Schools in Wakari
Dunedin · Otago & Southland
There are 3 schools in and around Wakari, Dunedin (Otago & Southland) — 2 primary, 1 intermediate. St Mary's School (Dunedin) 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.
Schools in Wakari 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 →
91
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory100ERO review77 - View profile →
78
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory51ERO review75 - View profile →
67
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing68Trajectory41ERO review82
What the record says about Wakari schools
Plain-language summaries distilled from each school's ERO reports and Ministry records. Every claim is source-linked on the school's profile.
St Mary's School (Dunedin)
St Mary's School received a Te Ara Huarau review in December 2022. The school provides an inclusive, caring environment where relational trust exists across all levels—students, teachers, the board, and community. Teachers collaborate to support each other in strengthening their practice to meet students' learning needs.
Full source-linked profile →Wakari School
Wakari School, a contributing primary school in Dunedin with 326 students, has identified the need to strengthen collective pedagogical knowledge in mathematics teaching and improve consistency of practice across the school. The school has recently implemented the PRIME Maths programme to support this work, with positive trends already emerging in mathematics achievement data. School leaders demonstrate strategic, collaborative approaches to improvement, supported by a stable and experienced staff with pedagogical expertise to lead curriculum change.
Full source-linked profile →Balmacewen Intermediate
Balmacewen Intermediate's Board of Trustees confirmed meeting all regulatory and legislative requirements as of July 2022, with compliance confirmed across Board Administration, Curriculum, Health and Safety, Personnel, Finance, and Assets. No composite score data is available for this school.
Full source-linked profile →Frequently asked questions about Wakari schools
What schools are in Wakari?
Wakari, Dunedin has 3 schools on our records (2 primary, 1 intermediate): Balmacewen Intermediate, St Mary's School (Dunedin), Wakari School. Every school links to a source-backed profile with ERO history, NCEA results and audited financials.
What is the best school in Wakari?
On the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite — which scores each school against its EQI peer group across all year levels — St Mary's School (Dunedin) ranks highest among Wakari schools (91/100). "Best" depends on what you value — compare profiles to weigh academic results, ERO trajectory, retention and wellbeing.
What is the school zone for Wakari?
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 Wakari 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 Wakari address.
Decile or EQI — how are Wakari 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).