St Mary's Catholic School (Tauranga) vs Tauranga Special School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, 1.1 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
St Mary's Catholic School (Tauranga)
Tauranga ยท State integrated contributing ยท Years 1โ6
474 students
Tauranga Special School
Tauranga South ยท State special school
134 students
| Measure | St Mary's Catholic School (Tauranga) Tauranga, Bay of Plenty | Tauranga Special School Tauranga South, Bay of Plenty |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 88 Top 5% | โ Not rated |
| Region rank | #1 of 101 | โ |
| National rank | #30 of 1,559 | โ |
| Sector | State integrated | State |
| Type | Contributing | Special School |
| Year range | Years 1โ6 | โ |
| Students | 474 | 134 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 385 | 499 |
| Total roll | 474 | 134 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | 7% | 24.5% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | โ | โ |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | โ | โ |
| Leavers with University Entrance | โ | โ |
| Mฤori students | 6.1% | 44% |
| Pacific students | 3% | 11.2% |
| International students | 1.1% | 0% |
| suburb or town | Tauranga | Tauranga South |
| region | Bay of Plenty | Bay of Plenty |
| Website | www.stmarystga.school.nz/ | www.taurangaspecialschool.nz |
The verdict
- โขSt Mary's Catholic School (Tauranga) does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (385 vs 499).
- โขSt Mary's Catholic School (Tauranga) does better on roll size (474 vs 134).
- โขTauranga Special School does better on roll growth (5 years) (24.5% vs 7%).
- โขSt Mary's Catholic School (Tauranga) is the larger school with 474 students compared with 134.
- โขSt Mary's Catholic School (Tauranga) is a state integrated school while Tauranga Special School is a state school, so fees and admission rules differ.
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 St Mary's Catholic School (Tauranga) better than Tauranga Special School?
The two schools are very close on the Success Index (NZ). Differences in sector, size, programmes and distance from home will matter more than the score.
How far apart are St Mary's Catholic School (Tauranga) and Tauranga Special School?
About 1.1 km in a straight line, between Tauranga and Tauranga South in Bay of Plenty.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
St Mary's Catholic School (Tauranga): 385. Tauranga Special School: 499. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do St Mary's Catholic School (Tauranga) and Tauranga Special School rank in Bay of Plenty?
St Mary's Catholic School (Tauranga) is 1st of 101 and Tauranga Special School is unranked among contributing schools in Bay of Plenty on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).