Schools in Taupo
Bay of Plenty · New Zealand
There are 13 schools in and around Taupo (Bay of Plenty) — 7 primary, 1 intermediate, 5 secondary. Hilltop 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.
13 schools · refreshed from Education Counts 2026-07-12. Full methodology.
Browse Taupo schools by suburb
5 Taupo suburbs have their own schools page.
Schools in Taupo 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 →
72
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing75Trajectory56ERO review79 - View profile →
67
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing79Trajectory38ERO review75 - View profile →
64
/ 100 composite
Academic74Outcomes48Retention72Wellbeing53Trajectory69ERO review64 - 4TKKM o Whakarewa I Te Reo Ki Tuwharetoa
Taupo · Composite · 162 students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →63
/ 100 composite
Academic83Outcomes5Retention96Wellbeing100Trajectory27ERO review87 - View profile →
60
/ 100 composite
Academic74Outcomes44Retention73Wellbeing33Trajectory57ERO review75 - View profile →
58
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing41Trajectory40ERO review85 - View profile →
51
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing41Trajectory55ERO review56 - View profile →
49
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory71ERO review79 - View profile →
49
/ 100 composite
Academic—Outcomes—Retention0Wellbeing100Trajectory48ERO review75 - View profile →
46
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory73ERO review69 - View profile →
41
/ 100 composite
Academic—Outcomes1Retention43Wellbeing91Trajectory76ERO review62 - 12St Patrick's Catholic School (Taupo)
Taupo · Full Primary · 261 students · EQI <420 (most advantaged)
View profile →35
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory31ERO review68 - View profile →
26
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory28ERO review48
What the record says about Taupo schools
Plain-language summaries distilled from each school's ERO reports and Ministry records. Every claim is source-linked on the school's profile.
Hilltop School
Hilltop School's February 2025 ERO review found that a large majority of learners achieve at and above curriculum expectations in reading, writing and mathematics, with improving equity across learner groups. Structured literacy approaches and embedded school values support engagement, wellbeing and leadership development. The school has established systems for gathering and analysing learner progress data, with leaders supporting teachers to strengthen teaching practices and expertise.
Full source-linked profile →Taupo-nui-a-Tia College
Taupo-nui-a-Tia College has a composite score of 64. Most students achieve NCEA Levels 1 and 2, with a large majority reaching Level 3, though just under half achieve University Entrance and outcomes for Māori students are not yet equitable. Less than half of Year 9 and 10 students are making expected progress in foundational literacy and numeracy, and attendance remains below the government target. Leadership fosters a culture committed to quality teaching and equity, with culturally responsive practices embedding and a focus on giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Full source-linked profile →TKKM o Whakarewa I Te Reo Ki Tuwharetoa
TKKM o Whakarewa I Te Reo Ki Tuwharetoa is immersed in the culture and history of Ngāti Tūwharetoa with strong connections to iwi and hapū. The ERO review (2018) identified that students are nurtured in an environment celebrating ancestral links, with manaakitanga embedded throughout the kura and students exposed to strong models of te reo Māori. The school's composite score is 87.
Full source-linked profile →Tauhara College
Tauhara College's leadership team and board are committed to improving outcomes for all students with a focus on equitable outcomes for Māori. The school has a localised curriculum in the junior school responding to individual learning needs and strong learning-focused relationships between teachers and students. The school has a composite score of 75.
Full source-linked profile →Lake Taupo Christian School
Lake Taupo Christian School is a composite school in Taupo with 131 students. The school's July 2024 board assurance review found the Board compliant with regulatory requirements in most areas, but identified non-compliance in reporting student progress and achievement to the school community, particularly for students not achieving and Māori students. The school is currently subject to a limited statutory manager intervention by the Ministry of Education.
Full source-linked profile →Frequently asked questions about Taupo schools
What schools are in Taupo?
Taupo has 13 schools on our records (7 primary, 1 intermediate, 5 secondary): Tauhara College, Taupo-nui-a-Tia College, Lake Taupo Christian School, Hilltop School, St Patrick's Catholic School (Taupo), Mountview School, Tauhara School, Taupo Intermediate, Taupo School, Waipahihi School, Wairakei School, Te Kura o Waitahanui, and more. Every school links to a source-backed profile with ERO history, NCEA results and audited financials.
What is the best school in Taupo?
On the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite — which scores each school against its EQI peer group across all year levels — Hilltop School ranks highest among Taupo schools (72/100). On NCEA and University Entrance results, Tauhara 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 Taupo?
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 Taupo 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 Taupo address.
Decile or EQI — how are Taupo 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).