Top 16 secondary schools in Taranaki (2026)
Secondary and composite schools offering Years 9–13. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 16 schools shown.
- 181Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth)Fitzroy · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 414 · 729 students
- 272Francis Douglas Memorial CollegeWestown · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 418 · 779 students
- 365New Plymouth Boys' High SchoolNew Plymouth · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 446 · 1,457 students
- 463New Plymouth Girls' High SchoolNew Plymouth · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 447 · 1,290 students
- 561Taranaki Diocesan School for GirlsStratford · State integrated Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 461 · 99 students
- 642Opunake High SchoolOpunake · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 503 · 315 students
- 742Spotswood CollegeNew Plymouth · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 493 · 905 students
- 841Inglewood High SchoolInglewood · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 478 · 530 students
- 940Coastal Taranaki SchoolOkato · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 478 · 243 students
- 1038Te Paepae o AoteaHāwera · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 509 · 863 students
- 1137Stratford High SchoolStratford · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 500 · 696 students
- 1232Te Pi'ipi'inga Kakano Mai I RangiateaSpotswood · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 514 · 132 students
- 1330Waitara High SchoolWaitara · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 524 · 423 students
- 1428Te Kura o Nga Ruahine RangiMangatoki · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 531 · 64 students
- 1525Patea Area SchoolPatea · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 541 · 184 students
- 1624TKKM o Ngati RuanuiHāwera · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 531 · 150 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth) Fitzroy · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 80.7 Top 10% | 414 | 729 |
| 2 | Francis Douglas Memorial College Westown · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 71.9 Top 25% | 418 | 779 |
| 3 | New Plymouth Boys' High School New Plymouth · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 65.0 Top 50% | 446 | 1,457 |
| 4 | New Plymouth Girls' High School New Plymouth · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 63.3 Top 50% | 447 | 1,290 |
| 5 | Taranaki Diocesan School for Girls Stratford · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State integrated | 61.2 Top 50% | 461 | 99 |
| 6 | Opunake High School Opunake · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 42.3 Lower 50% | 503 | 315 |
| 7 | Spotswood College New Plymouth · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 41.9 Lower 50% | 493 | 905 |
| 8 | Inglewood High School Inglewood · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 41.4 Lower 50% | 478 | 530 |
| 9 | Coastal Taranaki School Okato · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 40.1 Lower 50% | 478 | 243 |
| 10 | Te Paepae o Aotea Hāwera · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 37.6 Lower 50% | 509 | 863 |
| 11 | Stratford High School Stratford · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 37.3 Lower 50% | 500 | 696 |
| 12 | Te Pi'ipi'inga Kakano Mai I Rangiatea Spotswood · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 32.4 Lower 50% | 514 | 132 |
| 13 | Waitara High School Waitara · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 30.4 Lower 50% | 524 | 423 |
| 14 | Te Kura o Nga Ruahine Rangi Mangatoki · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 28.3 Lower 50% | 531 | 64 |
| 15 | Patea Area School Patea · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 25.0 Lower 50% | 541 | 184 |
| 16 | TKKM o Ngati Ruanui Hāwera · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 23.9 Lower 50% | 531 | 150 |
Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth) in Fitzroy leads the 2026 list of secondary schools in Taranaki with a Success Index (NZ) of 80.7. Of the 16 schools shown, 13 are state, 3 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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Frequently asked questions
What is the best secondary school in Taranaki?
Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth) in Fitzroy ranks first among secondary schools in Taranaki with a Success Index (NZ) of 80.7 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 414).
How are secondary 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.