Top 61 secondary schools in Waikato (2026)
Secondary and composite schools offering Years 9–13. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 61 schools shown.
- 186Waikato Diocesan School For GirlsHamilton · State integrated Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 391 · 675 students
- 280Berkley Normal Middle SchoolHillcrest · State Restricted Composite (Year 7-10)Equity Index (EQI) 420 · 770 students
- 379Rototuna Junior High SchoolRototuna · State Secondary (Year 7-10)Equity Index (EQI) 428 · 1,371 students
- 477St John's College (Hillcrest)Hillcrest · State integrated Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 428 · 933 students
- 573Sacred Heart Girls' College (Ham)Hamilton East · State integrated Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 439 · 933 students
- 672Hamilton Boys' High SchoolHamilton · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 429 · 2,267 students
- 770Waikato Waldorf School ( Rudolf Steiner)Rototuna · State integrated Composite (Year 1-10)Equity Index (EQI) 424 · 190 students
- 868Waipa Christian SchoolTe Awamutu · State integrated CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 421 · 111 students
- 968Matamata Christian SchoolMatamata · State integrated CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 425 · 142 students
- 1066Hamilton Christian SchoolRototuna North · State integrated CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 413 · 993 students
- 1166Cambridge High SchoolCambridge · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 447 · 1,743 students
- 1266Hamilton Girls' High SchoolHamilton · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 463 · 1,783 students
- 1364Rototuna Senior High SchoolRototuna · State Secondary (Year 11-15)Equity Index (EQI) 451 · 1,008 students
- 1463Cambridge Middle SchoolCambridge · State Restricted Composite (Year 7-10)Equity Index (EQI) 431 · 597 students
- 1562Hillcrest High SchoolHillcrest · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 451 · 1,801 students
- 1658Hauraki Plains CollegeNgatea · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 468 · 846 students
- 1755Taupo-nui-a-Tia CollegeTaupo · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 463 · 1,186 students
- 1854Whangamata Area SchoolWhangamata · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 460 · 561 students
- 1954Raglan Area SchoolRaglan · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 453 · 611 students
- 2052Lake Taupo Christian SchoolTaupo · State integrated CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 464 · 145 students
- 2151Tuakau CollegeTuakau · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 485 · 994 students
- 2247Morrinsville CollegeMorrinsville · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 481 · 745 students
- 2346Tauhara CollegeTaupo · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 486 · 664 students
- 2444Matamata CollegeMatamata · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 479 · 821 students
- 2543Te Awamutu CollegeTe Awamutu · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 481 · 1,278 students
- 2642Onewhero Area SchoolOnewhero · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 467 · 382 students
- 2741Mercury Bay Area SchoolWhitianga · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 465 · 877 students
- 2841Te Aroha CollegeTe Aroha · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 492 · 395 students
- 2939Paeroa CollegePaeroa · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 507 · 315 students
- 3039Ngā Taiātea WharekuraNawton · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 504 · 291 students
- 3139Waihi CollegeWaihi · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 485 · 553 students
- 3236Te Wharekura o RākaumangamangaHuntly · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 516 · 400 students
- 3335Fraser High SchoolDinsdale · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 508 · 1,420 students
- 3435Te Wharekura o KirikiriroaEnderley · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 518 · 325 students
- 3534Thames High SchoolThames · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 489 · 402 students
- 3633Forest View High SchoolTokoroa · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 517 · 425 students
- 3733Te Kuiti High SchoolTe Kuiti · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 522 · 297 students
- 3832Te Wharekura o ManaiaManaia · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 521 · 267 students
- 3931Te Wharekura o Nga Purapura o Te ArohaTe Awamutu · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 505 · 96 students
- 4030Te Kōpuku HighTe Rapa · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 525 · 348 students
- 4130Ōtorohanga CollegeOtorohanga · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 515 · 359 students
- 4230Te Kauwhata CollegeTe Kauwhata · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 500 · 500 students
- 4327Te Wharekura o Te Kaokaoroa o PateterePutaruru · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 523 · 290 students
- 4427Putāruru CollegePutaruru · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 518 · 397 students
- 4527Tai WanangaHamilton · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 526 · 165 students
- 4627TKKM o Te HiringaTokoroa · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 525 · 135 students
- 4726TKKM o Whakarewa I Te Reo Ki TuwharetoaTaupo · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 516 · 194 students
- 4825Te Kura o HirangiTurangi · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 535 · 270 students
- 4925Fairfield CollegeChartwell · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 527 · 929 students
- 5024Piopio CollegePiopio · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 499 · 154 students
- 5124Reporoa CollegeReporoa · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 519 · 207 students
- 5223Tokoroa High SchoolTokoroa · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 525 · 491 students
- 5322St Andrews Middle SchoolTe Rapa · State Restricted Composite (Year 7-10)Equity Index (EQI) 541 · 137 students
- 5421Ngaruawahia High SchoolNgaruawahia · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 534 · 352 students
- 5520Te Kura o WaitahanuiWaitahanui · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 527 · 102 students
- 5620Te Wharekura o Te Rau ArohaWaitoa · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 539 · 140 students
- 5720Te Wharekura o ManiapotoTe Kuiti · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 527 · 126 students
- 5820Coromandel Area SchoolCoromandel · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 512 · 209 students
- 5918Mangakōtukutuku CollegeGlenview · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 529 · 755 students
- 609Tongariro SchoolTurangi · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 546 · 367 students
- 618Huntly CollegeHuntly · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 552 · 205 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waikato Diocesan School For Girls Hamilton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State integrated | 86.0 Top 5% | 391 | 675 |
| 2 | Berkley Normal Middle School Hillcrest · Restricted Composite (Year 7-10) · Years 7–10 | State | 79.6 Top 10% | 420 | 770 |
| 3 | Rototuna Junior High School Rototuna · Secondary (Year 7-10) · Years 7–13 | State | 78.9 Top 25% | 428 | 1,371 |
| 4 | St John's College (Hillcrest) Hillcrest · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State integrated | 77.1 Top 25% | 428 | 933 |
| 5 | Sacred Heart Girls' College (Ham) Hamilton East · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State integrated | 73.0 Top 25% | 439 | 933 |
| 6 | Hamilton Boys' High School Hamilton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 72.4 Top 25% | 429 | 2,267 |
| 7 | Waikato Waldorf School ( Rudolf Steiner) Rototuna · Composite (Year 1-10) · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 69.8 Top 25% | 424 | 190 |
| 8 | Waipa Christian School Te Awamutu · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 68.2 Top 25% | 421 | 111 |
| 9 | Matamata Christian School Matamata · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 68.1 Top 25% | 425 | 142 |
| 10 | Hamilton Christian School Rototuna North · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 66.4 Top 50% | 413 | 993 |
| 11 | Cambridge High School Cambridge · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 66.3 Top 50% | 447 | 1,743 |
| 12 | Hamilton Girls' High School Hamilton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 66.3 Top 50% | 463 | 1,783 |
| 13 | Rototuna Senior High School Rototuna · Secondary (Year 11-15) | State | 64.0 Top 50% | 451 | 1,008 |
| 14 | Cambridge Middle School Cambridge · Restricted Composite (Year 7-10) · Years 7–10 | State | 62.9 Top 50% | 431 | 597 |
| 15 | Hillcrest High School Hillcrest · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 61.8 Top 50% | 451 | 1,801 |
| 16 | Hauraki Plains College Ngatea · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 58.3 Top 50% | 468 | 846 |
| 17 | Taupo-nui-a-Tia College Taupo · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 55.0 Top 50% | 463 | 1,186 |
| 18 | Whangamata Area School Whangamata · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 54.2 Top 50% | 460 | 561 |
| 19 | Raglan Area School Raglan · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 53.5 Top 50% | 453 | 611 |
| 20 | Lake Taupo Christian School Taupo · Composite · Years 1–13 | State integrated | 52.1 Top 50% | 464 | 145 |
| 21 | Tuakau College Tuakau · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 50.5 Top 50% | 485 | 994 |
| 22 | Morrinsville College Morrinsville · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 46.9 Lower 50% | 481 | 745 |
| 23 | Tauhara College Taupo · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 45.7 Lower 50% | 486 | 664 |
| 24 | Matamata College Matamata · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 43.9 Lower 50% | 479 | 821 |
| 25 | Te Awamutu College Te Awamutu · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 42.6 Lower 50% | 481 | 1,278 |
| 26 | Onewhero Area School Onewhero · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 42.3 Lower 50% | 467 | 382 |
| 27 | Mercury Bay Area School Whitianga · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 41.1 Lower 50% | 465 | 877 |
| 28 | Te Aroha College Te Aroha · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 40.5 Lower 50% | 492 | 395 |
| 29 | Paeroa College Paeroa · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 39.2 Lower 50% | 507 | 315 |
| 30 | Ngā Taiātea Wharekura Nawton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 39.1 Lower 50% | 504 | 291 |
| 31 | Waihi College Waihi · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 38.8 Lower 50% | 485 | 553 |
| 32 | Te Wharekura o Rākaumangamanga Huntly · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 36.2 Lower 50% | 516 | 400 |
| 33 | Fraser High School Dinsdale · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 35.2 Lower 50% | 508 | 1,420 |
| 34 | Te Wharekura o Kirikiriroa Enderley · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 35.0 Lower 50% | 518 | 325 |
| 35 | Thames High School Thames · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 34.2 Lower 50% | 489 | 402 |
| 36 | Forest View High School Tokoroa · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 32.8 Lower 50% | 517 | 425 |
| 37 | Te Kuiti High School Te Kuiti · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 32.7 Lower 50% | 522 | 297 |
| 38 | Te Wharekura o Manaia Manaia · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 32.4 Lower 50% | 521 | 267 |
| 39 | Te Wharekura o Nga Purapura o Te Aroha Te Awamutu · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 30.6 Lower 50% | 505 | 96 |
| 40 | Te Kōpuku High Te Rapa · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 30.2 Lower 50% | 525 | 348 |
| 41 | Ōtorohanga College Otorohanga · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 29.5 Lower 50% | 515 | 359 |
| 42 | Te Kauwhata College Te Kauwhata · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 29.5 Lower 50% | 500 | 500 |
| 43 | Te Wharekura o Te Kaokaoroa o Patetere Putaruru · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 27.1 Lower 50% | 523 | 290 |
| 44 | Putāruru College Putaruru · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 26.6 Lower 50% | 518 | 397 |
| 45 | Tai Wananga Hamilton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 26.5 Lower 50% | 526 | 165 |
| 46 | TKKM o Te Hiringa Tokoroa · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 26.5 Lower 50% | 525 | 135 |
| 47 | TKKM o Whakarewa I Te Reo Ki Tuwharetoa Taupo · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 25.9 Lower 50% | 516 | 194 |
| 48 | Te Kura o Hirangi Turangi · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 25.4 Lower 50% | 535 | 270 |
| 49 | Fairfield College Chartwell · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 25.1 Lower 50% | 527 | 929 |
| 50 | Piopio College Piopio · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 23.8 Lower 50% | 499 | 154 |
| 51 | Reporoa College Reporoa · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 23.6 Lower 50% | 519 | 207 |
| 52 | Tokoroa High School Tokoroa · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 23.2 Lower 50% | 525 | 491 |
| 53 | St Andrews Middle School Te Rapa · Restricted Composite (Year 7-10) · Years 7–10 | State | 22.4 Lower 50% | 541 | 137 |
| 54 | Ngaruawahia High School Ngaruawahia · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 21.2 Lower 50% | 534 | 352 |
| 55 | Te Kura o Waitahanui Waitahanui · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 20.4 Lower 50% | 527 | 102 |
| 56 | Te Wharekura o Te Rau Aroha Waitoa · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 20.4 Lower 50% | 539 | 140 |
| 57 | Te Wharekura o Maniapoto Te Kuiti · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 20.2 Lower 50% | 527 | 126 |
| 58 | Coromandel Area School Coromandel · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 19.8 Lower 50% | 512 | 209 |
| 59 | Mangakōtukutuku College Glenview · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 17.7 Lower 50% | 529 | 755 |
| 60 | Tongariro School Turangi · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 9.4 Lower 50% | 546 | 367 |
| 61 | Huntly College Huntly · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 7.8 Lower 50% | 552 | 205 |
Waikato Diocesan School For Girls in Hamilton leads the 2026 list of secondary schools in Waikato with a Success Index (NZ) of 86.0. Of the 61 schools shown, 53 are state, 8 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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Secondary Schools in:New ZealandNorthlandAucklandBay of PlentyGisborneHawke's BayTaranakiManawatū-WhanganuiWellingtonTasmanNelsonMarlboroughWest CoastCanterburyOtagoSouthlandChatham Islands
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best secondary school in Waikato?
Waikato Diocesan School For Girls in Hamilton ranks first among secondary schools in Waikato with a Success Index (NZ) of 86.0 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 391).
How are secondary 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.