Top 7 secondary schools in West Coast (2026)
Secondary and composite schools offering Years 9–13. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 7 schools shown.
- 151Karamea Area SchoolKaramea · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 464 · 95 students
- 250John Paul II High SchoolGreymouth · State integrated Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 452 · 184 students
- 348Westland High SchoolHokitika · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 475 · 392 students
- 440South Westland Area SchoolHarihari · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 480 · 117 students
- 539Buller High SchoolWestport · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 487 · 348 students
- 637Greymouth High SchoolGreymouth · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 489 · 515 students
- 737Reefton Area SchoolReefton · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 504 · 172 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karamea Area School Karamea · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 50.5 Top 50% | 464 | 95 |
| 2 | John Paul II High School Greymouth · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State integrated | 49.6 Top 50% | 452 | 184 |
| 3 | Westland High School Hokitika · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 47.5 Lower 50% | 475 | 392 |
| 4 | South Westland Area School Harihari · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 40.4 Lower 50% | 480 | 117 |
| 5 | Buller High School Westport · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 39.4 Lower 50% | 487 | 348 |
| 6 | Greymouth High School Greymouth · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 37.3 Lower 50% | 489 | 515 |
| 7 | Reefton Area School Reefton · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 37.0 Lower 50% | 504 | 172 |
Karamea Area School in Karamea leads the 2026 list of secondary schools in West Coast with a Success Index (NZ) of 50.5. Of the 7 schools shown, 6 are state, 1 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 West Coast?
Karamea Area School in Karamea ranks first among secondary schools in West Coast with a Success Index (NZ) of 50.5 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 464).
How are secondary schools in West Coast 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.