Merrilands School vs St John Bosco 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.
Merrilands School
New Plymouth · State contributing · Years 1–6
138 students
St John Bosco School (New Plymouth)
New Plymouth · State integrated contributing · Years 1–6
268 students
| Measure | Merrilands School New Plymouth, Taranaki | St John Bosco School (New Plymouth) New Plymouth, Taranaki |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 35 Lower 50% | 74 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #41 of 56 | #6 of 56 |
| National rank | #1202 of 1,559 | #295 of 1,559 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Contributing | Contributing |
| Year range | Years 1–6 | Years 1–6 |
| Students | 138 | 268 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 479 | 385 |
| Total roll | 138 | 268 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | -25.6% | -1.1% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | – |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | – |
| Māori students | 36.2% | 14.6% |
| Pacific students | 13.8% | 3.7% |
| International students | 0% | 0% |
| suburb or town | New Plymouth | New Plymouth |
| region | Taranaki | Taranaki |
| Website | www.merrilands.school.nz | www.sjb.school.nz |
The verdict
- •St John Bosco School (New Plymouth) scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (74.3 vs 35.3).
- •St John Bosco School (New Plymouth) does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (385 vs 479).
- •St John Bosco School (New Plymouth) does better on roll size (268 vs 138).
- •St John Bosco School (New Plymouth) does better on roll growth (5 years) (-1.1% vs -25.6%).
- •St John Bosco School (New Plymouth) is the larger school with 268 students compared with 138.
- •Merrilands School is a state school while St John Bosco 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 Merrilands School better than St John Bosco School (New Plymouth)?
On the Success Index (NZ), St John Bosco School (New Plymouth) ranks higher (74.3 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 St John Bosco 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)?
Merrilands School: 479. St John Bosco School (New Plymouth): 385. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Merrilands School and St John Bosco School (New Plymouth) rank in Taranaki?
Merrilands School is 41st of 56 and St John Bosco School (New Plymouth) is 6th of 56 among contributing schools in Taranaki on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).