Hastings Central School vs Hastings Christian School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, 1.5 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Hastings Central School
Hastings · State contributing · Years 1–6
231 students
Hastings Christian School
Akina · State integrated composite · Years 1–13
331 students
| Measure | Hastings Central School Hastings, Hawke's Bay | Hastings Christian School Akina, Hawke's Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 32 Lower 50% | 73 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #45 of 69 | #4 of 25 |
| National rank | #1280 of 1,559 | #84 of 486 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Contributing | Composite |
| Year range | Years 1–6 | Years 1–13 |
| Students | 231 | 331 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 522 | 428 |
| Total roll | 231 | 331 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | 1% | 14% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | 93.5% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | 64.5% |
| Māori students | 42% | 11.5% |
| Pacific students | 21.6% | 4.5% |
| International students | 0% | 0% |
| suburb or town | Hastings | Akina |
| region | Hawke's Bay | Hawke's Bay |
| Website | www.hastings-central.school.nz | www.hcs.school.nz |
The verdict
- •Hastings Christian School scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (72.8 vs 31.9).
- •Hastings Christian School does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (428 vs 522).
- •Hastings Christian School does better on roll size (331 vs 231).
- •Hastings Christian School does better on roll growth (5 years) (14% vs 1%).
- •Hastings Christian School is the larger school with 331 students compared with 231.
- •Hastings Central School is a state school while Hastings Christian School 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 Hastings Central School better than Hastings Christian School?
On the Success Index (NZ), Hastings Christian School ranks higher (72.8 vs 31.9 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 Hastings Central School and Hastings Christian School?
About 1.5 km in a straight line, between Hastings and Akina in Hawke's Bay.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Hastings Central School: 522. Hastings Christian School: 428. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Hastings Central School and Hastings Christian School rank in Hawke's Bay?
Hastings Central School is 45th of 69 and Hastings Christian School is 4th of 25 among contributing schools in Hawke's Bay on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).