Waitaha School
12 Lemonwood Drive, Rolleston · Canterbury
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Composite score
Established
Above median
Rank #883 of scored NZ schools
In summary
Waitaha School's ERO review (March 2024) found that school systems enable students to progress toward individual learning goals including communication and self-management. The school fosters inclusive relationships through collaborative and supportive practices that incorporate whānau views in learning plans. School leaders promote ongoing improvement through distributive leadership that encourages staff collaboration and adaptive practice.
Best suited for
Students in Rolleston looking for a state-funded setting with an established ERO profile.
Is Waitaha School a good school?
Waitaha School scores 74/100 on the SchoolsNearMe composite — a weighted average of 5 axes (academic, outcomes, retention, wellbeing, trajectory). Above median nationally. The full breakdown is below; every input links to its source.
Strengths from the latest ERO report
- School systems that enable students to progress and achieve in relation their individual learning goals, including communication and self-management
- Collaborative and supportive relationships foster whanaungatanga, and underpin a strong culture of inclusion
- Building on each learner's preferences, prior experiences, and aspirations and incorporating whānau views in Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) and Good Life Plans (GLPs)
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.
standdowns 44.3/1k · suspensions 0.0/1k · exclusions 0.0/1k · near band median (n=404) · why? ▼ hide
+29.5% roll over 5yr (2020→2025) · top quartile of band (n=403) · why? ▼ hide
81/100 from ERO review 2024-03 · above 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): 81/100.
Latest ERO review
2024-03-20 · Shelley Booysen, ERO
- School systems enable students to progress and achieve in relation to their individual learning goals, including communication and self-management
- Collaborative and supportive relationships foster whanaungatanga and underpin a strong culture of inclusion through building on learner preferences and incorporating whānau views in ILPs and GLPs
- School leaders model ongoing improvements through distributive leadership approach that promotes staff collaboration, innovation and adaptive practice
- Specialist teacher outreach service provides targeted professional support for ORS-funded students in local schools across the Selwyn District and South Island locations
- School continues to navigate roll growth pressures along with employment and property demands associated with expansion
"Collaborative and supportive relationships foster whanaungatanga, and underpin a strong culture of inclusion"
Composite score across reviews
2 ERO reviews on file, 2019–2024. Click a point to read that review.
NCEA achievement
School leavers with NCEA at each level. National average is ~85% (Level 1).
NCEA Level 1 · 2024
0.0%
0 of 5 leavers
-7.7pt vs prior year
NCEA Level 2 · 2024
0.0%
0 of 5 leavers
-7.7pt vs prior year
University Entrance · 2024
0.0%
0 of 5 leavers
-7.7pt 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.
100.0%
2024 cohort · 5 students
0.0pt 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
44.3
5 this year · NZ avg ~37
Suspensions · 2024
0.0
· NZ avg ~5
Exclusions · 2024
0.0
· NZ avg ~1.5
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
$3.93M
Per-student funding · 2022
$29,558
2018
$2.4M
2019
$2.7M
2020
$3.3M
2021
$3.6M
2022
$3.9M
Roll by year level
July 2025 roll return.
- Year 01 11
- Year 02 7
- Year 03 8
- Year 04 13
- Year 05 8
- Year 06 6
- Year 07 12
- Year 08 8
- Year 09 9
- Year 10 7
- Year 11 3
- Year 12 7
- Year 13+ 37
Roll by ethnicity
Share of total roll. Students who identify with multiple ethnicities are counted once.
- European/Pākehā 63.2%
- Asian 24.8%
- Māori 13.5%
- Pacific 5.3%
- Other / MELAA 5.3%
Location
12 Lemonwood Drive, Rolleston. Nearby schools marked in grey.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap, © CARTO
Schools nearby
Within 15km, sorted by distance. Add any to compare with Waitaha School.
Lemonwood Grove School
Full Primary · 0.1km · 1,132 roll
55
-19 vs this
Te Rau Horopito
Full Primary · 1.1km · roll n/a
87
+13 vs this
Te Rōhutu Whio
Full Primary · 1.6km · 325 roll
58
-16 vs this
Rolleston Christian School
Full Primary · 1.8km · 288 roll
85
+11 vs this
Clearview Primary
Full Primary · 2km · 855 roll
75
+1 vs this
Rolleston College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · 2.2km · 1,829 roll
67
-7 vs this
Frequently asked
Is Waitaha School a good school?
Waitaha School scores 74/100 on the SchoolsNearMe composite — a weighted average of 5 axes (academic, outcomes, retention, wellbeing, trajectory). Above median nationally. The full breakdown is below; every input links to its source.
What does the latest ERO review say?
ERO's 2024-03 review identified 5 key findings. School systems enable students to progress and achieve in relation to their individual learning goals, including communication and self-management
How do I enrol my child at Waitaha School?
Contact the school directly on 03-3441243, email admin@waitaha.school.nz, or visit waitaha.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?
Waitaha School is a state school. There is no tuition fee for domestic students; voluntary donations may be requested.
What is the roll size?
Waitaha School has 133 students, with an EQI of 462 (mid-range socio-economic context).
When was the school last reviewed by ERO?
The Education Review Office last reviewed Waitaha School in 2024-03, signed by Shelley Booysen. 3 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
- schoolsdata.co.nz
- crimestats.co.nz