Best Schools in Palmerston North 2026
The best schools in Palmerston North ranked on academic results (NCEA and University Entrance) and on the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite, which scores each school against its EQI peer group.
46 schools · refreshed from Education Counts 2026-07-12. Full methodology.
Top 7 schools in Palmerston North by academic results
Secondary schools ranked on NCEA Level 1–3 and University Entrance achievement — the "consensus" measure most rankings use. For a fairer, intake-adjusted view, see the value-added list below.
League-table caveat: we only rank schools with at least 30 NCEA candidates, so a 100% pass rate on a handful of students doesn't out-rank a large school — small-cohort percentages are volatile year to year. Read alongside the per-axis breakdown on each school's profile.
- 194/100
- 287/100
- 385/100
- 476/100
- 567/100
- 663/100
- 751/100
The honest list: best value-added schools in Palmerston North
The SchoolsNearMe composite scores every level (primary, intermediate, secondary) against its EQI peer group — so it surfaces schools that get the most out of their students, not just the ones with the most advantaged intake. How it's calculated.
- 1Mana Tamariki
Palmerston North CBD · Composite · 74 students · EQI 420–449
View profile →90
/ 100 composite
Academic—Outcomes—Retention100Wellbeing100Trajectory61ERO review85 - View profile →
82
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory63ERO review79 - View profile →
81
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory66ERO review74 - View profile →
80
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory46ERO review84 - View profile →
79
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory69ERO review68 - View profile →
78
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing72Trajectory76ERO review85 - View profile →
78
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory51ERO review75 - 8Palmerston North Girls' High School
Palmerston North · Secondary (Year 9-15) · 1,312 students · EQI 420–449
View profile →77
/ 100 composite
Academic85Outcomes59Retention89Wellbeing88Trajectory58ERO review85 - View profile →
76
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing93Trajectory41ERO review84 - 10Manawatu Community High School - Manawatu Kura a Iwi
West End · Activity Centre · — students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →76
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory—ERO review55 - View profile →
75
/ 100 composite
Academic87Outcomes57Retention91Wellbeing61Trajectory69ERO review80 - View profile →
75
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing93Trajectory39ERO review82
Schools by suburb in Palmerston North
Browse every school in a specific Palmerston North suburb, ranked locally with ERO history and the value-added composite.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best schools in Palmerston North?
On academic results (NCEA Level 1–3 and University Entrance), the top-ranked Palmerston North secondary schools are Manukura, St Peter's College (Palmerston North), Palmerston North Girls' High School, Palmerston North Boys' High School, Freyberg High School. On the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite — which compares each school against its EQI peer group across all year levels — the leaders are Mana Tamariki, Our Lady of Lourdes School (P North), Aokautere School.
What are the best school suburbs in Palmerston North?
Palmerston North, Milson, Roslyn, West End have the highest concentration of top-ranked schools in Palmerston North on our academic ranking. Note that several of the highest-performing schools have enrolment zones, so the suburb you live in can determine which state schools you can enrol at.
How do school zones work in Palmerston North?
Many Palmerston North state schools operate an enrolment zone (home zone): if your home address is inside the zone you have a legal right to enrol, while out-of-zone places are allocated by ballot. Several of the highest-performing state schools are zoned, so the address you live at — not just the suburb — can determine which schools you can enrol at. Always confirm a school's current zone with the school or the Ministry of Education before relying on it; you can check schools against a specific address with our by-address tool.
Decile or Equity Index — how are Palmerston North schools rated for socio-economic need?
New Zealand replaced the decile system with the Equity Index (EQI) in 2023. A lower EQI means a more socio-economically advantaged community; a higher EQI means greater need. EQI measures the intake, not teaching quality — a higher-EQI school can outperform a lower-EQI one. The SchoolsNearMe composite controls for EQI so a school serving a more disadvantaged community isn't unfairly penalised against its peers.
What is the most prestigious school in Palmerston North?
Prestige is subjective and often tied to a school's history, roll and fees rather than results. On measurable academic achievement, Manukura is among the highest-ranked schools in Palmerston North. We rank on outcomes — NCEA, University Entrance, retention, post-school destinations and wellbeing — not reputation.
What is the highest-decile (most advantaged) school in Palmerston North?
The decile system was replaced by the Equity Index (EQI) in 2023 — a lower EQI means a more socio-economically advantaged student community. In Palmerston North, St Mary's School (P North) (Roslyn) has one of the lowest EQI figures at 389. The SchoolsNearMe composite controls for EQI so advantage alone doesn't inflate a school's score.
How these rankings work
The academic ranking orders secondary schools by NCEA Level 1–3 and University Entrance achievement. The value-added composite combines five axes — academic achievement, post-school destinations, Y9→Y13 retention, wellbeing (low stand-down rate) and roll trajectory — into a single 0–100 score, comparing each school against its EQI-band peers (12 bands covering New Zealand's socio-economic spread) so a school serving a more disadvantaged community isn't unfairly penalised.
Source data: Education Counts (NCEA, retention, destinations, discipline, funding) · Ministry of Education (roll, EQI, identity).