Ilam School vs Villa Maria College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Canterbury, New Zealand, 1.0 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Ilam School
Ilam · State contributing · Years 1–6
411 students
Villa Maria College
Upper Riccarton · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
831 students
| Measure | Ilam School Ilam, Canterbury | Villa Maria College Upper Riccarton, Canterbury |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 74 Top 25% | 77 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #37 of 187 | #10 of 57 |
| National rank | #292 of 1,559 | #62 of 486 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Contributing | Secondary (Year 7-15) |
| Year range | Years 1–6 | Years 7–13 |
| Students | 411 | 831 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 394 | 411 |
| Total roll | 411 | 831 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | -9.6% | -2.4% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | 98.5% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | 89.3% |
| Māori students | 5.4% | 12.9% |
| Pacific students | 4.9% | 8.4% |
| International students | 3.2% | 3.1% |
| suburb or town | Ilam | Upper Riccarton |
| region | Canterbury | Canterbury |
| Website | www.ilam.school.nz | www.villa.school.nz |
The verdict
- •Villa Maria College scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (77.2 vs 74.3).
- •Ilam School does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (394 vs 411).
- •Villa Maria College does better on roll size (831 vs 411).
- •Villa Maria College does better on roll growth (5 years) (-2.4% vs -9.6%).
- •Villa Maria College is the larger school with 831 students compared with 411.
- •Ilam School is a state school while Villa Maria College is a state integrated school, so fees and admission rules differ.
- •Ilam School is co-educational and Villa Maria College 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 Ilam School better than Villa Maria College?
On the Success Index (NZ), Villa Maria College ranks higher (77.2 vs 74.3 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 Ilam School and Villa Maria College?
About 1.0 km in a straight line, between Ilam and Upper Riccarton in Canterbury.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Ilam School: 394. Villa Maria College: 411. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Ilam School and Villa Maria College rank in Canterbury?
Ilam School is 37th of 187 and Villa Maria College is 10th of 57 among contributing schools in Canterbury on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).