Queen Elizabeth College vs St Peter's College (Palmerston North)
A head-to-head comparison of two secondary (year 7-15) schools in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand, 1.4 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Queen Elizabeth College
Palmerston North · State secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
408 students
St Peter's College (Palmerston North)
Milson · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
789 students
| Measure | Queen Elizabeth College Palmerston North, Manawatū-Whanganui | St Peter's College (Palmerston North) Milson, Manawatū-Whanganui |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 21 Lower 50% | 70 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #27 of 33 | #4 of 33 |
| National rank | #435 of 486 | #106 of 486 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Secondary (Year 7-15) | Secondary (Year 7-15) |
| Year range | Years 7–13 | Years 7–13 |
| Students | 408 | 789 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 556 | 436 |
| Total roll | 408 | 789 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | 44.5% | 15.1% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | 62.3% | 86.9% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | 49.2% | 67.7% |
| Māori students | 58.3% | 14.8% |
| Pacific students | 19.4% | 9.1% |
| International students | 1.7% | 1% |
| suburb or town | Palmerston North | Milson |
| region | Manawatū-Whanganui | Manawatū-Whanganui |
| Website | www.qec.school.nz | www.stpeterspn.school.nz |
The verdict
- •St Peter's College (Palmerston North) scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (69.6 vs 20.7).
- •St Peter's College (Palmerston North) does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (436 vs 556).
- •St Peter's College (Palmerston North) does better on roll size (789 vs 408).
- •Queen Elizabeth College does better on roll growth (5 years) (44.5% vs 15.1%).
- •St Peter's College (Palmerston North) does better on school leavers with ncea level 2+ (86.9% vs 62.3%).
- •St Peter's College (Palmerston North) is the larger school with 789 students compared with 408.
- •Queen Elizabeth College is a state school while St Peter's College (Palmerston North) 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 Queen Elizabeth College better than St Peter's College (Palmerston North)?
On the Success Index (NZ), St Peter's College (Palmerston North) ranks higher (69.6 vs 20.7 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 Queen Elizabeth College and St Peter's College (Palmerston North)?
About 1.4 km in a straight line, between Palmerston North and Milson in Manawatū-Whanganui.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Queen Elizabeth College: 556. St Peter's College (Palmerston North): 436. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Queen Elizabeth College and St Peter's College (Palmerston North) rank in Manawatū-Whanganui?
Queen Elizabeth College is 27th of 33 and St Peter's College (Palmerston North) is 4th of 33 among secondary (year 7-15) schools in Manawatū-Whanganui on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).