Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt) vs St Catherines College (Kilbirnie)
A head-to-head comparison of two secondary (year 9-15) schools in Wellington, New Zealand, 15 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt)
Lower Hutt · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
828 students
St Catherines College (Kilbirnie)
Kilbirnie · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
206 students
| Measure | Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt) Lower Hutt, Wellington | St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) Kilbirnie, Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 73 Top 25% | 75 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #11 of 46 | #8 of 46 |
| National rank | #88 of 486 | #73 of 486 |
| Sector | State integrated | State integrated |
| Type | Secondary (Year 9-15) | Secondary (Year 9-15) |
| Year range | Years 9–13 | Years 9–13 |
| Students | 828 | 206 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 444 | 435 |
| Total roll | 828 | 206 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | 4.2% | 8.9% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | 93.2% | 100% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | 81.1% | 91.4% |
| Māori students | 22.7% | 11.7% |
| Pacific students | 31.5% | 24.8% |
| International students | 1% | 4.4% |
| suburb or town | Lower Hutt | Kilbirnie |
| region | Wellington | Wellington |
| Website | www.sacredheartcollege.school.nz | www.stcatherinescollege.school.nz |
The verdict
- •St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (75.2 vs 72.7).
- •St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (435 vs 444).
- •Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt) does better on roll size (828 vs 206).
- •St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) does better on roll growth (5 years) (8.9% vs 4.2%).
- •St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) does better on school leavers with ncea level 2+ (100% vs 93.2%).
- •Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt) is the larger school with 828 students compared with 206.
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 Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt) better than St Catherines College (Kilbirnie)?
On the Success Index (NZ), St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) ranks higher (75.2 vs 72.7 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 Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt) and St Catherines College (Kilbirnie)?
About 15 km in a straight line, between Lower Hutt and Kilbirnie in Wellington.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt): 444. St Catherines College (Kilbirnie): 435. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt) and St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) rank in Wellington?
Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt) is 11th of 46 and St Catherines College (Kilbirnie) is 8th of 46 among secondary (year 9-15) schools in Wellington on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).