Best schools in Waikato (2026)
The top five of 305 schools in each category, with links to the full top 100. Rankings use the Success Index (NZ), built only from official New Zealand data.
Waikato has 305 schools educating 88,267 students in 2026: 270 state, 31 state integrated, 4 private.
The median Equity Index (EQI) across Waikato is 474. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
Browse every school in Waikato →
Best primary schools in Waikato
Contributing, full primary, intermediate and composite schools offering Years 1–8.
Hukanui School
Chartwell · State contributing · Years 1–6
899 students
Te Ao Mārama School
Flagstaff-Hamilton · State contributing · Years 1–6
486 students
Goodwood School
Cambridge · State contributing · Years 1–6
448 students
Hillcrest Normal School
Hillcrest · State contributing · Years 1–6
643 students
St Pius X Catholic School (Melville)
Melville · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
277 students
Best secondary schools in Waikato
Secondary and composite schools offering Years 9–13.
Waikato Diocesan School For Girls
Hamilton · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
675 students
Berkley Normal Middle School
Hillcrest · State restricted composite (year 7-10) · Years 7–10
770 students
Rototuna Junior High School
Rototuna · State secondary (year 7-10) · Years 7–13
1,371 students
St John's College (Hillcrest)
Hillcrest · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
933 students
Sacred Heart Girls' College (Ham)
Hamilton East · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
933 students
Best state schools in Waikato
Government schools across all year levels.
Hukanui School
Chartwell · State contributing · Years 1–6
899 students
Te Ao Mārama School
Flagstaff-Hamilton · State contributing · Years 1–6
486 students
Goodwood School
Cambridge · State contributing · Years 1–6
448 students
Hillcrest Normal School
Hillcrest · State contributing · Years 1–6
643 students
Berkley Normal Middle School
Hillcrest · State restricted composite (year 7-10) · Years 7–10
770 students
Best state integrated schools in Waikato
State integrated (mostly church-affiliated) schools.
Waikato Diocesan School For Girls
Hamilton · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
675 students
St Pius X Catholic School (Melville)
Melville · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
277 students
Southcity Christian School
Glenview · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
247 students
St Joseph's Catholic School (Fairfield)
Fairfield · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
346 students
St Peter's Catholic School (Cambridge)
Cambridge · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
202 students
Best girls' schools in Waikato
Single-sex girls' schools.
Waikato Diocesan School For Girls
Hamilton · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
675 students
Sacred Heart Girls' College (Ham)
Hamilton East · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
933 students
Hamilton Girls' High School
Hamilton · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,783 students
Best boys' schools in Waikato
Single-sex boys' schools.
Best secondary schools by ncea level 2 attainment in Waikato
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 Paul's Collegiate (Hamilton)
Chartwell · Private secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
971 students
St Peter's School (Cambridge)
Cambridge · Private secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,223 students
Waikato Diocesan School For Girls
Hamilton · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
675 students
St John's College (Hillcrest)
Hillcrest · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
933 students
Sacred Heart Girls' College (Ham)
Hamilton East · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
933 students
Best secondary schools by university entrance in Waikato
Secondary schools ranked by the percentage of school leavers who attained the University Entrance award (Ministry of Education).
Waikato Diocesan School For Girls
Hamilton · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
675 students
St Peter's School (Cambridge)
Cambridge · Private secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,223 students
St Paul's Collegiate (Hamilton)
Chartwell · Private secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
971 students
Sacred Heart Girls' College (Ham)
Hamilton East · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
933 students
St John's College (Hillcrest)
Hillcrest · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
933 students
Best largest schools in Waikato
Schools with the largest rolls.
Hamilton Boys' High School
Hamilton · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
2,267 students
Hillcrest High School
Hillcrest · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,801 students
Hamilton Girls' High School
Hamilton · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,783 students
Cambridge High School
Cambridge · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,743 students
Fraser High School
Dinsdale · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,420 students
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best primary school in Waikato?
Hukanui School in Chartwell ranks first among primary schools in Waikato with a Success Index (NZ) of 87.7 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 395).
How are primary schools in Waikato 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.