Houghton Valley School vs St Francis De Sales School (Is Bay)
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Wellington, New Zealand, 1.1 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 Francis De Sales School (Is Bay)
Island Bay · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
199 students
| Measure | Houghton Valley School Houghton Bay, Wellington | St Francis De Sales School (Is Bay) Island Bay, Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 77 Top 25% | 71 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #34 of 176 | #69 of 176 |
| National rank | #227 of 1,559 | #365 of 1,559 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Contributing | Full Primary |
| Year range | Years 1–6 | Years 1–8 |
| Students | 200 | 199 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 366 | 395 |
| Total roll | 200 | 199 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | -8.2% | -21% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | – |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | – |
| Māori students | 11.5% | 10.6% |
| Pacific students | 1.5% | 8.5% |
| International students | 0% | 0% |
| suburb or town | Houghton Bay | Island Bay |
| region | Wellington | Wellington |
| Website | www.houghton.school.nz | www.sfds.school.nz |
The verdict
- •Houghton Valley School scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (77.0 vs 71.2).
- •Houghton Valley School does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (366 vs 395).
- •Houghton Valley School does better on roll size (200 vs 199).
- •Houghton Valley School does better on roll growth (5 years) (-8.2% vs -21%).
- •Houghton Valley School is the larger school with 200 students compared with 199.
- •Houghton Valley School is a state school while St Francis De Sales School (Is Bay) 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.
Free academic assessment
Torn between two schools? Start with your child.
Whichever you choose, a free Success Tutoring assessment shows exactly where your child is in English and Maths and how to get ahead before the next school year.
- Personalised learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum
- English & Maths from Kindergarten to Year 12
- Flexible memberships, no lock-in contracts
- Centres across NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA and ACT
Frequently asked questions
Is Houghton Valley School better than St Francis De Sales School (Is Bay)?
On the Success Index (NZ), Houghton Valley School ranks higher (77.0 vs 71.2 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 Francis De Sales School (Is Bay)?
About 1.1 km in a straight line, between Houghton Bay and Island Bay in Wellington.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Houghton Valley School: 366. St Francis De Sales School (Is Bay): 395. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Houghton Valley School and St Francis De Sales School (Is Bay) rank in Wellington?
Houghton Valley School is 34th of 176 and St Francis De Sales School (Is Bay) is 69th of 176 among contributing schools in Wellington on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).