Best schools in Taranaki (2026)
The top five of 94 schools in each category, with links to the full top 100. Rankings use the Success Index (NZ), built only from official New Zealand data.
Taranaki has 94 schools educating 21,581 students in 2026: 78 state, 15 state integrated, 1 private.
The median Equity Index (EQI) across Taranaki is 473. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
Browse every school in Taranaki →
Best primary schools in Taranaki
Contributing, full primary, intermediate and composite schools offering Years 1–8.
Oakura School
New Plymouth · State full primary · Years 1–8
376 students
St Pius X School (New Plymouth)
New Plymouth · State integrated contributing · Years 1–6
188 students
Fitzroy School
Fitzroy · State contributing · Years 1–6
443 students
Ōmata School
Omata · State full primary · Years 1–8
207 students
St Joseph's School (New Plymouth)
New Plymouth · State integrated contributing · Years 1–6
286 students
Best secondary schools in Taranaki
Secondary and composite schools offering Years 9–13.
Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth)
Fitzroy · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
729 students
Francis Douglas Memorial College
Westown · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
779 students
New Plymouth Boys' High School
New Plymouth · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,457 students
New Plymouth Girls' High School
New Plymouth · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,290 students
Taranaki Diocesan School for Girls
Stratford · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
99 students
Best state schools in Taranaki
Government schools across all year levels.
Oakura School
New Plymouth · State full primary · Years 1–8
376 students
Fitzroy School
Fitzroy · State contributing · Years 1–6
443 students
Ōmata School
Omata · State full primary · Years 1–8
207 students
Woodleigh School
New Plymouth · State contributing · Years 1–6
437 students
Bell Block School
Bell Block · State full primary · Years 1–8
473 students
Best state integrated schools in Taranaki
State integrated (mostly church-affiliated) schools.
Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth)
Fitzroy · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
729 students
St Pius X School (New Plymouth)
New Plymouth · State integrated contributing · Years 1–6
188 students
St Joseph's School (New Plymouth)
New Plymouth · State integrated contributing · Years 1–6
286 students
St John Bosco School (New Plymouth)
New Plymouth · State integrated contributing · Years 1–6
268 students
Francis Douglas Memorial College
Westown · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
779 students
Best girls' schools in Taranaki
Single-sex girls' schools.
Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth)
Fitzroy · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
729 students
New Plymouth Girls' High School
New Plymouth · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,290 students
Taranaki Diocesan School for Girls
Stratford · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
99 students
Best boys' schools in Taranaki
Single-sex boys' schools.
Best secondary schools by ncea level 2 attainment in Taranaki
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.
Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth)
Fitzroy · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
729 students
Francis Douglas Memorial College
Westown · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
779 students
New Plymouth Girls' High School
New Plymouth · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,290 students
New Plymouth Boys' High School
New Plymouth · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,457 students
Opunake High School
Opunake · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
315 students
Best secondary schools by university entrance in Taranaki
Secondary schools ranked by the percentage of school leavers who attained the University Entrance award (Ministry of Education).
Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth)
Fitzroy · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
729 students
Francis Douglas Memorial College
Westown · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
779 students
New Plymouth Girls' High School
New Plymouth · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,290 students
New Plymouth Boys' High School
New Plymouth · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,457 students
Te Kura o Nga Ruahine Rangi
Mangatoki · State composite · Years 1–13
64 students
Best largest schools in Taranaki
Schools with the largest rolls.
New Plymouth Boys' High School
New Plymouth · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,457 students
New Plymouth Girls' High School
New Plymouth · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,290 students
Spotswood College
New Plymouth · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
905 students
Te Paepae o Aotea
Hāwera · State secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
863 students
Francis Douglas Memorial College
Westown · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
779 students
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best primary school in Taranaki?
Oakura School in New Plymouth ranks first among primary schools in Taranaki with a Success Index (NZ) of 81.1 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 390).
How are primary schools in Taranaki 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.