Riverdale School (Gisborne) vs St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne)
A head-to-head comparison of two contributing schools in Gisborne, New Zealand, 1.2 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Riverdale School (Gisborne)
Gisborne · State contributing · Years 1–6
159 students
St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne)
Gisborne · State integrated contributing · Years 1–6
228 students
| Measure | Riverdale School (Gisborne) Gisborne, Gisborne | St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne) Gisborne, Gisborne |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 16 Lower 50% | 71 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #18 of 18 | #1 of 18 |
| National rank | #1543 of 1,559 | #385 of 1,559 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Contributing | Contributing |
| Year range | Years 1–6 | Years 1–6 |
| Students | 159 | 228 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 552 | 423 |
| Total roll | 159 | 228 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | -21.3% | 9.8% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | – |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | – |
| Māori students | 83% | 16.7% |
| Pacific students | 8.2% | 8.8% |
| International students | 0% | 0% |
| suburb or town | Gisborne | Gisborne |
| region | Gisborne | Gisborne |
| Website | riverdalegis.school.nz/ | www.saintmarysgis.school.nz |
The verdict
- •St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne) scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (70.6 vs 16.0).
- •St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne) does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (423 vs 552).
- •St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne) does better on roll size (228 vs 159).
- •St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne) does better on roll growth (5 years) (9.8% vs -21.3%).
- •St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne) is the larger school with 228 students compared with 159.
- •Riverdale School (Gisborne) is a state school while St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne) is a state integrated 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 Riverdale School (Gisborne) better than St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne)?
On the Success Index (NZ), St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne) ranks higher (70.6 vs 16.0 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 Riverdale School (Gisborne) and St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne)?
About 1.2 km in a straight line, between Gisborne and Gisborne in Gisborne.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Riverdale School (Gisborne): 552. St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne): 423. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Riverdale School (Gisborne) and St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne) rank in Gisborne?
Riverdale School (Gisborne) is 18th of 18 and St Mary's Catholic School (Gisborne) is 1st of 18 among contributing schools in Gisborne on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).