Sacred Heart College (Napier) vs St John's College (Hastings)
A head-to-head comparison of two secondary (year 9-15) schools in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, 18 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Sacred Heart College (Napier)
Napier · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
351 students
St John's College (Hastings)
Hastings · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
398 students
| Measure | Sacred Heart College (Napier) Napier, Hawke's Bay | St John's College (Hastings) Hastings, Hawke's Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 70 Top 25% | 61 Top 50% |
| Region rank | #6 of 25 | #9 of 25 |
| National rank | #104 of 486 | #162 of 486 |
| Sector | State integrated | State integrated |
| Type | Secondary (Year 9-15) | Secondary (Year 9-15) |
| Year range | Years 9–13 | Years 9–13 |
| Students | 351 | 398 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 446 | 456 |
| Total roll | 351 | 398 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | 30.2% | 10.3% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | 94.7% | 84.9% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | 77.6% | 67.4% |
| Māori students | 17.9% | 21.4% |
| Pacific students | 11.1% | 6.3% |
| International students | 1.4% | 0.5% |
| suburb or town | Napier | Hastings |
| region | Hawke's Bay | Hawke's Bay |
| Website | www.sacredheartnapier.school.nz/Home/ | www.stjohns.school.nz/ |
The verdict
- •Sacred Heart College (Napier) scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (70.0 vs 61.2).
- •Sacred Heart College (Napier) does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (446 vs 456).
- •St John's College (Hastings) does better on roll size (398 vs 351).
- •Sacred Heart College (Napier) does better on roll growth (5 years) (30.2% vs 10.3%).
- •Sacred Heart College (Napier) does better on school leavers with ncea level 2+ (94.7% vs 84.9%).
- •St John's College (Hastings) is the larger school with 398 students compared with 351.
- •Sacred Heart College (Napier) is girls and St John's College (Hastings) is boys.
The Success Index (NZ) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
Free academic assessment
Torn between two schools? Start with your child.
Whichever you choose, a free Success Tutoring assessment shows exactly where your child is in English and Maths and how to get ahead before the next school year.
- Personalised learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum
- English & Maths from Kindergarten to Year 12
- Flexible memberships, no lock-in contracts
- Centres across NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA and ACT
Frequently asked questions
Is Sacred Heart College (Napier) better than St John's College (Hastings)?
On the Success Index (NZ), Sacred Heart College (Napier) ranks higher (70.0 vs 61.2 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 Sacred Heart College (Napier) and St John's College (Hastings)?
About 18 km in a straight line, between Napier and Hastings in Hawke's Bay.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Sacred Heart College (Napier): 446. St John's College (Hastings): 456. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Sacred Heart College (Napier) and St John's College (Hastings) rank in Hawke's Bay?
Sacred Heart College (Napier) is 6th of 25 and St John's College (Hastings) is 9th of 25 among secondary (year 9-15) schools in Hawke's Bay on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).