Schools in Palmerston
Otago & Southland · New Zealand
There are 3 schools in and around Palmerston (Otago & Southland) — 2 primary, 1 secondary. Palmerston 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.
3 schools · refreshed from Education Counts 2026-07-12. Full methodology.
Browse Palmerston schools by suburb
1 Palmerston suburb has their own schools page.
Schools in Palmerston 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 →
58
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing51Trajectory47ERO review72 - View profile →
50
/ 100 composite
Academic68Outcomes7Retention67Wellbeing39Trajectory65ERO review83
More schools in Palmerston
These schools don't yet have a composite score (often small rolls or limited scored data). Their full source-linked profiles are still available.
- Macraes Moonlight School Full Primary · 21 students
What the record says about Palmerston schools
Plain-language summaries distilled from each school's ERO reports and Ministry records. Every claim is source-linked on the school's profile.
Palmerston School
Palmerston School received a Te Ara Huarau review in July 2023. The school demonstrates clear leadership systems supporting inquiry-based culture, a cohesive local curriculum framework, and collaborative teaching practices that build on internal expertise. The school's composite score is 72.
Full source-linked profile →East Otago High School
East Otago High School is a secondary school in Palmerston with a roll of 192 students. An ERO review in January 2023 found the school is a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 and has attested compliance with all aspects of the Code, including documented annual self-review. The school is currently subject to active limited statutory manager intervention by the Ministry of Education.
Full source-linked profile →Macraes Moonlight School
Macraes Moonlight School is a full primary (roll: 21) in Macraes Flat, Palmerston. The school is currently operating under active limited statutory manager intervention from the Ministry of Education. The Board of Trustees has attested to meeting regulatory and legislative requirements, with curriculum and board administration requirements confirmed as of the March 2023 board assurance review.
Full source-linked profile →Frequently asked questions about Palmerston schools
What schools are in Palmerston?
Palmerston has 3 schools on our records (2 primary, 1 secondary): East Otago High School, Macraes Moonlight School, Palmerston School. Every school links to a source-backed profile with ERO history, NCEA results and audited financials.
What is the best school in Palmerston?
On the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite — which scores each school against its EQI peer group across all year levels — Palmerston School ranks highest among Palmerston schools (58/100). "Best" depends on what you value — compare profiles to weigh academic results, ERO trajectory, retention and wellbeing.
What is the school zone for Palmerston?
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 Palmerston 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 Palmerston address.
Decile or EQI — how are Palmerston 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).