Freemans Bay School vs St Mary's College (Ponsonby)
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Auckland, New Zealand, 786 m apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Freemans Bay School
Freemans Bay · State contributing · Years 1–6
646 students
St Mary's College (Ponsonby)
Ponsonby · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,005 students
| Measure | Freemans Bay School Freemans Bay, Auckland | St Mary's College (Ponsonby) Ponsonby, Auckland |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 83 Top 5% | 81 Top 10% |
| Region rank | #45 of 390 | #23 of 101 |
| National rank | #75 of 1,559 | #38 of 486 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Contributing | Secondary (Year 7-15) |
| Year range | Years 1–6 | Years 7–13 |
| Students | 646 | 1,005 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 408 | 388 |
| Total roll | 646 | 1,005 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | 7.8% | -4.9% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | 96.9% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | 91.6% |
| Māori students | 9.3% | 12% |
| Pacific students | 6% | 25.6% |
| International students | 2% | 5.3% |
| suburb or town | Freemans Bay | Ponsonby |
| region | Auckland | Auckland |
| Website | www.freemansbay.school.nz | www.stmaryak.school.nz |
The verdict
- •Freemans Bay School scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (83.3 vs 80.6).
- •St Mary's College (Ponsonby) does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (388 vs 408).
- •St Mary's College (Ponsonby) does better on roll size (1,005 vs 646).
- •Freemans Bay School does better on roll growth (5 years) (7.8% vs -4.9%).
- •St Mary's College (Ponsonby) is the larger school with 1,005 students compared with 646.
- •Freemans Bay School is a state school while St Mary's College (Ponsonby) is a state integrated school, so fees and admission rules differ.
- •Freemans Bay School is co-educational and St Mary's College (Ponsonby) is girls.
The Success Index (NZ) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Freemans Bay School better than St Mary's College (Ponsonby)?
On the Success Index (NZ), Freemans Bay School ranks higher (83.3 vs 80.6 out of 100). The index is built from published results and context data, not from teaching quality or fit, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Freemans Bay School and St Mary's College (Ponsonby)?
About 786 m in a straight line, between Freemans Bay and Ponsonby in Auckland.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Freemans Bay School: 408. St Mary's College (Ponsonby): 388. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Freemans Bay School and St Mary's College (Ponsonby) rank in Auckland?
Freemans Bay School is 45th of 390 and St Mary's College (Ponsonby) is 23rd of 101 among contributing schools in Auckland on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).