Schools in Westown
New Plymouth · Taranaki & Manawatū
There is 1 school in and around Westown, New Plymouth (Taranaki & Manawatū) — 1 secondary. Francis Douglas Memorial 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.
1 school · refreshed from Education Counts 2026-07-12. Full methodology.
Schools in Westown 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.
- 1Francis Douglas Memorial College
Westown · Secondary (Year 7-15) · 732 students · EQI <420 (most advantaged)
View profile →83
/ 100 composite
Academic95Outcomes71Retention93Wellbeing79Trajectory48ERO review85
What the record says about Westown schools
Plain-language summaries distilled from each school's ERO reports and Ministry records. Every claim is source-linked on the school's profile.
Francis Douglas Memorial College
The school's hostel (La Salle House) provides a safe physical and emotional environment for boys, with students reporting strong access to wellbeing support and valued friendships. Leadership opportunities are well-developed at senior level, with growing junior leadership being a priority. The school achieved a composite score of 85 in its March 2024 ERO review.
Full source-linked profile →Frequently asked questions about Westown schools
What schools are in Westown?
Westown, New Plymouth has 1 school on our records (1 secondary): Francis Douglas Memorial College. Every school links to a source-backed profile with ERO history, NCEA results and audited financials.
What is the best school in Westown?
On the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite — which scores each school against its EQI peer group across all year levels — Francis Douglas Memorial College ranks highest among Westown schools (83/100). "Best" depends on what you value — compare profiles to weigh academic results, ERO trajectory, retention and wellbeing.
What is the school zone for Westown?
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 Westown 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 Westown address.
Decile or EQI — how are Westown 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).