Lyall Bay School vs St Catherines College (Kilbirnie)
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Wellington, New Zealand, 730 m apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Lyall Bay School
Lyall Bay · State contributing · Years 1–6
294 students
St Catherines College (Kilbirnie)
Kilbirnie · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
206 students
| Measure | Lyall Bay School Lyall Bay, Wellington | St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) Kilbirnie, Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 70 Top 25% | 75 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #76 of 176 | #8 of 46 |
| National rank | #403 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 | 294 | 206 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 402 | 435 |
| Total roll | 294 | 206 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | -19.3% | 8.9% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | 100% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | 91.4% |
| Māori students | 21.8% | 11.7% |
| Pacific students | 16.7% | 24.8% |
| International students | 0% | 4.4% |
| suburb or town | Lyall Bay | Kilbirnie |
| region | Wellington | Wellington |
| Website | www.lyallbay.school.nz | www.stcatherinescollege.school.nz |
The verdict
- •St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (75.2 vs 69.8).
- •Lyall Bay School does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (402 vs 435).
- •Lyall Bay School does better on roll size (294 vs 206).
- •St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) does better on roll growth (5 years) (8.9% vs -19.3%).
- •Lyall Bay School is the larger school with 294 students compared with 206.
- •Lyall Bay School is a state school while St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) is a state integrated school, so fees and admission rules differ.
- •Lyall Bay 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 Lyall Bay School better than St Catherines College (Kilbirnie)?
On the Success Index (NZ), St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) ranks higher (75.2 vs 69.8 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 Lyall Bay School and St Catherines College (Kilbirnie)?
About 730 m in a straight line, between Lyall Bay and Kilbirnie in Wellington.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Lyall Bay School: 402. St Catherines College (Kilbirnie): 435. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Lyall Bay School and St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) rank in Wellington?
Lyall Bay School is 76th of 176 and St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) is 8th of 46 among contributing schools in Wellington on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).