Merrilands School vs Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth)
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
Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth)
Fitzroy · State integrated secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
729 students
| Measure | Merrilands School New Plymouth, Taranaki | Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth) Fitzroy, Taranaki |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 35 Lower 50% | 81 Top 10% |
| Region rank | #41 of 56 | #1 of 16 |
| National rank | #1202 of 1,559 | #37 of 486 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Contributing | Secondary (Year 7-15) |
| Year range | Years 1–6 | Years 7–13 |
| Students | 138 | 729 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 479 | 414 |
| Total roll | 138 | 729 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | -25.6% | 1.2% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | 94.8% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | 77.4% |
| Māori students | 36.2% | 15.2% |
| Pacific students | 13.8% | 3% |
| International students | 0% | 0.1% |
| suburb or town | New Plymouth | Fitzroy |
| region | Taranaki | Taranaki |
| Website | www.merrilands.school.nz | www.shgcnp.school.nz |
The verdict
- •Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth) scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (80.7 vs 35.3).
- •Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth) does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (414 vs 479).
- •Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth) does better on roll size (729 vs 138).
- •Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth) does better on roll growth (5 years) (1.2% vs -25.6%).
- •Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth) is the larger school with 729 students compared with 138.
- •Merrilands School is a state school while Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth) is a state integrated school, so fees and admission rules differ.
- •Merrilands School is co-educational and Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth) 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 Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth)?
On the Success Index (NZ), Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth) ranks higher (80.7 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 Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth)?
About 1.2 km in a straight line, between New Plymouth and Fitzroy in Taranaki.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Merrilands School: 479. Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth): 414. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Merrilands School and Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth) rank in Taranaki?
Merrilands School is 41st of 56 and Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth) is 1st of 16 among contributing schools in Taranaki on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).