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St Bernard's College vs Waterloo School

A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Wellington, New Zealand, 856 m apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.

MeasureSt Bernard's College
Lower Hutt, Wellington
Waterloo School
Waterloo, Wellington
Success Index (NZ)
62
Top 50%
77
Top 25%
Region rank#27 of 46#42 of 176
National rank#154 of 486#248 of 1,559
SectorState integratedState
TypeSecondary (Year 7-15)Contributing
Year rangeYears 7–13Years 1–6
Students676522
Equity Index (EQI)444391
Total roll676522
Roll growth (5 yrs)1.4%-6.7%
Leavers with NCEA Level 2+81.9%–
Leavers with NCEA Level 3+––
Leavers with University Entrance53.2%–
Māori students26.2%16.1%
Pacific students23.4%10%
International students0%0%
suburb or townLower HuttWaterloo
regionWellingtonWellington
Websitewww.sbc.school.nzwww.waterloo.school.nz

The verdict

  • •Waterloo School scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (76.5 vs 62.3).
  • •Waterloo School does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (391 vs 444).
  • •St Bernard's College does better on roll size (676 vs 522).
  • •St Bernard's College does better on roll growth (5 years) (1.4% vs -6.7%).
  • •St Bernard's College is the larger school with 676 students compared with 522.
  • •St Bernard's College is a state integrated school while Waterloo School is a state school, so fees and admission rules differ.
  • •St Bernard's College is boys and Waterloo School is co-educational.

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 St Bernard's College better than Waterloo School?

On the Success Index (NZ), Waterloo School ranks higher (76.5 vs 62.3 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 St Bernard's College and Waterloo School?

About 856 m in a straight line, between Lower Hutt and Waterloo in Wellington.

Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?

St Bernard's College: 444. Waterloo School: 391. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.

How do St Bernard's College and Waterloo School rank in Wellington?

St Bernard's College is 27th of 46 and Waterloo School is 42nd of 176 among secondary (year 7-15) schools in Wellington on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).