Hillcrest High School
141 Masters Avenue, Hillcrest · Waikato
See all schools in Hillcrest →
Composite score
Established
Below median
Rank #1,497 of scored NZ schools
In summary
Hillcrest High School's 2022 ERO review identified strong leadership and strategic planning focused on continuous improvement and student outcomes. The school has robust internal evaluation processes to identify learning needs. However, the review noted a known disparity in achievement outcomes between groups of students.
Best suited for
Students aged 13-18 in Hillcrest looking for a state-funded setting with an established ERO profile.
Is Hillcrest High School a good school?
Hillcrest High School scores 62/100 on the SchoolsNearMe composite — a weighted average of 5 axes (academic, outcomes, retention, wellbeing, trajectory). Below median nationally. The full breakdown is below; every input links to its source.
Strengths from the latest ERO report
- Strong leadership across the school focusing on continuous school improvement and improved outcomes for all students
- A coherent, aligned and student-centred charter and strategic plan that prioritises improved student outcomes
- Robust and comprehensive internal evaluation processes that clearly identify students' learning needs
Summary derived from ERO reports + audited financials + MoE records. Every claim links to its source — see data transparency at the bottom of this page.
Score breakdown
6 axes, each scored 0–100 on a national absolute scale. As at 2025.
L1 82% · L2 72% · UE 47% · below band median (n=84) · why? ▼ hide
Uni 39% · Te Pūkenga 11% · Industry 9% · top 10% of band (n=81) · why? ▼ hide
78% to Y13 · near band median (n=86) · why? ▼ hide
standdowns 74.3/1k · suspensions 0.6/1k · exclusions 0.8/1k · bottom quartile of band (n=404) · why? ▼ hide
+2.6% roll over 5yr (2020→2025) · near band median (n=403) · why? ▼ hide
73/100 from ERO review 2022-08 · below band median (n=406) · why? ▼ hide
⚠ Insufficient EQI-band peers (n<10) to compute per-axis percentile context. The score above is absolute; treat it as a single-school read rather than a peer comparison.
Real ERO composite (from the latest review): 73/100.
Latest ERO review
2022-08-25 · Phil Cowie, Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui
- Known disparity between groups of students in achievement outcomes
- Strong leadership across the school focusing on continuous school improvement and improved outcomes for all students
- Robust and comprehensive internal evaluation processes that clearly identify students' learning needs
- Strong relationship with Ngāti Hauā that supports and helps informs the direction of the school
- School prioritises equity and excellence with a vision for inclusive approach valuing diversity
"strong leadership across the school focusing on continuous school improvement and improved outcomes for all students"
Composite score across reviews
3 ERO reviews on file, 2018–2022. Click a point to read that review.
Trajectory across review cycles
Year-over-year change per dimension based on consecutive ERO reviews.
Both reports identify equity as a priority and recognize disparities between student groups, but the 2022 report shows a shift from active progress on specific cohorts (81% of Māori students and 86% of boys achieving acceleration by Year 12/13 in 2018) to acknowledging a "known disparity" without evidence of similar outcome improvements. The 2018 report emphasized demonstrated acceleration progress, while 2022 emphasizes vision and processes without comparable achievement data.
2018-05 → 2022-08 diff source
Audited financials
Year ended 2023 · Audit opinion: unmodified
Total revenue
$23.28M
Surplus / (deficit)
+$877k
Net assets / equity
$5.31M
NCEA achievement
School leavers with NCEA at each level. National average is ~85% (Level 1).
NCEA Level 1 · 2024
81.8%
278 of 340 leavers
-7.4pt vs prior year
NCEA Level 2 · 2024
71.5%
243 of 340 leavers
-7.2pt vs prior year
University Entrance · 2024
46.8%
159 of 340 leavers
-1.8pt vs prior year
Data: Ministry of Education / Education Counts, CC-BY-4.0
Stay-on rate
Percentage of students who stay at school until at least their 17th birthday — the standard NZ proxy for Year-9-to-Year-13 retention.
78.2%
2024 cohort · 340 students
-3.0pt vs 2023
Discipline (age-standardised, per 1,000 students)
Stand-down = sent home temporarily. Suspension = formal investigation. Exclusion = removed from school. National averages shown for comparison.
Stand-downs · 2024
74.3
200 this year · NZ avg ~37
Suspensions · 2024
0.6
2 this year · NZ avg ~5
Exclusions · 2024
0.8
2 this year · NZ avg ~1.5
Vocational Pathway Awards
School leavers achieving Vocational Pathway Awards by industry sector (2024).
- Creative Industries 11
- Service Industries 8
- Manufacturing and Technology 7
- Social and Community Services 2
- Construction and Infrastructure 1
Government funding
Crown funding only (school operations + teacher salaries + property). Excludes locally-raised funds, international fees and trading income — those are in the audited financial report above.
Total Crown funding · 2022
$15.41M
Per-student funding · 2022
$8,758
2018
$13.6M
2019
$13.7M
2020
$15.1M
2021
$15.0M
2022
$15.4M
Roll by year level
July 2025 roll return.
- Year 09 319
- Year 10 392
- Year 11 387
- Year 12 377
- Year 13+ 301
Roll by ethnicity
Share of total roll. Students who identify with multiple ethnicities are counted once.
- European/Pākehā 51.5%
- Asian 32.6%
- Māori 15.1%
- Other / MELAA 8.2%
- Pacific 4.9%
- International 3.0%
International students
SIEBA member · Day school only
Location
141 Masters Avenue, Hillcrest. Nearby schools marked in grey.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap, © CARTO
Schools nearby
Within 15km, sorted by distance. Add any to compare with Hillcrest High School.
Silverdale Normal School
Contributing · 0.3km · 402 roll
82
+20 vs this
TKKM o Toku Mapihi Maurea
Full Primary · 0.6km · 93 roll
77
+15 vs this
St John's College (Hillcrest)
Secondary (Year 9-15) · 0.8km · 924 roll
75
+13 vs this
Hillcrest Normal School
Contributing · 1km · 678 roll
74
+12 vs this
Berkley Normal Middle School
Restricted Composite (Year 7-10) · 1km · 807 roll
67
+5 vs this
Knighton Normal School
Contributing · 1.4km · 731 roll
46
-16 vs this
Frequently asked
Is Hillcrest High School a good school?
Hillcrest High School scores 62/100 on the SchoolsNearMe composite — a weighted average of 5 axes (academic, outcomes, retention, wellbeing, trajectory). Below median nationally. The full breakdown is below; every input links to its source.
What does the latest ERO review say?
ERO's 2022-08 review identified 5 key findings. Known disparity between groups of students in achievement outcomes
How do I enrol my child at Hillcrest High School?
Contact the school directly on 07-8570297, email office@hillcrest-high.school.nz, or visit www.hillcrest-high.school.nz. For state schools, check your home address against the school's enrolment zone — some schools are in-zone-only.
What are the fees?
Hillcrest High School is a state school. There is no tuition fee for domestic students; voluntary donations may be requested.
What is the roll size?
Hillcrest High School has 1,760 students, with an EQI of 451 (mid-range socio-economic context).
When was the school last reviewed by ERO?
The Education Review Office last reviewed Hillcrest High School in 2022-08, signed by Phil Cowie. 4 ERO reports are on file in our archive.
Data transparency
Every fact on this page links to its source. We never publish a claim without provenance — read our methodology for the full rules.
Sourced from
- ero.govt.nz
- hillcrest-high.school.nz
- sieba.nz
- schoolsdata.co.nz
- crimestats.co.nz