Schools in Hillcrest
Hamilton · Waikato
There are 8 schools in and around Hillcrest, Hamilton (Waikato) — 5 primary, 1 intermediate, 2 secondary. Hamilton Seventh-Day Adventist 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.
8 schools · refreshed from Education Counts 2026-07-12. Full methodology.
Schools in Hillcrest 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 →
90
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory100ERO review75 - View profile →
82
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing87Trajectory71ERO review85 - 3TKKM o Toku Mapihi Maurea
Hillcrest · Full Primary · 93 students · EQI 450–474
View profile →77
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory27ERO review87 - View profile →
75
/ 100 composite
Academic88Outcomes55Retention80Wellbeing73Trajectory69ERO review82 - View profile →
74
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing87Trajectory56ERO review74 - 6Berkley Normal Middle School
Hillcrest · Restricted Composite (Year 7-10) · 807 students · EQI 420–449
View profile →67
/ 100 composite
Academic—Outcomes—Retention—Wellbeing72Trajectory53ERO review79 - View profile →
62
/ 100 composite
Academic71Outcomes59Retention78Wellbeing21Trajectory53ERO review73 - View profile →
46
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory50ERO review83
What the record says about Hillcrest schools
Plain-language summaries distilled from each school's ERO reports and Ministry records. Every claim is source-linked on the school's profile.
St John's College (Hillcrest)
St John's College (Hillcrest) is a secondary school in Hillcrest, Hamilton, serving students in Years 9-15 with a roll of 924. The Board of Trustees' 2023 assurance review confirmed compliance with regulatory and legislative requirements, including board administration and curriculum requirements as of December 2022. No composite score is currently available.
Full source-linked profile →Hillcrest Normal School
Hillcrest Normal School's Board of Trustees attested to meeting all regulatory and legislative requirements as of March 2024, with Board Administration and curriculum requirements affirmed in the April 2024 board assurance review. No composite score is currently available for this school.
Full source-linked profile →Hillcrest High School
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.
Full source-linked profile →Knighton Normal School
Knighton Normal School's 2023 ERO review identified strengths in culturally responsive curriculum practices that promote student engagement, teaching programmes that respond to individual student needs with equitable opportunities, and collaborative leadership that promotes inclusivity and belonging. The school's approach celebrates cultural diversity and supports positive outcomes for students and whānau.
Full source-linked profile →Frequently asked questions about Hillcrest schools
What schools are in Hillcrest?
Hillcrest, Hamilton has 8 schools on our records (5 primary, 1 intermediate, 2 secondary): St John's College (Hillcrest), Hillcrest High School, TKKM o Toku Mapihi Maurea, Berkley Normal Middle School, Hillcrest Normal School, Knighton Normal School, Silverdale Normal School, Hamilton Seventh-Day Adventist School. Every school links to a source-backed profile with ERO history, NCEA results and audited financials.
What is the best school in Hillcrest?
On the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite — which scores each school against its EQI peer group across all year levels — Hamilton Seventh-Day Adventist School ranks highest among Hillcrest schools (90/100). On NCEA and University Entrance results, St John's College (Hillcrest) 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 Hillcrest?
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 Hillcrest 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 Hillcrest address.
Decile or EQI — how are Hillcrest 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).