Knighton Normal School vs St John's College (Hillcrest)
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Waikato, New Zealand, 680 m apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Knighton Normal School
Hillcrest · State contributing · Years 1–6
699 students
St John's College (Hillcrest)
Hillcrest · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
933 students
| Measure | Knighton Normal School Hillcrest, Waikato | St John's College (Hillcrest) Hillcrest, Waikato |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 49 Lower 50% | 77 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #82 of 179 | #3 of 58 |
| National rank | #892 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 | 699 | 933 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 476 | 428 |
| Total roll | 699 | 933 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | 0.1% | 15.6% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | 93.9% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | 68.7% |
| Māori students | 36.2% | 18.4% |
| Pacific students | 11.4% | 8.5% |
| International students | 0% | 1.7% |
| suburb or town | Hillcrest | Hillcrest |
| region | Waikato | Waikato |
| Website | www.kns.ac.nz | www.stjohns-hamilton.school.nz |
The verdict
- •St John's College (Hillcrest) scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (77.1 vs 49.2).
- •St John's College (Hillcrest) does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (428 vs 476).
- •St John's College (Hillcrest) does better on roll size (933 vs 699).
- •St John's College (Hillcrest) does better on roll growth (5 years) (15.6% vs 0.1%).
- •St John's College (Hillcrest) is the larger school with 933 students compared with 699.
- •Knighton Normal School is a state school while St John's College (Hillcrest) is a state integrated school, so fees and admission rules differ.
- •Knighton 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 Knighton Normal School better than St John's College (Hillcrest)?
On the Success Index (NZ), St John's College (Hillcrest) ranks higher (77.1 vs 49.2 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 Knighton Normal School and St John's College (Hillcrest)?
About 680 m in a straight line, between Hillcrest and Hillcrest in Waikato.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Knighton Normal School: 476. St John's College (Hillcrest): 428. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Knighton Normal School and St John's College (Hillcrest) rank in Waikato?
Knighton Normal School is 82nd of 179 and St John's College (Hillcrest) is 3rd of 58 among contributing schools in Waikato on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).