St Thomas of Canterbury College vs Villa Maria College
A head-to-head comparison of two secondary (year 7-15) schools in Canterbury, New Zealand, 1.1 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
St Thomas of Canterbury College
Sockburn · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
686 students
Villa Maria College
Upper Riccarton · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
831 students
| Measure | St Thomas of Canterbury College Sockburn, Canterbury | Villa Maria College Upper Riccarton, Canterbury |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 77 Top 25% | 77 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #9 of 57 | #10 of 57 |
| National rank | #61 of 486 | #62 of 486 |
| Sector | State integrated | State integrated |
| Type | Secondary (Year 7-15) | Secondary (Year 7-15) |
| Year range | Years 7–13 | Years 7–13 |
| Students | 686 | 831 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 430 | 411 |
| Total roll | 686 | 831 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | 6.4% | -2.4% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | 95.9% | 98.5% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | 76% | 89.3% |
| Māori students | 19% | 12.9% |
| Pacific students | 20.6% | 8.4% |
| International students | 2.6% | 3.1% |
| suburb or town | Sockburn | Upper Riccarton |
| region | Canterbury | Canterbury |
| Website | www.stc.school.nz | www.villa.school.nz |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index (NZ) scores (77.3 vs 77.2).
- •Villa Maria College does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (411 vs 430).
- •Villa Maria College does better on roll size (831 vs 686).
- •St Thomas of Canterbury College does better on roll growth (5 years) (6.4% vs -2.4%).
- •Villa Maria College does better on school leavers with ncea level 2+ (98.5% vs 95.9%).
- •Villa Maria College is the larger school with 831 students compared with 686.
- •St Thomas of Canterbury College is boys 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 St Thomas of Canterbury College better than Villa Maria College?
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 Thomas of Canterbury College and Villa Maria College?
About 1.1 km in a straight line, between Sockburn and Upper Riccarton in Canterbury.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
St Thomas of Canterbury College: 430. Villa Maria College: 411. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do St Thomas of Canterbury College and Villa Maria College rank in Canterbury?
St Thomas of Canterbury College is 9th of 57 and Villa Maria College is 10th of 57 among secondary (year 7-15) schools in Canterbury on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).