Halfway Bush School vs St Mary's School (Dunedin)
A head-to-head comparison of two contributing schools in Otago, New Zealand, 1.2 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Halfway Bush School
Halfway Bush · State contributing · Years 1–6
40 students
St Mary's School (Dunedin)
Wakari · State integrated contributing · Years 1–6
60 students
| Measure | Halfway Bush School Halfway Bush, Otago | St Mary's School (Dunedin) Wakari, Otago |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 27 Lower 50% | 69 Top 25% |
| Region rank | – | #27 of 85 |
| National rank | – | #429 of 1,559 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Contributing | Contributing |
| Year range | Years 1–6 | Years 1–6 |
| Students | 40 | 60 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 498 | 403 |
| Total roll | 40 | 60 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | -19.5% | 48.7% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | – |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | – |
| Māori students | 22.5% | 1.7% |
| Pacific students | 20% | 3.3% |
| International students | 0% | 0% |
| suburb or town | Halfway Bush | Wakari |
| region | Otago | Otago |
| Website | www.hwb.school.nz | stmaryskaikorai.edublogs.org/ |
The verdict
- •St Mary's School (Dunedin) scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (68.5 vs 27.0).
- •St Mary's School (Dunedin) does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (403 vs 498).
- •St Mary's School (Dunedin) does better on roll size (60 vs 40).
- •St Mary's School (Dunedin) does better on roll growth (5 years) (48.7% vs -19.5%).
- •St Mary's School (Dunedin) is the larger school with 60 students compared with 40.
- •Halfway Bush School is a state school while St Mary's School (Dunedin) 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 Halfway Bush School better than St Mary's School (Dunedin)?
On the Success Index (NZ), St Mary's School (Dunedin) ranks higher (68.5 vs 27.0 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 Halfway Bush School and St Mary's School (Dunedin)?
About 1.2 km in a straight line, between Halfway Bush and Wakari in Otago.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Halfway Bush School: 498. St Mary's School (Dunedin): 403. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Halfway Bush School and St Mary's School (Dunedin) rank in Otago?
Halfway Bush School is unranked and St Mary's School (Dunedin) is 27th of 85 among contributing schools in Otago on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).