Palmerston North Girls' High School vs St James' Catholic School Te Kura Katorika o Hato Heemi
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand, 1.3 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Palmerston North Girls' High School
Palmerston North · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,318 students
St James' Catholic School Te Kura Katorika o Hato Heemi
Hokowhitu · State integrated contributing · Years 1–6
143 students
| Measure | Palmerston North Girls' High School Palmerston North, Manawatū-Whanganui | St James' Catholic School Te Kura Katorika o Hato Heemi Hokowhitu, Manawatū-Whanganui |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 78 Top 25% | 66 Top 50% |
| Region rank | #2 of 33 | #10 of 111 |
| National rank | #58 of 486 | #476 of 1,559 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Secondary (Year 9-15) | Contributing |
| Year range | Years 9–13 | Years 1–6 |
| Students | 1,318 | 143 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 433 | 410 |
| Total roll | 1,318 | 143 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | 6.8% | -14.8% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | 93.9% | – |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | 81% | – |
| Māori students | 19.4% | 18.2% |
| Pacific students | 9.3% | 11.2% |
| International students | 2% | 0% |
| suburb or town | Palmerston North | Hokowhitu |
| region | Manawatū-Whanganui | Manawatū-Whanganui |
| Website | www.pnghs.school.nz | www.stjamescatholic.school.nz |
The verdict
- •Palmerston North Girls' High School scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (77.7 vs 66.0).
- •St James' Catholic School Te Kura Katorika o Hato Heemi does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (410 vs 433).
- •Palmerston North Girls' High School does better on roll size (1,318 vs 143).
- •Palmerston North Girls' High School does better on roll growth (5 years) (6.8% vs -14.8%).
- •Palmerston North Girls' High School is the larger school with 1,318 students compared with 143.
- •Palmerston North Girls' High School is a state school while St James' Catholic School Te Kura Katorika o Hato Heemi is a state integrated school, so fees and admission rules differ.
- •Palmerston North Girls' High School is girls and St James' Catholic School Te Kura Katorika o Hato Heemi is co-educational.
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 Palmerston North Girls' High School better than St James' Catholic School Te Kura Katorika o Hato Heemi?
On the Success Index (NZ), Palmerston North Girls' High School ranks higher (77.7 vs 66.0 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 Palmerston North Girls' High School and St James' Catholic School Te Kura Katorika o Hato Heemi?
About 1.3 km in a straight line, between Palmerston North and Hokowhitu in Manawatū-Whanganui.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Palmerston North Girls' High School: 433. St James' Catholic School Te Kura Katorika o Hato Heemi: 410. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Palmerston North Girls' High School and St James' Catholic School Te Kura Katorika o Hato Heemi rank in Manawatū-Whanganui?
Palmerston North Girls' High School is 2nd of 33 and St James' Catholic School Te Kura Katorika o Hato Heemi is 10th of 111 among secondary (year 9-15) schools in Manawatū-Whanganui on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).