Schools in Westport
Nelson, Marlborough & West Coast · New Zealand
There are 5 schools in and around Westport (Nelson, Marlborough & West Coast) — 3 primary, 2 secondary. St Canice's School (Westport) 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.
Browse Westport schools by suburb
1 Westport suburb has their own schools page.
Schools in Westport 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 →
87
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory74ERO review84 - View profile →
67
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing88Trajectory33ERO review71 - View profile →
59
/ 100 composite
Academic48Outcomes—Retention40Wellbeing100Trajectory64ERO review83 - View profile →
58
/ 100 composite
Academic75Outcomes29Retention78Wellbeing32Trajectory63ERO review75 - View profile →
47
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory60ERO review81
What the record says about Westport 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 Canice's School (Westport)
St Canice's School received a Te Ara Huarau review in April 2024. The school demonstrates strong leadership that models effective teaching practices, with leaders and teachers engaged in professional growth cycles using multiple feedback sources. An integrated local curriculum aligned with the school's vision, values and cultural narratives has been developed through genuine partnership and consultation, supported by robust internal review systems.
Full source-linked profile →Westport South School
Westport South School's board assurance review in June 2023 confirmed the board has met all regulatory and legislative requirements as of March 2023, with board administration and curriculum requirements verified. No composite score was available at the time of this review.
Full source-linked profile →Karamea Area School
Karamea Area School's Board of Trustees attested to meeting all regulatory and legislative requirements as of June 2022, with board administration and curriculum requirements confirmed met in the July 2023 board assurance review. The school is currently subject to a limited statutory manager intervention by the Ministry of Education. No composite score is available for this school.
Full source-linked profile →Buller High School
Buller High School's 2022 ERO review identified that teachers share high, clear, and equitable expectations for student learning and that internal evaluation practices support the use of evidence to improve practice. ERO and the school are working together to evaluate how well culturally responsive practice meets the needs of all learners, particularly those who identify as Māori and are at risk of not meeting their potential. No composite score is currently available.
Full source-linked profile →Westport North School
Westport North School is a full primary school in Westport with a roll of 230 students. The Board of Trustees has attested to meeting regulatory and legislative requirements in board administration, curriculum, and health, safety and welfare. The school is currently subject to active Ministry of Education intervention in the form of a limited statutory manager.
Full source-linked profile →Frequently asked questions about Westport schools
What schools are in Westport?
Westport has 5 schools on our records (3 primary, 2 secondary): Karamea Area School, Buller High School, St Canice's School (Westport), Westport North School, Westport South School. Every school links to a source-backed profile with ERO history, NCEA results and audited financials.
What is the best school in Westport?
On the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite — which scores each school against its EQI peer group across all year levels — St Canice's School (Westport) ranks highest among Westport schools (87/100). On NCEA and University Entrance results, Buller High School 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 Westport?
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 Westport 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 Westport address.
Decile or EQI — how are Westport 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).