Putāruru College vs St Mary's Catholic School (Putāruru)
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Waikato, New Zealand, 1.0 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Putāruru College
Putaruru · State secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
397 students
St Mary's Catholic School (Putāruru)
Putaruru · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
177 students
| Measure | Putāruru College Putaruru, Waikato | St Mary's Catholic School (Putāruru) Putaruru, Waikato |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 27 Lower 50% | 46 Lower 50% |
| Region rank | #42 of 58 | #98 of 179 |
| National rank | #394 of 486 | #963 of 1,559 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Secondary (Year 7-15) | Full Primary |
| Year range | Years 7–13 | Years 1–8 |
| Students | 397 | 177 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 518 | 455 |
| Total roll | 397 | 177 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | 13.8% | -5.4% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | 55% | – |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | 28.3% | – |
| Māori students | 48.1% | 24.9% |
| Pacific students | 4.5% | 6.2% |
| International students | 0% | 0% |
| suburb or town | Putaruru | Putaruru |
| region | Waikato | Waikato |
| Website | www.putarurucollege.school.nz | www.stmarysput.school.nz |
The verdict
- •St Mary's Catholic School (Putāruru) scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (46.4 vs 26.6).
- •St Mary's Catholic School (Putāruru) does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (455 vs 518).
- •Putāruru College does better on roll size (397 vs 177).
- •Putāruru College does better on roll growth (5 years) (13.8% vs -5.4%).
- •Putāruru College is the larger school with 397 students compared with 177.
- •Putāruru College is a state school while St Mary's Catholic School (Putāruru) 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 Putāruru College better than St Mary's Catholic School (Putāruru)?
On the Success Index (NZ), St Mary's Catholic School (Putāruru) ranks higher (46.4 vs 26.6 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 Putāruru College and St Mary's Catholic School (Putāruru)?
About 1.0 km in a straight line, between Putaruru and Putaruru in Waikato.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Putāruru College: 518. St Mary's Catholic School (Putāruru): 455. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Putāruru College and St Mary's Catholic School (Putāruru) rank in Waikato?
Putāruru College is 42nd of 58 and St Mary's Catholic School (Putāruru) is 98th of 179 among secondary (year 7-15) schools in Waikato on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).