Firth School vs St Joseph's Catholic School (Matamata)
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Waikato, New Zealand, 1.3 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Firth School
Matamata · State contributing · Years 1–6
232 students
St Joseph's Catholic School (Matamata)
Matamata · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
25 students
| Measure | Firth School Matamata, Waikato | St Joseph's Catholic School (Matamata) Matamata, Waikato |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 35 Lower 50% | 46 Lower 50% |
| Region rank | #134 of 179 | – |
| National rank | #1208 of 1,559 | – |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Contributing | Full Primary |
| Year range | Years 1–6 | Years 1–8 |
| Students | 232 | 25 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 511 | 447 |
| Total roll | 232 | 25 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | 16.3% | -31.4% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | – |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | – |
| Māori students | 37.9% | 20% |
| Pacific students | 8.6% | 0% |
| International students | 0% | 0% |
| suburb or town | Matamata | Matamata |
| region | Waikato | Waikato |
| Website | www.firth.school.nz | www.stjmta.school.nz/ |
The verdict
- •St Joseph's Catholic School (Matamata) scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (46.3 vs 34.9).
- •St Joseph's Catholic School (Matamata) does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (447 vs 511).
- •Firth School does better on roll size (232 vs 25).
- •Firth School does better on roll growth (5 years) (16.3% vs -31.4%).
- •Firth School is the larger school with 232 students compared with 25.
- •Firth School is a state school while St Joseph's Catholic School (Matamata) 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 Firth School better than St Joseph's Catholic School (Matamata)?
On the Success Index (NZ), St Joseph's Catholic School (Matamata) ranks higher (46.3 vs 34.9 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 Firth School and St Joseph's Catholic School (Matamata)?
About 1.3 km in a straight line, between Matamata and Matamata in Waikato.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Firth School: 511. St Joseph's Catholic School (Matamata): 447. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Firth School and St Joseph's Catholic School (Matamata) rank in Waikato?
Firth School is 134th of 179 and St Joseph's Catholic School (Matamata) is unranked among contributing schools in Waikato on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).