Schools in Rotorua
Bay of Plenty · New Zealand
There are 40 schools in and around Rotorua (Bay of Plenty) — 25 primary, 3 intermediate, 9 secondary. TKKM o Hurungaterangi 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.
40 schools · refreshed from Education Counts 2026-07-12. Full methodology.
Browse Rotorua schools by suburb
23 Rotorua suburbs have their own schools page.
- Schools in Fordlands 1
- Schools in Glenholme 3
- Schools in Hillcrest 2
- Schools in Holdens Bay 1
- Schools in Horohoro 1
- Schools in Kawaha Point 1
- Schools in Lynmore 1
- Schools in Mangakakahi 1
- Schools in Ngakuru 1
- Schools in Ngongotaha 1
- Schools in Owhata 2
- Schools in Pukehangi 1
- Schools in Rerewhakaaitu 1
- Schools in Rotokawa 1
- Schools in Rotorua 1
- Schools in Rotorua Central 4
- Schools in Selwyn Heights 1
- Schools in Springfield 1
- Schools in Te Ngae 1
- Schools in Utuhina 1
- Schools in Waikite Valley 1
- Schools in Western Heights 3
- Schools in Whakarewarewa 1
Top 30 schools in Rotorua 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.
- 1TKKM o Hurungaterangi
Mangakakahi · Composite · 91 students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →88
/ 100 composite
Academic92Outcomes—Retention90Wellbeing100Trajectory60ERO review75 - 2Rotorua Specialist School - Te Kura Pūkenga o Rotorua
Selwyn Heights · Specialist School · 103 students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →87
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory75ERO review84 - View profile →
83
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing82Trajectory100ERO review74 - View profile →
81
/ 100 composite
Academic95Outcomes67Retention92Wellbeing88Trajectory41ERO review72 - 5Awhina School/ Activity Centre
Rotorua Central · Activity Centre · — students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →81
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory—ERO review64 - 6St Mary's Catholic School (Rotorua)
Glenholme · Contributing · 479 students · EQI <420 (most advantaged)
View profile →79
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory49ERO review79 - View profile →
79
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory55ERO review75 - 8Te Rangihakahaka Centre for Science and Technology
Rotorua · Composite (Year 1-10) · 97 students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →75
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory40ERO review75 - View profile →
75
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing75Trajectory57ERO review87 - View profile →
74
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory36ERO review75 - View profile →
73
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing79Trajectory44ERO review85 - View profile →
72
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory49ERO review63 - View profile →
72
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing66Trajectory65ERO review82 - View profile →
71
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing76Trajectory54ERO review77 - View profile →
71
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing78Trajectory40ERO review84 - 16TKKM o Rotoiti
Rotorua · Full Primary · 40 students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →71
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory22ERO review75 - View profile →
70
/ 100 composite
Academic89Outcomes6Retention93Wellbeing100Trajectory85ERO review93 - View profile →
70
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing81Trajectory50ERO review74 - View profile →
70
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory55ERO review53 - View profile →
69
/ 100 composite
Academic90Outcomes4Retention86Wellbeing100Trajectory100ERO review80 - View profile →
67
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory26ERO review63 - View profile →
63
/ 100 composite
Academic73Outcomes29Retention64Wellbeing92Trajectory69ERO review85 - View profile →
63
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory33ERO review49 - View profile →
60
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing61Trajectory20ERO review83 - View profile →
56
/ 100 composite
Academic70Outcomes30Retention71Wellbeing43Trajectory47ERO review84 - View profile →
56
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing49Trajectory42ERO review72 - 27Rotorua Girls' High School
Hillcrest · Secondary (Year 9-15) · 595 students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →52
/ 100 composite
Academic63Outcomes23Retention61Wellbeing46Trajectory62ERO review82 - View profile →
52
/ 100 composite
Academic69Outcomes40Retention64Wellbeing0Trajectory55ERO review75 - View profile →
49
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory90ERO review67 - 30Te Āhuru Mōwai
Rotorua · Teen Parent Unit · — students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →49
/ 100 composite
Academic—Outcomes3Retention86Wellbeing100Trajectory23ERO review85
More schools in Rotorua
The rest of Rotorua's schools — some scored, some without a composite score yet (often small rolls or limited scored data). Every one has a full source-linked profile.
- Kawaha Point School Contributing · 249 students
- Western Heights Primary School (Rotorua) Contributing · 439 students
- Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai Composite · 112 students
- Glenholme School Contributing · 356 students
- Sunset Primary School Contributing · 158 students
- Rotorua Intermediate Intermediate · 636 students
- Rotorua S D A School Full Primary · 43 students
- Rotokawa School Contributing · 164 students
- Horohoro School Full Primary · 42 students
- Kaitao Intermediate Intermediate · 270 students
What the record says about Rotorua schools
Plain-language summaries distilled from each school's ERO reports and Ministry records. Every claim is source-linked on the school's profile.
John Paul College
John Paul College's 2024 ERO review found almost all students achieve NCEA Levels 1 to 3 with high proportions of Merit and Excellence endorsements, with equitable outcomes for Māori students. Leadership is increasingly effective and has a clear vision for strengthening bicultural practices and students' sense of belonging. The school maintains settled, learning-focused classrooms with established routines and respectful relationships, though just over half of students attend school regularly. Composite score: 72.
Full source-linked profile →Awhina School/ Activity Centre
Awhina School/ Activity Centre is an activity centre serving students in Rotorua. The centre's 2017 ERO review found that many students engage more positively with learning and transition successfully back to mainstream schooling or training. The centre embeds values of whanaugatanga, manaatitanga and aroha in daily practices and has strong cultural alignment with Te Arawa tikanga. However, achievement data in mathematics and writing is not consistently gathered to inform targeted programmes. The centre received a composite score of 64.
Full source-linked profile →TKKM o Ruamata
TKKM o Ruamata demonstrated strong commitment to Te Aho Matua philosophy with whānau, students, and staff working together. The school's immersive Māori-language education environment supports intergenerational transmission of te reo Māori across most whānau. ERO (2019) found te reo Māori education transformational and whānau actively participating in and influencing education success, with a composite score of 93.
Full source-linked profile →Ngongotaha School
Ngongotaha School's Board of Trustees attested to meeting all regulatory and legislative requirements as of February 2024, with confirmed compliance across all six requirement areas. The school met curriculum requirements and board administration standards as verified in the August 2024 board assurance review.
Full source-linked profile →TKKM o Te Koutu
ERO's 2021 regular review found students immersed in a rich te reo Māori and Spanish language learning environment with strong models from kaiako and community. The school demonstrates strong connections to Te Arawa identity and local iwi relationships, with deliberate practices creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. Students are supported to develop meaningful connections with others, and kaiako and whānau hold high expectations with positive encouragement.
Full source-linked profile →Rotorua Boys' High School
Rotorua Boys' High School's Board of Trustees has attested to meeting regulatory and legislative requirements across all key areas as of December 2021, with Board administration and curriculum requirements confirmed. The school is currently operating under active limited statutory manager intervention from the Ministry of Education. The school serves 1,106 students across Year 9 to Year 15.
Full source-linked profile →St Michael's Catholic School (Rotorua)
St Michael's Catholic School is a small state integrated school serving Years 1-6 with a focus on Catholic character, Mercy Charism, cultural diversity and family values. ERO noted the school's valued connections with kaumatua, whānau and the parish community, alongside its commitment to a caring, inclusive environment and collaborative staff focused on improving learner outcomes. The school and ERO are working together to evaluate how well all learners are spiritually and culturally empowered to achieve personal success.
Full source-linked profile →Western Heights High School
An ERO review in September 2023 identified strengths including systems for data-informed decision making, clear strategic direction from Board and senior leadership, and well-established partnerships supporting diverse learning opportunities. The school has no active Ministry of Education intervention.
Full source-linked profile →Rotorua Girls' High School
Rotorua Girls' High School is a secondary school in Hillcrest with a composite score of 82. The school operates Te Whare Whawhao hostel, which opened in 2023 and accommodates up to 50 boarders in a purpose-built facility. ERO found policies and procedures are fit for purpose, with student wellbeing and engagement central to care provision, supported by the hostel's bicultural foundation and purposeful connections with external agencies.
Full source-linked profile →Rotorua Lakes High School
Rotorua Lakes High School's board has attested to meeting regulatory and legislative requirements across key areas. An ERO board assurance review in December 2023 identified one non-compliance issue regarding identity document checking for workforce safety, which the school has taken steps to address. Board administration, curriculum requirements, and management of health, safety and welfare are compliant.
Full source-linked profile →Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai
Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai is a composite school in Holdens Bay, Rotorua, with 112 students. The school is the first in Aotearoa to align its schooling year to the Maramataka Māori and has implemented comprehensive curriculum underpinned by Ngāti Rongomaitanga and Mātauranga Māori. According to the 2022 ERO review, almost all students in the middle and senior classes are achieving at school expectations in literacy and mathematics, with excellence in te Reo Māori. The school has a limited statutory manager appointment that is currently active.
Full source-linked profile →Sunset Primary School
Sunset Primary School's board has attested to meeting regulatory and legislative requirements across all domains including Board Administration, Curriculum, Health and Safety, Personnel, Finance, and Assets. The ERO review identified non-compliance regarding the adoption of a health curriculum statement, which the board has taken steps to address. No composite score has been assigned.
Full source-linked profile →Frequently asked questions about Rotorua schools
What schools are in Rotorua?
Rotorua has 40 schools on our records (25 primary, 3 intermediate, 9 secondary): Western Heights High School, Rotorua Boys' High School, Rotorua Girls' High School, Rotorua Lakes High School, John Paul College, Te Rangihakahaka Centre for Science and Technology, Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai, TKKM o Te Koutu, TKKM o Ruamata, Aorangi School (Rotorua), Glenholme School, Horohoro 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 Rotorua?
On the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite — which scores each school against its EQI peer group across all year levels — TKKM o Hurungaterangi ranks highest among Rotorua schools (88/100). On NCEA and University Entrance results, John Paul 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 Rotorua?
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 Rotorua 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 Rotorua address.
Decile or EQI — how are Rotorua 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).