Hillcrest Normal School vs St John's College (Hillcrest)
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Waikato, New Zealand, 1.1 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Hillcrest Normal School
Hillcrest · State contributing · Years 1–6
643 students
St John's College (Hillcrest)
Hillcrest · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
933 students
| Measure | Hillcrest Normal School Hillcrest, Waikato | St John's College (Hillcrest) Hillcrest, Waikato |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 87 Top 5% | 77 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #4 of 179 | #3 of 58 |
| National rank | #47 of 1,559 | #64 of 486 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Contributing | Secondary (Year 9-15) |
| Year range | Years 1–6 | Years 9–13 |
| Students | 643 | 933 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 397 | 428 |
| Total roll | 643 | 933 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | 4.7% | 15.6% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | 93.9% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | 68.7% |
| Māori students | 12.3% | 18.4% |
| Pacific students | 3.3% | 8.5% |
| International students | 0.3% | 1.7% |
| suburb or town | Hillcrest | Hillcrest |
| region | Waikato | Waikato |
| Website | www.hillcrestnormal.school.nz | www.stjohns-hamilton.school.nz |
The verdict
- •Hillcrest Normal School scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (86.5 vs 77.1).
- •Hillcrest Normal School does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (397 vs 428).
- •St John's College (Hillcrest) does better on roll size (933 vs 643).
- •St John's College (Hillcrest) does better on roll growth (5 years) (15.6% vs 4.7%).
- •St John's College (Hillcrest) is the larger school with 933 students compared with 643.
- •Hillcrest Normal School is a state school while St John's College (Hillcrest) is a state integrated school, so fees and admission rules differ.
- •Hillcrest Normal 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 Normal School better than St John's College (Hillcrest)?
On the Success Index (NZ), Hillcrest Normal School ranks higher (86.5 vs 77.1 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 Normal School and St John's College (Hillcrest)?
About 1.1 km in a straight line, between Hillcrest and Hillcrest in Waikato.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Hillcrest Normal School: 397. St John's College (Hillcrest): 428. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Hillcrest Normal School and St John's College (Hillcrest) rank in Waikato?
Hillcrest Normal School is 4th of 179 and St John's College (Hillcrest) is 3rd of 58 among contributing schools in Waikato on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).