Merrilands School vs New Plymouth Girls' High School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Taranaki, New Zealand, 1.2 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Merrilands School
New Plymouth · State contributing · Years 1–6
138 students
New Plymouth Girls' High School
New Plymouth · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,290 students
| Measure | Merrilands School New Plymouth, Taranaki | New Plymouth Girls' High School New Plymouth, Taranaki |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 35 Lower 50% | 63 Top 50% |
| Region rank | #41 of 56 | #4 of 16 |
| National rank | #1202 of 1,559 | #152 of 486 |
| Sector | State | State |
| Type | Contributing | Secondary (Year 9-15) |
| Year range | Years 1–6 | Years 9–13 |
| Students | 138 | 1,290 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 479 | 447 |
| Total roll | 138 | 1,290 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | -25.6% | -1% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | 90.1% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | 75.8% |
| Māori students | 36.2% | 24.3% |
| Pacific students | 13.8% | 5.8% |
| International students | 0% | 0.9% |
| suburb or town | New Plymouth | New Plymouth |
| region | Taranaki | Taranaki |
| Website | www.merrilands.school.nz | www.npghs.school.nz |
The verdict
- •New Plymouth Girls' High School scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (63.3 vs 35.3).
- •New Plymouth Girls' High School does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (447 vs 479).
- •New Plymouth Girls' High School does better on roll size (1,290 vs 138).
- •New Plymouth Girls' High School does better on roll growth (5 years) (-1% vs -25.6%).
- •New Plymouth Girls' High School is the larger school with 1,290 students compared with 138.
- •Merrilands School is co-educational and New Plymouth Girls' High School is girls.
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 Merrilands School better than New Plymouth Girls' High School?
On the Success Index (NZ), New Plymouth Girls' High School ranks higher (63.3 vs 35.3 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 Merrilands School and New Plymouth Girls' High School?
About 1.2 km in a straight line, between New Plymouth and New Plymouth in Taranaki.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Merrilands School: 479. New Plymouth Girls' High School: 447. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Merrilands School and New Plymouth Girls' High School rank in Taranaki?
Merrilands School is 41st of 56 and New Plymouth Girls' High School is 4th of 16 among contributing schools in Taranaki on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).