Schools in Manukau
New Zealand
There are 3 schools in and around Manukau — 2 primary, 1 secondary. Sancta Maria College 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.
3 schools · refreshed from Education Counts 2026-07-12. Full methodology.
Browse Manukau schools by suburb
3 Manukau suburbs have their own schools page.
Schools in Manukau 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.
- 1Sancta Maria College
Howick South · Secondary (Year 7-15) · 1,062 students · EQI <420 (most advantaged)
View profile →85
/ 100 composite
Academic94Outcomes79Retention95Wellbeing85Trajectory52ERO review73 - 2Sancta Maria Catholic Primary School
Flat Bush · Contributing · 395 students · EQI <420 (most advantaged)
View profile →77
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing87Trajectory47ERO review86 - View profile →
74
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing95Trajectory42ERO review76
What the record says about Manukau schools
Plain-language summaries distilled from each school's ERO reports and Ministry records. Every claim is source-linked on the school's profile.
Sancta Maria College
The Board of Trustees has attested to meeting regulatory and legislative requirements across all domains as of February 2024, with Board Administration and Curriculum requirements confirmed. No composite score is available for this school.
Full source-linked profile →Sancta Maria Catholic Primary School
Sancta Maria Catholic Primary School is a contributing primary school in Flat Bush, Manukau, with a roll of 395 students. The school's most recent ERO review (September 2023) identified strong school values guiding student support, a positive and respectful culture that promotes love for learning, and a responsive curriculum meeting diverse learning needs. No composite score was assigned in the review.
Full source-linked profile →The Gardens School
The Gardens School's board has attested to meeting all regulatory and legislative requirements, including board administration and curriculum requirements, as of May 2024. An ERO board assurance review was completed in August 2024.
Full source-linked profile →Frequently asked questions about Manukau schools
What schools are in Manukau?
Manukau has 3 schools on our records (2 primary, 1 secondary): Sancta Maria College, Sancta Maria Catholic Primary School, The Gardens School. Every school links to a source-backed profile with ERO history, NCEA results and audited financials.
What is the best school in Manukau?
On the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite — which scores each school against its EQI peer group across all year levels — Sancta Maria College ranks highest among Manukau schools (85/100). "Best" depends on what you value — compare profiles to weigh academic results, ERO trajectory, retention and wellbeing.
What is the school zone for Manukau?
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 Manukau 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 Manukau address.
Decile or EQI — how are Manukau 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).