Marfell Community School vs St Joseph's School (New Plymouth)
A head-to-head comparison of two contributing schools in Taranaki, New Zealand, 1.4 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Marfell Community School
New Plymouth · State contributing · Years 1–6
141 students
St Joseph's School (New Plymouth)
New Plymouth · State integrated contributing · Years 1–6
286 students
| Measure | Marfell Community School New Plymouth, Taranaki | St Joseph's School (New Plymouth) New Plymouth, Taranaki |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 22 Lower 50% | 75 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #54 of 56 | #5 of 56 |
| National rank | #1476 of 1,559 | #286 of 1,559 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Contributing | Contributing |
| Year range | Years 1–6 | Years 1–6 |
| Students | 141 | 286 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 542 | 384 |
| Total roll | 141 | 286 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | 22.4% | -2% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | – |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | – |
| Māori students | 66% | 11.2% |
| Pacific students | 6.4% | 2.8% |
| International students | 0% | 0% |
| suburb or town | New Plymouth | New Plymouth |
| region | Taranaki | Taranaki |
| Website | www.marfell.school.nz/ | www.stjosephsnp.school.nz |
The verdict
- •St Joseph's School (New Plymouth) scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (74.5 vs 22.3).
- •St Joseph's School (New Plymouth) does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (384 vs 542).
- •St Joseph's School (New Plymouth) does better on roll size (286 vs 141).
- •Marfell Community School does better on roll growth (5 years) (22.4% vs -2%).
- •St Joseph's School (New Plymouth) is the larger school with 286 students compared with 141.
- •Marfell Community School is a state school while St Joseph's School (New Plymouth) 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 Marfell Community School better than St Joseph's School (New Plymouth)?
On the Success Index (NZ), St Joseph's School (New Plymouth) ranks higher (74.5 vs 22.3 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 Marfell Community School and St Joseph's School (New Plymouth)?
About 1.4 km in a straight line, between New Plymouth and New Plymouth in Taranaki.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Marfell Community School: 542. St Joseph's School (New Plymouth): 384. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Marfell Community School and St Joseph's School (New Plymouth) rank in Taranaki?
Marfell Community School is 54th of 56 and St Joseph's School (New Plymouth) is 5th of 56 among contributing schools in Taranaki on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).