Houghton Valley School vs Rongotai College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Wellington, New Zealand, 1.7 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Houghton Valley School
Houghton Bay · State contributing · Years 1–6
200 students
Rongotai College
Kilbirnie · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
701 students
| Measure | Houghton Valley School Houghton Bay, Wellington | Rongotai College Kilbirnie, Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 77 Top 25% | 66 Top 50% |
| Region rank | #34 of 176 | #24 of 46 |
| National rank | #227 of 1,559 | #129 of 486 |
| Sector | State | State |
| Type | Contributing | Secondary (Year 9-15) |
| Year range | Years 1–6 | Years 9–13 |
| Students | 200 | 701 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 366 | 428 |
| Total roll | 200 | 701 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | -8.2% | -1% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | 88.1% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | 75.4% |
| Māori students | 11.5% | 19.1% |
| Pacific students | 1.5% | 17% |
| International students | 0% | 3.4% |
| suburb or town | Houghton Bay | Kilbirnie |
| region | Wellington | Wellington |
| Website | www.houghton.school.nz | www.rongotai.school.nz |
The verdict
- •Houghton Valley School scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (77.0 vs 66.2).
- •Houghton Valley School does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (366 vs 428).
- •Rongotai College does better on roll size (701 vs 200).
- •Rongotai College does better on roll growth (5 years) (-1% vs -8.2%).
- •Rongotai College is the larger school with 701 students compared with 200.
- •Houghton Valley School is co-educational and Rongotai College 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 Houghton Valley School better than Rongotai College?
On the Success Index (NZ), Houghton Valley School ranks higher (77.0 vs 66.2 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 Houghton Valley School and Rongotai College?
About 1.7 km in a straight line, between Houghton Bay and Kilbirnie in Wellington.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Houghton Valley School: 366. Rongotai College: 428. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Houghton Valley School and Rongotai College rank in Wellington?
Houghton Valley School is 34th of 176 and Rongotai College is 24th of 46 among contributing schools in Wellington on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).