Schools in Thorndon
Wellington · Wellington
There are 5 schools in and around Thorndon, Wellington (Wellington) — 2 primary, 2 secondary. Wellington Girls' 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.
5 schools · refreshed from Education Counts 2026-07-12. Full methodology.
Schools in Thorndon 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.
- 1Wellington Girls' College
Thorndon · Secondary (Year 9-15) · 1,432 students · EQI <420 (most advantaged)
View profile →86
/ 100 composite
Academic96Outcomes76Retention97Wellbeing97Trajectory44ERO review75 - View profile →
79
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory46ERO review82 - View profile →
77
/ 100 composite
Academic91Outcomes53Retention92Wellbeing—Trajectory61ERO review85 - View profile →
74
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing—Trajectory100ERO review57 - View profile →
73
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing94Trajectory41ERO review75
What the record says about Thorndon schools
Plain-language summaries distilled from each school's ERO reports and Ministry records. Every claim is source-linked on the school's profile.
Wellington Girls' College
Wellington Girls' College received a composite score of 75 in its Te Ara Huarau review dated 29 April 2024. Key strengths include governance and leadership that builds relational trust and effective collaboration, a curriculum reflecting local contexts, and teachers' commitment to tangata whenuatanga and Te Tiriti partnership. The school offers relevant, authentic learning opportunities with clear expectations for high-quality, culturally sustaining teaching.
Full source-linked profile →Queen Margaret College
Queen Margaret College is a private composite school in Wellington serving 756 students. An ERO special review in February 2021 confirmed the school meets all registration requirements, with particular strengths in student safety systems and self-review processes for international student provision. The school achieved a composite score of 85.
Full source-linked profile →Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu
Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu shows continuing positive trends in student engagement and maintains a 92% average NCEA standards achievement rate. The school demonstrates sound digital teaching capability and uses a personalised learning approach with strong monitoring platforms. However, current funding is neither sufficient nor sustainable to meet the diverse needs of its increasingly at-risk student population.
Full source-linked profile →Thorndon School
Thorndon School's board assurance review in June 2023 confirmed the board has met all regulatory and legislative requirements as of March 2023, including board administration and curriculum requirements. No composite score was available at the time of this review.
Full source-linked profile →Frequently asked questions about Thorndon schools
What schools are in Thorndon?
Thorndon, Wellington has 5 schools on our records (2 primary, 2 secondary): Wellington Girls' College, Queen Margaret College, Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu, Sacred Heart Cathedral School, Thorndon School. Every school links to a source-backed profile with ERO history, NCEA results and audited financials.
What is the best school in Thorndon?
On the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite — which scores each school against its EQI peer group across all year levels — Wellington Girls' College ranks highest among Thorndon schools (86/100). "Best" depends on what you value — compare profiles to weigh academic results, ERO trajectory, retention and wellbeing.
What is the school zone for Thorndon?
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 Thorndon 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 Thorndon address.
Decile or EQI — how are Thorndon 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).