Schools in Karori
Wellington · Wellington
There are 5 schools in and around Karori, Wellington (Wellington) — 4 primary, 1 secondary. Mākara Model 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.
5 schools · refreshed from Education Counts 2026-07-12. Full methodology.
Schools in Karori 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 →
80
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory52ERO review81 - View profile →
76
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory34ERO review80 - View profile →
75
/ 100 composite
Academic95Outcomes46Retention96Wellbeing—Trajectory32ERO review85 - View profile →
73
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory31ERO review75 - View profile →
67
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing97Trajectory31ERO review62
What the record says about Karori schools
Plain-language summaries distilled from each school's ERO reports and Ministry records. Every claim is source-linked on the school's profile.
Samuel Marsden Collegiate School
Samuel Marsden Collegiate School meets all eight criteria for registration as a private school under the Education Act 1989. The school has established policies and procedures to provide physically and emotionally safe environments, and maintains an effective annual self-review process for international students with well-considered orientation processes. No composite score is currently available for this school.
Full source-linked profile →Frequently asked questions about Karori schools
What schools are in Karori?
Karori, Wellington has 5 schools on our records (4 primary, 1 secondary): Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, Karori Normal School, Karori West Normal School, Mākara Model School, St Teresa's School (Karori). Every school links to a source-backed profile with ERO history, NCEA results and audited financials.
What is the best school in Karori?
On the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite — which scores each school against its EQI peer group across all year levels — Mākara Model School ranks highest among Karori schools (80/100). On NCEA and University Entrance results, Samuel Marsden Collegiate 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 Karori?
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 Karori 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 Karori address.
Decile or EQI — how are Karori 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).