Hillcrest High School vs St John's College (Hillcrest)
A head-to-head comparison of two secondary (year 9-15) schools in Waikato, New Zealand, 802 m apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Hillcrest High School
Hillcrest · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,801 students
St John's College (Hillcrest)
Hillcrest · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
933 students
| Measure | Hillcrest High School Hillcrest, Waikato | St John's College (Hillcrest) Hillcrest, Waikato |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 62 Top 50% | 77 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #13 of 58 | #3 of 58 |
| National rank | #155 of 486 | #64 of 486 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Secondary (Year 9-15) | Secondary (Year 9-15) |
| Year range | Years 9–13 | Years 9–13 |
| Students | 1,801 | 933 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 451 | 428 |
| Total roll | 1,801 | 933 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | 2.6% | 15.6% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | 79.2% | 93.9% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | 56% | 68.7% |
| Māori students | 14.9% | 18.4% |
| Pacific students | 4.9% | 8.5% |
| International students | 2.5% | 1.7% |
| suburb or town | Hillcrest | Hillcrest |
| region | Waikato | Waikato |
| Website | www.hillcrest-high.school.nz | www.stjohns-hamilton.school.nz |
The verdict
- •St John's College (Hillcrest) scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (77.1 vs 61.8).
- •St John's College (Hillcrest) does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (428 vs 451).
- •Hillcrest High School does better on roll size (1,801 vs 933).
- •St John's College (Hillcrest) does better on roll growth (5 years) (15.6% vs 2.6%).
- •St John's College (Hillcrest) does better on school leavers with ncea level 2+ (93.9% vs 79.2%).
- •Hillcrest High School is the larger school with 1,801 students compared with 933.
- •Hillcrest High School is a state school while St John's College (Hillcrest) is a state integrated school, so fees and admission rules differ.
- •Hillcrest High School is co-educational and St John's College (Hillcrest) is boys.
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 Hillcrest High School better than St John's College (Hillcrest)?
On the Success Index (NZ), St John's College (Hillcrest) ranks higher (77.1 vs 61.8 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 Hillcrest High School and St John's College (Hillcrest)?
About 802 m in a straight line, between Hillcrest and Hillcrest in Waikato.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Hillcrest High School: 451. St John's College (Hillcrest): 428. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Hillcrest High School and St John's College (Hillcrest) rank in Waikato?
Hillcrest High School is 13th of 58 and St John's College (Hillcrest) is 3rd of 58 among secondary (year 9-15) schools in Waikato on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).