Craighead Diocesan School vs St Joseph's School (Timaru)
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Canterbury, New Zealand, 1.1 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Craighead Diocesan School
West End · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
410 students
St Joseph's School (Timaru)
Timaru · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
218 students
| Measure | Craighead Diocesan School West End, Canterbury | St Joseph's School (Timaru) Timaru, Canterbury |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 85 Top 5% | 69 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #2 of 57 | #60 of 187 |
| National rank | #23 of 486 | #420 of 1,559 |
| Sector | State integrated | State integrated |
| Type | Secondary (Year 7-15) | Full Primary |
| Year range | Years 7–13 | Years 1–8 |
| Students | 410 | 218 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 409 | 403 |
| Total roll | 410 | 218 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | 7.8% | -0.5% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | 100% | – |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | 92.7% | – |
| Māori students | 9% | 11% |
| Pacific students | 1% | 2.3% |
| International students | 1.7% | 0% |
| suburb or town | West End | Timaru |
| region | Canterbury | Canterbury |
| Website | www.craighead.school.nz | www.stjosephstimaru.school.nz |
The verdict
- •Craighead Diocesan School scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (84.5 vs 69.0).
- •St Joseph's School (Timaru) does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (403 vs 409).
- •Craighead Diocesan School does better on roll size (410 vs 218).
- •Craighead Diocesan School does better on roll growth (5 years) (7.8% vs -0.5%).
- •Craighead Diocesan School is the larger school with 410 students compared with 218.
- •Craighead Diocesan School is girls and St Joseph's School (Timaru) is co-educational.
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 Craighead Diocesan School better than St Joseph's School (Timaru)?
On the Success Index (NZ), Craighead Diocesan School ranks higher (84.5 vs 69.0 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 Craighead Diocesan School and St Joseph's School (Timaru)?
About 1.1 km in a straight line, between West End and Timaru in Canterbury.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Craighead Diocesan School: 409. St Joseph's School (Timaru): 403. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Craighead Diocesan School and St Joseph's School (Timaru) rank in Canterbury?
Craighead Diocesan School is 2nd of 57 and St Joseph's School (Timaru) is 60th of 187 among secondary (year 7-15) schools in Canterbury on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).