James Cook High School
Dr Pickering Avenue, Manurewa · Auckland — South
Composite score
Developing
Below median
Rank #1,821 of scored NZ schools
Active MoE intervention — limited statutory manager
A limited statutory manager has been appointed to James Cook High School as of 2020-03-11. NZ Gazette notice
In summary
James Cook High School has made very good progress according to its 2021 ERO review, with significant improvements in student attendance and NCEA qualification rates (rising from 56.7% to 62% in 2020). The school is noted for clear leadership, improved student engagement, and responsive curriculum developments. A limited statutory manager is currently active at the school.
Best suited for
Students aged 13-18 in Manurewa looking for a state-funded setting.
Is James Cook High School a good school?
James Cook High School is currently under MoE intervention — a limited statutory manager has been appointed. The school's day-to-day teaching continues; the intervention addresses governance or operational concerns identified by the Ministry. Read the NZ Gazette notice for details.
Strengths from the latest ERO report
- Clear and decisive school leadership using collaborative approaches with shared sense of purpose
- Significant improvement in student engagement and pride in school
- Responsive curriculum developments including strengthened foundational learning time and timetabling changes
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 71% · L2 61% · UE 40% · near band median (n=142) · why? ▼ hide
Uni 8% · Te Pūkenga 6% · Industry 2% · top quartile of band (n=123) · why? ▼ hide
73% to Y13 · near band median (n=166) · why? ▼ hide
standdowns 31.4/1k · suspensions 3.4/1k · exclusions 2.2/1k · near band median (n=539) · why? ▼ hide
+37.0% roll over 5yr (2020→2025) · top quartile of band (n=524) · why? ▼ hide
70/100 from ERO review 2021-11 · below band median (n=544) · 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): 70/100.
Latest ERO review
2021-11-15 · Phil Cowie, Northern Region - Te Tai Raki
- School has made very good progress and transitioned into ERO's Evaluation for Improvement | Te Ara Huarau approach
- Significant gains in student attendance since 2020 COVID-19 closures with 90 percent national attendance goal as ongoing focus
- NCEA qualification rates improved from 56.7 percent to 62 percent in 2020, with higher rates for Puutake and O Le Tupu'aga students
- Significant progress in developing positive school culture with clear MANA values and JC Code reflecting student, staff and whānau input
- School stewardship practices improved significantly with stronger board scrutiny of data and student outcomes
"Students benefited from clear and decisive school leadership through proactive responses and provisions for COVID-19. School leaders are using a more collaborative leadership approach with a greater sense of shared purpose."
Composite score across reviews
2 ERO reviews on file, 2019–2021. Click a point to read that review.
Trajectory across review cycles
Year-over-year change per dimension based on consecutive ERO reviews.
Governance at James Cook High School strengthened significantly between 2019 and 2021. In 2019, board members' knowledge and understanding of roles improved with clearer assurance processes; by 2021, trustees demonstrated increased scrutiny of data and student outcomes with more rigorous decision-making practices. Board composition was also strengthened in 2021 with improved parent representation while retaining experienced trustees.
2019-06 → 2021-11 diff source
Leadership improved from 'developing' to 'well placed' between 2019 and 2021. The 2019 report noted 'significant progress' in building capacity of the senior leadership team, while the 2021 report describes 'clear and decisive school leadership' using 'collaborative approaches with shared sense of purpose,' demonstrating sustained development and maturation of leadership practices.
2019-06 → 2021-11 diff source
Both reports highlight strong wellbeing provision, but the 2021 report shows evolution from a responsive pastoral care team addressing individual needs to a more systemic, positive school culture. The 2021 report emphasizes broader student engagement and pride in school alongside improved attendance, suggesting wellbeing gains extended beyond crisis intervention to whole-school climate improvement.
2019-06 → 2021-11 diff source
James Cook High School demonstrated meaningful progress on equity between 2019 and 2021. While the 2019 report identified that "A stronger focus on Māori student achievement in the English medium is required," the 2021 report shows this was addressed, with NCEA qualification rates improving from 56.7% to 62% in 2020 and sustained higher rates for Puutake and O Le Tupu'aga students. The school also significantly strengthened culturally responsive teaching practices across the entire staff.
2019-06 → 2021-11 diff source
James Cook High School's curriculum focus evolved from foundational literacy and numeracy programmes in Years 9-10 (2019) to a more comprehensive responsive curriculum with strengthened foundational learning time, timetabling changes, and expanded student leadership opportunities across Years 9-13 (2021). The school maintained emphasis on culturally responsive practices while broadening curricular scope and student voice.
2019-06 → 2021-11 diff source
Audited financials
Year ended 2021 · Audit opinion: n/a
Total revenue
$16.76M
Surplus / (deficit)
$75k
Net assets / equity
$5.56M
NCEA achievement
School leavers with NCEA at each level. National average is ~85% (Level 1).
NCEA Level 1 · 2024
70.7%
220 of 311 leavers
+1.1pt vs prior year
NCEA Level 2 · 2024
61.4%
191 of 311 leavers
+8.5pt vs prior year
University Entrance · 2024
40.2%
125 of 311 leavers
+9.1pt 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.
72.7%
2024 cohort · 311 students
+8.9pt 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
31.4
84 this year · NZ avg ~37
Suspensions · 2024
3.4
11 this year · NZ avg ~5
Exclusions · 2024
2.2
6 this year · NZ avg ~1.5
Vocational Pathway Awards
School leavers achieving Vocational Pathway Awards by industry sector (2024).
- Service Industries 11
- Creative Industries 1
- Manufacturing and Technology 1
- 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
$15.14M
Per-student funding · 2022
$8,920
2018
$10.2M
2019
$11.2M
2020
$12.3M
2021
$13.5M
2022
$15.1M
Roll by year level
July 2025 roll return.
- Year 09 391
- Year 10 440
- Year 11 380
- Year 12 300
- Year 13+ 236
Roll by ethnicity
Share of total roll. Students who identify with multiple ethnicities are counted once.
- Pacific 60.9%
- Māori 37.0%
- Asian 15.4%
- European/Pākehā 13.3%
- Other / MELAA 2.6%
Location
Dr Pickering Avenue, Manurewa. Nearby schools marked in grey.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap, © CARTO
Schools nearby
Within 15km, sorted by distance. Add any to compare with James Cook High School.
Leabank School
Contributing · 0.1km · 394 roll
69
+15 vs this
South Auckland Middle School
Restricted Composite (Year 7-10) · 0.6km · 178 roll
76
+22 vs this
Manurewa South School
Contributing · 0.9km · 412 roll
73
+19 vs this
Manurewa West School
Contributing · 1.2km · 470 roll
73
+19 vs this
Clayton Park School
Full Primary · 1.2km · 332 roll
43
-11 vs this
Finlayson Park School
Contributing · 1.3km · 949 roll
73
+19 vs this
Frequently asked
Is James Cook High School a good school?
James Cook High School is currently under MoE intervention — a limited statutory manager has been appointed. The school's day-to-day teaching continues; the intervention addresses governance or operational concerns identified by the Ministry. Read the NZ Gazette notice for details.
What does the latest ERO review say?
ERO's 2021-11 review identified 6 key findings. School has made very good progress and transitioned into ERO's Evaluation for Improvement | Te Ara Huarau approach
How do I enrol my child at James Cook High School?
Contact the school directly on 09-2683950, email admin@jchs.school.nz, or visit www.jchs.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?
James Cook High School is a state school. There is no tuition fee for domestic students; voluntary donations may be requested.
What is the roll size?
James Cook High School has 1,697 students, with an EQI of 529 (higher socio-economic need).
When was the school last reviewed by ERO?
The Education Review Office last reviewed James Cook High School in 2021-11, signed by Phil Cowie. 2 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
- jchs.school.nz
- gazette.govt.nz
- schoolsdata.co.nz
- crimestats.co.nz