St Michael's Catholic School (Rotorua) vs Sunset Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two contributing schools in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, 899 m apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
St Michael's Catholic School (Rotorua)
Western Heights · State integrated contributing · Years 1–6
110 students
Sunset Primary School
Fordlands · State contributing · Years 1–6
169 students
| Measure | St Michael's Catholic School (Rotorua) Western Heights, Bay of Plenty | Sunset Primary School Fordlands, Bay of Plenty |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 50 Top 50% | 23 Lower 50% |
| Region rank | #46 of 101 | #86 of 101 |
| National rank | #862 of 1,559 | #1469 of 1,559 |
| Sector | State integrated | State |
| Type | Contributing | Contributing |
| Year range | Years 1–6 | Years 1–6 |
| Students | 110 | 169 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 444 | 551 |
| Total roll | 110 | 169 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | -13.6% | 18.2% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | – |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | – |
| Māori students | 36.4% | 90.5% |
| Pacific students | 6.4% | 5.3% |
| International students | 0% | 0% |
| suburb or town | Western Heights | Fordlands |
| region | Bay of Plenty | Bay of Plenty |
| Website | www.stmichaelsrotorua.school.nz | www.sunset.school.nz/ |
The verdict
- •St Michael's Catholic School (Rotorua) scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (50.3 vs 22.5).
- •St Michael's Catholic School (Rotorua) does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (444 vs 551).
- •Sunset Primary School does better on roll size (169 vs 110).
- •Sunset Primary School does better on roll growth (5 years) (18.2% vs -13.6%).
- •Sunset Primary School is the larger school with 169 students compared with 110.
- •St Michael's Catholic School (Rotorua) is a state integrated school while Sunset Primary 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 Michael's Catholic School (Rotorua) better than Sunset Primary School?
On the Success Index (NZ), St Michael's Catholic School (Rotorua) ranks higher (50.3 vs 22.5 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 St Michael's Catholic School (Rotorua) and Sunset Primary School?
About 899 m in a straight line, between Western Heights and Fordlands in Bay of Plenty.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
St Michael's Catholic School (Rotorua): 444. Sunset Primary School: 551. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do St Michael's Catholic School (Rotorua) and Sunset Primary School rank in Bay of Plenty?
St Michael's Catholic School (Rotorua) is 46th of 101 and Sunset Primary School is 86th of 101 among contributing schools in Bay of Plenty on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).