) Mosgiel · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	71.3 Top 25%	408	134
23	Goldfields School (Cromwell) Cromwell · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	70.9 Top 25%	431	338
24	East Taieri School East Taieri · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	70.7 Top 25%	401	329
25	St Gerard's School (Alexandra) Alexandra · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	70.5 Top 25%	415	165
26	Clyde School Clyde · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	69.4 Top 25%	420	174
27	St Joseph's Cathedral School City Rise · Contributing · Years 1–6	State integrated	68.9 Top 25%	401	158
28	St Mary's School (Dunedin) Wakari · Contributing · Years 1–6	State integrated	68.5 Top 25%	403	60
29	Andersons Bay School Andersons Bay · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	68.2 Top 25%	409	322
30	St Bernadette's School (Forbury) Dunedin · Contributing · Years 1–6	State integrated	67.9 Top 25%	425	188
31	St Brigids School (Tainui) Andersons Bay · Contributing · Years 1–6	State integrated	67.8 Top 25%	399	80
32	Dunedin North Intermediate Dunedin · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	66.9 Top 25%	435	269
33	St Joseph's School (Balclutha) Balclutha · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	66.9 Top 25%	410	67
34	Kingsview School Frankton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	66.8 Top 25%	403	90
35	Ōpoho School Opoho · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	65.5 Top 50%	410	123
36	Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School Maia · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	64.9 Top 50%	418	80
37	Balmacewen Intermediate Wakari · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	64.5 Top 50%	425	476
38	St Clair School St Clair · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	64.4 Top 50%	422	371
39	Wakari School Wakari · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	61.7 Top 50%	440	314
40	Arthur Street School City Rise · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	61.6 Top 50%	424	201
41	Outram School Outram · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	61.1 Top 50%	440	192
42	Maheno School Maheno · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	60.3 Top 50%	430	95
43	Balaclava School Balaclava · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	60.1 Top 50%	428	260
44	Big Rock Primary School Brighton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	59.2 Top 50%	433	99
45	Alexandra Primary School Alexandra · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	58.1 Top 50%	447	208
46	Warepa School Balclutha · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	57.6 Top 50%	433	70
47	Weston School Weston · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	57.2 Top 50%	434	240
48	Tahuna Normal Intermediate Musselburgh · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	56.6 Top 50%	442	499
49	Sawyers Bay School Sawyers Bay · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	56.4 Top 50%	432	116
50	Abbotsford School Karaka · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	55.8 Top 50%	438	290
51	Mornington School Mornington · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	55.0 Top 50%	439	247
52	St Joseph's School (Oamaru) Oamaru · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State integrated	54.9 Top 50%	437	149
53	Tainui School Tainui · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	53.9 Top 50%	441	262
54	Heriot School Heriot · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	53.5 Top 50%	441	67
55	Romahapa School Balclutha · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	52.7 Top 50%	438	66
56	The Terrace School (Alexandra) Alexandra · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	52.0 Top 50%	445	291
57	Waikouaiti School Waikouaiti · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	52.0 Top 50%	440	92
58	Omakau School Omakau · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	50.5 Top 50%	449	88
59	Clutha Valley School Greenfield · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	49.8 Top 50%	445	114
60	Silverstream (South) Primary School Mosgiel · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	49.7 Top 50%	477	337
61	Lawrence Area School Lawrence · Composite · Years 1–13	State	49.4 Top 50%	460	129
62	Five Forks School Waitaki · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	49.2 Lower 50%	449	63
63	Tapanui School Tapanui · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	49.1 Lower 50%	445	72
64	The Catlins Area School Owaka · Composite · Years 1–13	State	48.8 Top 50%	470	127
65	North East Valley Normal School North East Valley · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	48.7 Lower 50%	450	193
66	Papakaio School Oamaru · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	48.0 Lower 50%	449	123
67	Clinton School Clinton · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	47.9 Lower 50%	447	67
68	Port Chalmers School Port Chalmers · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	47.6 Lower 50%	448	82
69	Ardgowan School Oamaru · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	46.3 Lower 50%	453	131
70	Elmgrove School Mosgiel · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	45.6 Lower 50%	460	309
71	Balclutha School Balclutha · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	44.1 Lower 50%	481	220
72	Maniototo Area School Ranfurly · Composite · Years 1–13	State	44.0 Lower 50%	470	139
73	Fenwick School South Hill · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	43.0 Lower 50%	465	287
74	Roxburgh Area School Roxburgh · Composite · Years 1–13	State	42.8 Lower 50%	473	121
75	Palmerston School Palmerston · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	42.6 Lower 50%	461	103
76	Rosebank School (Balclutha) Balclutha · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	42.6 Lower 50%	465	216
77	Stirling School Stirling · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	41.5 Lower 50%	469	79
78	St Mary's School (Milton) Milton · Contributing · Years 1–6	State integrated	40.0 Lower 50%	465	65
79	Oamaru Intermediate Oamaru · Intermediate · Years 7–8	State	37.9 Lower 50%	477	291
80	Carisbrook School Caversham · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	36.5 Lower 50%	520	348
81	Bradford School Bradford · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	36.3 Lower 50%	475	102
82	Te Pākihi o Maru Oamaru · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	32.5 Lower 50%	502	130
83	Green Island School Green Island · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	31.6 Lower 50%	490	136
84	Pembroke School (Oamaru) Oamaru · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	31.0 Lower 50%	496	232
85	Milton School Milton · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	30.4 Lower 50%	492	109
86	Kaitangata School Kaitangata · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	28.9 Lower 50%	496	101
87	Musselburgh School Musselburgh · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	28.6 Lower 50%	500	141
88	Concord School Concord · Contributing · Years 1–6	State	27.7 Lower 50%	498	64
89	Bathgate Park School South Dunedin · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	24.9 Lower 50%	510	124
90	Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rau Toroa Fairfield · Composite · Years 1–13	State	23.7 Lower 50%	527	90
91	Brockville School Brockville · Full Primary · Years 1–8	State	20.2 Lower 50%	528	131

Shotover Primary School in Queenstown leads the 2026 list of primary schools in Otago with a Success Index (NZ) of 86.4. Of the 91 schools shown, 74 are state, 17 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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Primary Schools in:New Zealand Northland Auckland Waikato Bay of Plenty Gisborne Hawke's Bay Taranaki Manawatū-Whanganui Wellington Tasman Nelson Marlborough West Coast Canterbury Southland Chatham Islands

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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.