Schools in Darfield
Canterbury · New Zealand
There are 4 schools in and around Darfield (Canterbury) — 3 primary, 1 secondary. Hororata School is the highest-scoring on the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite, which compares every school against its EQI peer group. Each profile is source-linked to Education Counts, ERO and the Ministry of Education.
4 schools · refreshed from Education Counts 2026-07-12. Full methodology.
Browse Darfield schools by suburb
1 Darfield suburb has their own schools page.
Schools in Darfield ranked by value-added score
The SchoolsNearMe composite scores every level against its EQI peer group, so it surfaces schools that get the most out of their students — not just the most advantaged intake. How it's calculated.
- View profile →
83
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory73ERO review75 - View profile →
67
/ 100 composite
Academic78Outcomes58Retention79Wellbeing48Trajectory53ERO review72 - View profile →
55
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory93ERO review80
More schools in Darfield
These schools don't yet have a composite score (often small rolls or limited scored data). Their full source-linked profiles are still available.
- Windwhistle School Contributing · 29 students
What the record says about Darfield schools
Plain-language summaries distilled from each school's ERO reports and Ministry records. Every claim is source-linked on the school's profile.
Hororata School
Hororata School's Board of Trustees attested to meeting all regulatory and legislative requirements across six areas as of March 2022, with Board Administration and Curriculum compliance confirmed. The school operates without active Ministry of Education intervention.
Full source-linked profile →Darfield High School
Darfield High School's Board of Trustees attested in March 2023 to meeting regulatory and legislative requirements in Board Administration, Curriculum, and Management of Health, Safety and Welfare. The school currently operates under a limited statutory manager intervention from the Ministry of Education.
Full source-linked profile →Darfield School
Darfield School's Board of Trustees attested to meeting all regulatory and legislative requirements as of July 2024, with Board Administration and Curriculum requirements confirmed. The school has no active Ministry of Education intervention. A composite score is not available for this school.
Full source-linked profile →Windwhistle School
Windwhistle School's October 2024 ERO review found almost all students meeting curriculum level expectations in reading, writing and mathematics, with strong student wellbeing and peer support. The school demonstrates robust achievement data analysis, aligned strategic planning, and seamless teaching team collaboration. The school's composite score is 80.
Full source-linked profile →Frequently asked questions about Darfield schools
What schools are in Darfield?
Darfield has 4 schools on our records (3 primary, 1 secondary): Darfield High School, Darfield School, Hororata School, Windwhistle School. Every school links to a source-backed profile with ERO history, NCEA results and audited financials.
What is the best school in Darfield?
On the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite — which scores each school against its EQI peer group across all year levels — Hororata School ranks highest among Darfield schools (83/100). On NCEA and University Entrance results, Darfield High School leads the local secondary schools. "Best" depends on what you value — compare profiles to weigh academic results, ERO trajectory, retention and wellbeing.
What is the school zone for Darfield?
Many New Zealand state schools operate an enrolment zone (home zone), so your home address — not just the suburb — determines which in-zone state schools you can enrol at. Living in Darfield does not guarantee a place at any particular school. Check each school's current zone with the school directly or use our by-address tool to see which schools cover a specific Darfield address.
Decile or EQI — how are Darfield 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 is a funding tool, not a quality measure — a high-EQI school can outperform a low-EQI one. The SchoolsNearMe composite controls for EQI 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) · Education Review Office (reviews).