St Mary's College (Wellington) vs Thorndon School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Wellington, New Zealand, 452 m apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
St Mary's College (Wellington)
Wellington CBD · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
556 students
Thorndon School
Thorndon · State full primary · Years 1–8
278 students
| Measure | St Mary's College (Wellington) Wellington CBD, Wellington | Thorndon School Thorndon, Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 68 Top 25% | 78 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #21 of 46 | #27 of 176 |
| National rank | #112 of 486 | #202 of 1,559 |
| Sector | State integrated | State |
| Type | Secondary (Year 9-15) | Full Primary |
| Year range | Years 9–13 | Years 1–8 |
| Students | 556 | 278 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 429 | 362 |
| Total roll | 556 | 278 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | -9.8% | -7% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | 93.3% | – |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | 83.8% | – |
| Māori students | 21.8% | 8.6% |
| Pacific students | 41.5% | 9.4% |
| International students | 0.7% | 0.4% |
| suburb or town | Wellington CBD | Thorndon |
| region | Wellington | Wellington |
| Website | www.stmw.school.nz/ | www.thorndon.school.nz |
The verdict
- •Thorndon School scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (78.0 vs 68.4).
- •Thorndon School does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (362 vs 429).
- •St Mary's College (Wellington) does better on roll size (556 vs 278).
- •Thorndon School does better on roll growth (5 years) (-7% vs -9.8%).
- •St Mary's College (Wellington) is the larger school with 556 students compared with 278.
- •St Mary's College (Wellington) is a state integrated school while Thorndon School is a state school, so fees and admission rules differ.
- •St Mary's College (Wellington) is girls and Thorndon 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 Mary's College (Wellington) better than Thorndon School?
On the Success Index (NZ), Thorndon School ranks higher (78.0 vs 68.4 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 Mary's College (Wellington) and Thorndon School?
About 452 m in a straight line, between Wellington CBD and Thorndon in Wellington.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
St Mary's College (Wellington): 429. Thorndon School: 362. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do St Mary's College (Wellington) and Thorndon School rank in Wellington?
St Mary's College (Wellington) is 21st of 46 and Thorndon School is 27th of 176 among secondary (year 9-15) schools in Wellington on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).