Schools in Otara
Auckland · Auckland — South
There are 15 schools in and around Otara, Auckland (Auckland — South) — 9 primary, 2 intermediate, 3 secondary. Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Middle 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.
15 schools · refreshed from Education Counts 2026-07-12. Full methodology.
Schools in Otara 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.
- 1Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Middle School
Otara · Intermediate · 322 students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →89
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing98Trajectory85ERO review83 - View profile →
87
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory—ERO review75 - 3TKKM o Piripono Te Kura Whakahou ki Ōtara
Otara · Full Primary · 92 students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →80
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory83ERO review60 - View profile →
76
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory28ERO review84 - 5Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Junior School
Otara · Contributing · 392 students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →73
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory34ERO review73 - 6St John the Evangelist Catholic School
Otara · Full Primary · 224 students · EQI 475–509
View profile →71
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory37ERO review68 - View profile →
69
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing91Trajectory25ERO review77 - 8Bairds Mainfreight Primary School
Otara · Contributing · 347 students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →67
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory17ERO review69 - View profile →
62
/ 100 composite
Academic82Outcomes4Retention89Wellbeing65Trajectory100ERO review73 - View profile →
62
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing83Trajectory47ERO review52 - View profile →
60
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory18ERO review51 - View profile →
55
/ 100 composite
Academic61Outcomes11Retention79Wellbeing70Trajectory76ERO review83 - View profile →
54
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing53Trajectory47ERO review60 - 14Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Senior School
Otara · Secondary (Year 9-15) · 618 students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →44
/ 100 composite
Academic50Outcomes12Retention54Wellbeing48Trajectory67ERO review84 - View profile →
39
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory37ERO review74
What the record says about Otara schools
Plain-language summaries distilled from each school's ERO reports and Ministry records. Every claim is source-linked on the school's profile.
Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Middle School
Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Middle School is an intermediate school serving 322 students in Otara. The school's board has attested to meeting regulatory, legislative, and curriculum requirements as of the 2023 board assurance review. The school is currently operating under active limited statutory manager intervention from the Ministry of Education.
Full source-linked profile →TKKM o Piripono Te Kura Whakahou ki Ōtara
The school has a strong te reo Māori immersion environment where students show confidence and passion for learning with good wellbeing. However, almost 50% of students are below expected levels in reading and writing, and mathematics achievement is an area of urgent concern. The school has a long history of statutory intervention since 2004 but has made positive recent developments with new leadership and all teachers now fully registered. The composite score is 60.
Full source-linked profile →Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Junior School
The school made good progress addressing priorities from its 2015 ERO report, with improvements in governance and leadership. National Standards data showed positive shifts in achievement, particularly in mathematics and writing, with Māori achievement approaching parity. The school demonstrated effective progress tracking, collaborative curriculum development, and strong commitment to bicultural practice.
Full source-linked profile →St John the Evangelist Catholic School
St John the Evangelist Catholic School is a full primary school in Otara with a roll of 224 students. A 2023 board assurance review confirmed the board has met all regulatory and legislative requirements, with board administration and curriculum requirements confirmed.
Full source-linked profile →Mayfield School (Auckland)
Mayfield School's 2022 ERO review found teachers build strong relationships with learners through assessment and observation. The school demonstrates commitment to restorative and inclusive practices, well-being initiatives, and has upgraded its digital learning environment with professional development for teachers. No composite score was assigned in this review.
Full source-linked profile →Bairds Mainfreight Primary School
Bairds Mainfreight Primary School's Board Assurance Review (May 2023) confirmed the school meets regulatory and legislative requirements across all key areas, including Board Administration and Curriculum requirements as of September 2022. No composite score is currently available for this school.
Full source-linked profile →Kia Aroha Campus
Kia Aroha Campus is a composite school serving 359 students in Otara. The 2019 ERO review found the school achieves equitable outcomes for diverse students with a strong kaupapa for cultural, social and academic equity, and well-coordinated pastoral care systems. The school demonstrated notable progress, with 58 percent of Year 9 students who entered below expected curriculum level gaining NCEA Level 2 in 2017, with clear links between improved cultural identity and academic achievement. Composite score: 73.
Full source-linked profile →Dawson School
Dawson School is a contributing primary school located in Otara, Auckland. The Board of Trustees confirmed in February 2022 that the school was meeting its regulatory and legislative requirements across all six key assurance areas: Board Administration, Curriculum, Health/Safety/Welfare, Personnel, Finance, and Assets.
Full source-linked profile →Tangaroa College
Tangaroa College's board attested to meeting all regulatory and legislative requirements as of June 2023, with board administration and curriculum requirements confirmed met in the August 2023 board assurance review. The school is currently subject to active limited statutory manager intervention from the Ministry of Education.
Full source-linked profile →Ferguson Intermediate (Otara)
Ferguson Intermediate (Otara) is an intermediate school in Otara, Auckland with a roll of 413 students. A limited statutory manager has been appointed by the Ministry of Education. The school's board attested in October 2023 to meeting all regulatory and legislative requirements, with curriculum and board administration requirements confirmed.
Full source-linked profile →Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Senior School
Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Senior School's board has attested to meeting all regulatory and legislative requirements as of March 2024. The board confirmed administration and curriculum requirements have been met. No composite score is currently available.
Full source-linked profile →Flat Bush School
Flat Bush School's Board has attested to meeting regulatory and legislative requirements across Board Administration, Curriculum, and Health, Safety and Welfare as of the April 2024 board assurance review. The school had a roll of 407 students at the time of the review.
Full source-linked profile →Frequently asked questions about Otara schools
What schools are in Otara?
Otara, Auckland has 15 schools on our records (9 primary, 2 intermediate, 3 secondary): Tangaroa College, Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Senior School, Kia Aroha Campus, Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Middle School, Bairds Mainfreight Primary School, Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Junior School, Dawson School, Ferguson Intermediate (Otara), Flat Bush School, Mayfield School (Auckland), St John the Evangelist Catholic School, Wymondley Road School, and more. Every school links to a source-backed profile with ERO history, NCEA results and audited financials.
What is the best school in Otara?
On the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite — which scores each school against its EQI peer group across all year levels — Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Middle School ranks highest among Otara schools (89/100). On NCEA and University Entrance results, Tangaroa College 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 Otara?
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 Otara 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 Otara address.
Decile or EQI — how are Otara 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).