Houghton Valley School vs St Catherines College (Kilbirnie)
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Wellington, New Zealand, 1.8 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
St Catherines College (Kilbirnie)
Kilbirnie · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
206 students
| Measure | Houghton Valley School Houghton Bay, Wellington | St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) Kilbirnie, Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 77 Top 25% | 75 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #34 of 176 | #8 of 46 |
| National rank | #227 of 1,559 | #73 of 486 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Contributing | Secondary (Year 9-15) |
| Year range | Years 1–6 | Years 9–13 |
| Students | 200 | 206 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 366 | 435 |
| Total roll | 200 | 206 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | -8.2% | 8.9% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | 100% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | 91.4% |
| Māori students | 11.5% | 11.7% |
| Pacific students | 1.5% | 24.8% |
| International students | 0% | 4.4% |
| suburb or town | Houghton Bay | Kilbirnie |
| region | Wellington | Wellington |
| Website | www.houghton.school.nz | www.stcatherinescollege.school.nz |
The verdict
- •Houghton Valley School scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (77.0 vs 75.2).
- •Houghton Valley School does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (366 vs 435).
- •St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) does better on roll size (206 vs 200).
- •St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) does better on roll growth (5 years) (8.9% vs -8.2%).
- •St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) is the larger school with 206 students compared with 200.
- •Houghton Valley School is a state school while St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) is a state integrated school, so fees and admission rules differ.
- •Houghton Valley School is co-educational and St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) is girls.
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 St Catherines College (Kilbirnie)?
On the Success Index (NZ), Houghton Valley School ranks higher (77.0 vs 75.2 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 St Catherines College (Kilbirnie)?
About 1.8 km in a straight line, between Houghton Bay and Kilbirnie in Wellington.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Houghton Valley School: 366. St Catherines College (Kilbirnie): 435. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Houghton Valley School and St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) rank in Wellington?
Houghton Valley School is 34th of 176 and St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) is 8th of 46 among contributing schools in Wellington on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).