Schools in Whakatane
Bay of Plenty · New Zealand
There are 19 schools in and around Whakatane (Bay of Plenty) — 12 primary, 1 intermediate, 5 secondary. Whakatane Teen Parent Unit 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.
19 schools · refreshed from Education Counts 2026-07-12. Full methodology.
Browse Whakatane schools by suburb
6 Whakatane suburbs have their own schools page.
Schools in Whakatane 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.
- 1Whakatane Teen Parent Unit
Thornton · Teen Parent Unit · — students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →89
/ 100 composite
Academic—Outcomes—Retention80Wellbeing100Trajectory100ERO review75 - 2Te Kura Māori ā Rohe o Waiohau
Waiohau · Composite · 92 students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →88
/ 100 composite
Academic—Outcomes—Retention—Wellbeing100Trajectory92ERO review54 - View profile →
82
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory58ERO review82 - View profile →
74
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing91Trajectory50ERO review75 - View profile →
71
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory42ERO review63 - View profile →
70
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing82Trajectory61ERO review65 - View profile →
70
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory25ERO review72 - View profile →
66
/ 100 composite
Academic83Outcomes35Retention79Wellbeing53Trajectory77ERO review85 - View profile →
65
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing82Trajectory55ERO review56 - View profile →
64
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing60Trajectory53ERO review75 - 11Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Orini ki Ngati Awa
Coastlands · Composite · 94 students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →59
/ 100 composite
Academic—Outcomes—Retention0Wellbeing100Trajectory100ERO review75 - View profile →
58
/ 100 composite
Academic75Outcomes34Retention73Wellbeing52Trajectory30ERO review74 - View profile →
58
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing71Trajectory21ERO review69 - 14Te Wharekura o Ruatoki
Ruatoki · Composite · 223 students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →57
/ 100 composite
Academic69Outcomes6Retention77Wellbeing95Trajectory62ERO review62 - View profile →
48
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory80ERO review69 - 16Tāwera Bilingual School
Ruatoki · Full Primary · 36 students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →44
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory0ERO review23 - View profile →
41
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory43ERO review76 - View profile →
39
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory58ERO review62 - View profile →
25
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory43ERO review35
What the record says about Whakatane schools
Plain-language summaries distilled from each school's ERO reports and Ministry records. Every claim is source-linked on the school's profile.
Thornton School
Thornton School's most recent ERO review found most learners achieve at or above expected curriculum levels in reading, writing and mathematics. The school has implemented structured literacy approaches that have improved outcomes in reading and writing, with strengthened writing progressions. However, disparities in writing and mathematics achievement for boys and Māori learners remain a priority area despite overall improvements.
Full source-linked profile →Whakatane High School
An ERO review in July 2022 found positive relationships between teachers and students supporting wellbeing, and identified that middle and senior leaders understand responsive teaching strategies promoting equity. The school has recognised the need for further work to ensure parity and excellence for Māori learners. No composite score is available.
Full source-linked profile →Whakatane S D A School
Whakatane S D A School's ERO review in April 2023 found the school has established strong partnerships with the Seventh Day Adventist Church and Kāhui Āko, and maintains a positive school culture with a focus on wellbeing and community relationships. The school is working with ERO to ensure mathematics teaching is tailored to individual student needs. The composite score is 75.
Full source-linked profile →Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Orini ki Ngati Awa
This kura kaupapa Māori in Whakatane received a regular ERO review in July 2021, achieving a composite score of 75. The review found students receive focused support for learning success, with curriculum well-connected to Te Haahi Ringatū beliefs, tikanga and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. Strengths include individualised planning for student and whānau needs, diverse learning opportunities including tuakana teina approaches, and regular assessment to monitor progress.
Full source-linked profile →Trident High School
Trident High School is a secondary school in Whakatane serving 836 students. The Board's October 2023 assurance review confirmed that the school meets regulatory requirements for board administration, curriculum, and health, safety and welfare management. No composite score was assigned in this assurance review.
Full source-linked profile →Te Wharekura o Ruatoki
Te Wharekura o Ruatoki is a Tuhoe-medium composite school with 223 students, currently operating under limited statutory manager intervention. ERO found strong commitment to Tiketike Tuhoetanga and positive achievement shifts in junior school literacy, numeracy and oral language in 2023, alongside an orderly and supportive learning environment. However, NCEA results show low achievement at senior level, with no tauira attaining University Entrance in 2022-23, and intellectual and academic independence decreasing as students progress to wharekura.
Full source-linked profile →Awakeri School
Awakeri School's 2019 ERO review found the school achieves excellent outcomes for most students, with strong strategic leadership and a warm, inclusive learning environment. The school has identified a significant disparity in boys' writing achievement and continues working towards greater equity. Some Māori and at-risk students made accelerated progress in literacy and numeracy.
Full source-linked profile →Frequently asked questions about Whakatane schools
What schools are in Whakatane?
Whakatane has 19 schools on our records (12 primary, 1 intermediate, 5 secondary): Trident High School, Whakatane High School, Te Wharekura o Ruatoki, Whakatane Teen Parent Unit, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Orini ki Ngati Awa, Whakatane S D A School, Allandale School, Apanui School, Awakeri School, James Street School, Nukuhou North School, Otakiri School, and more. Every school links to a source-backed profile with ERO history, NCEA results and audited financials.
What is the best school in Whakatane?
On the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite — which scores each school against its EQI peer group across all year levels — Whakatane Teen Parent Unit ranks highest among Whakatane schools (89/100). On NCEA and University Entrance results, Whakatane 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 Whakatane?
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 Whakatane 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 Whakatane address.
Decile or EQI — how are Whakatane 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).