Ponsonby Primary School vs St Mary's College (Ponsonby)
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Auckland, New Zealand, 930 m apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Ponsonby Primary School
Herne Bay · State contributing · Years 1–6
329 students
St Mary's College (Ponsonby)
Ponsonby · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
1,005 students
| Measure | Ponsonby Primary School Herne Bay, Auckland | St Mary's College (Ponsonby) Ponsonby, Auckland |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 79 Top 25% | 81 Top 10% |
| Region rank | #109 of 390 | #23 of 101 |
| National rank | #187 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 | 329 | 1,005 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 364 | 388 |
| Total roll | 329 | 1,005 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | -28.9% | -4.9% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | 96.9% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | 91.6% |
| Māori students | 4% | 12% |
| Pacific students | 1.5% | 25.6% |
| International students | 0.9% | 5.3% |
| suburb or town | Herne Bay | Ponsonby |
| region | Auckland | Auckland |
| Website | www.ponsprim.school.nz | www.stmaryak.school.nz |
The verdict
- •St Mary's College (Ponsonby) scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (80.6 vs 78.5).
- •Ponsonby Primary School does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (364 vs 388).
- •St Mary's College (Ponsonby) does better on roll size (1,005 vs 329).
- •St Mary's College (Ponsonby) does better on roll growth (5 years) (-4.9% vs -28.9%).
- •St Mary's College (Ponsonby) is the larger school with 1,005 students compared with 329.
- •Ponsonby Primary School is a state school while St Mary's College (Ponsonby) is a state integrated school, so fees and admission rules differ.
- •Ponsonby Primary 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 Ponsonby Primary School better than St Mary's College (Ponsonby)?
On the Success Index (NZ), St Mary's College (Ponsonby) ranks higher (80.6 vs 78.5 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 Ponsonby Primary School and St Mary's College (Ponsonby)?
About 930 m in a straight line, between Herne Bay and Ponsonby in Auckland.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Ponsonby Primary School: 364. St Mary's College (Ponsonby): 388. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Ponsonby Primary School and St Mary's College (Ponsonby) rank in Auckland?
Ponsonby Primary School is 109th of 390 and St Mary's College (Ponsonby) is 23rd of 101 among contributing schools in Auckland on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).