List of schools in Canterbury Region

Canterbury is a region in the South Island of New Zealand. It contains numerous rural primary schools, several small town primary and secondary schools, and big-city schools in Christchurch.

Due to the large number of schools in Christchurch, they are listed separately at List of schools in Christchurch. Schools in the Waitaki District which are located in the Canterbury part of the district are listed at List of schools in Otago.

In New Zealand schools, students begin formal education in Year 1 at the age of five.^[1] Year 13 is the final year of secondary education. Years 14 and 15 refer to adult education facilities.

State schools are those fully funded by the government and at which no fees can be charged, although a donation is commonly requested.^[2] A state integrated school is a state school with a special character based on a religious or philosophical belief.^[3]

Kura Kaupapa Māori are Māori immersion schools that are also state funded, but deliver their curriculum in the Māori language. There are two of these schools in Christchurch: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Whānau Tahi in Spreydon (Decile 3), and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Waitaha in Woolston (Decile 1).

The decile indicates the socio-economic group that the school catchment area falls into. A rating of 1 indicates a poor area; a rating of 10 a well-off one.^[4] The decile ratings used here come from the Ministry of Education Te Kete Ipurangi website and from the decile change spreadsheet listed in the references. The deciles were last revised using information from the 2006 Census.^[5] The roll of each school changes frequently as students start school for the first time, move between schools, and graduate. The rolls given here are those provided by the Ministry of Education, based on figures from August 2024.^[6] The Ministry of Education institution number, given in the last column, links to the Education Counts page for each school.

Kaikoura District

The Kaikoura district is the northernmost district of the Canterbury region, and is home to 4,410 people. The district seat of Kaikōura (pop. 2,470) is the only significant urban area.

Name	MOE	Years	Area	Authority	Roll	Website	Notes
Hapuku School	3369	1–8	Hapuku	State	22	[1]
Kaikōura High School	307	7–13	Kaikōura	State	199	[2]
Kaikoura Primary School	3391	1–6	Kaikōura	State	127	[3]
Kaikoura Suburban School	3392	1–6	Kaikōura	State	49	[4]
St Joseph's School	3530	1–8	Kaikōura	State integrated	106	[5]	Catholic

Former schools

Woodbank School, Clarence – closed in December 2013 due to declining roll numbers^[7]
Lynton Downs School – closed April 2017.^[8]

Hurunui District

Name	Years	Area	Authority	Roll	Website	MOE
Amberley School	1–8	Amberley	State	232	[6]	3276
Amuri Area School	1–13	Culverden	State	371	[7]	308
Broomfield School	1–8	Broomfield	State	126	[8]	3303
Cheviot Area School	1–13	Cheviot	State	188	[9]	309
Greta Valley School	1–8	Greta Valley	State	37	[10]	3359
Hanmer Springs School	1–8	Hanmer Springs	State	92	[11]	3368
Hurunui College	1–13	Hawarden	State	209	[12]	311
Leithfield School	1–8	Leithfield	State	115	-	3411
Omihi School	1–8	Omihi	State	45	-	3454
Rotherham School	1–6	Rotherham	State	40	[13]	3490
Waiau School	1–6	Waiau	State	36	[14]	3566
Waikari School	1–8	Waikari	State	31	-	3569
Waipara School	1–8	Waipara	State	38	-	3576

Waimakariri District

Name	MOE	Years	Area	Authority	Opened	Roll	Website	Notes
Ashgrove School	3284	1–8	Rangiora	State	1967	449	[15]
Ashley School	3285	1–8	Ashley	State	1864	166	[16]
Clarkville School	3321	1–8	Clarkville	State	1874	198	[17]
Cust School	3325	1–8	Cust	State		144	[18]
Fernside School	3340	1–8	Fernside	State	1864	285	[19]
Kaiapoi Borough School	3388	1–8	Kaiapoi	State	1873	375	[20]
Kaiapoi High School	314	9–13	Kaiapoi	State	1972	1031	[21]
Kaiapoi North School	3389	1–8	Kaiapoi	State	1962	506	[22]
Karanga Mai Young Parents College	2748	–	Kaiapoi	State	1992	0^[9]	[23]	Teen parent unit
Loburn School	3419	1–8	Loburn	State	1869	179	[24]
North Loburn School	3447	1–8	Loburn	State	1882	86	[25]
Ohoka School	3451	1–8	Kaiapoi	State		210	[26]
Oxford Area School	310	1–13	Oxford	State		530	[27]
Pegasus Bay School	3570	1–8	Pegasus Town	State	1872	453	[28]
Rangiora Borough School	3481	1–8	Rangiora	State	1873	385	[29]
Rangiora High School	312	9–13	Rangiora	State	1884	1640	[30]
Rangiora New Life School	418	1–13	Southbrook	State integrated	1979	448	[31]	Nondenominational Christian
Sefton School	3501	1–8	Sefton	State	1884	140	[32]
Southbrook School	3510	1–8	Southbrook	State	1874	268	[33]
St Joseph's School	4132	1–8	Rangiora	State integrated	1887	172	[34]	Catholic
St Patrick's School	3540	1–8	Kaiapoi	State integrated		175	[35]	Catholic
Swannanoa School	3547	1–8	Swannanoa	State		296	[36]
Te Matauru Primary	572	1–8	Rangiora	State	2020	237	[37]
Tuahiwi School	3563	1–8	Tuahiwi	State		171	[38]
View Hill School	3565	1–8	Oxford	State		69	[39]
West Eyreton School	3586	1–8	West Eyreton	State		167	[40]
Woodend School	3600	1–8	Woodend	State		496	[41]

Former schools

Okuku School, closed in 1987, students moved to Loburn School.^[10]
Waikuku School, state full primary at Waikuku, relocated to Pegasus Town in April–May 2014 and renamed Pegasus Bay School.^[11]

Christchurch City

Selwyn District

Name	MOE	Years	Location	Authority	Opened	Roll	Website	Notes
Ararira Springs Primary School	585	1–8	Lincoln	State	2019^[12]	466	[42]
Broadfield School	3301	1–8	Broadfield	State		151	[43]
Burnham School	3304	1–8	Burnham	State		161	[44]
Clearview Primary School	6980	1–8	Rolleston	State	2010	832	[45]
Darfield High School	346	7–13	Darfield	State		820	[46]
Darfield School	3326	1–6	Darfield	State		285	[47]
Dunsandel School	3331	1–6	Dunsandel	State		132	[48]
Ellesmere College	349	7–13	Leeston	State		518	[49]
Glentunnel School	3352	1–6	Glentunnel	State		105	[50]
Greendale School	3357	1–6	Greendale	State		38	-
Hororata School	3381	1–6	Hororata	State		97	[51]
Kirwee Model School	3397	1–6	Kirwee	State		158	[52]
Ladbrooks School	3402	1–8	Ladbrooks	State		132	[53]
Leeston School	3410	1–6	Leeston	State		307	[54]
Lemonwood Grove School	6967	1–8	Rolleston	State	2017^[13]	990	[55]
Lincoln High School	347	9–13	Lincoln	State		1406	[56]
Lincoln Primary School	3412	1–8	Lincoln	State		781	[57]
Prebbleton School	3478	1–8	Prebbleton	State		557	[58]
Rolleston College	654	9–13	Rolleston	State	2017^[14]	1723	[59]
Rolleston School	3488	1–8	Rolleston	State	1893	754	[60]
Rolleston Christian School	710	1–8	Rolleston	State integrated	2015	259	[61]	Nondenominational Christian
Sheffield Contributing School	3502	1–6	Sheffield and Waddington	State		100	[62]
Southbridge School	3509	1–6	Southbridge	State		137	[63]
Springfield School	3515	1–6	Springfield	State		46	-
Springston School	3516	1–8	Springston	State		221	[64]
Tai Tapu School	3549	1–8	Tai Tapu	State		257	[65]
Waitaha School	3554		Rolleston	State		142	[66]	Special needs school
Weedons School	3585	1–8	Weedons	State		157	[67]
West Melton School	3587	1–8	West Melton	State		465	[68]
West Rolleston Primary School	584	1–8	Rolleston	State	2016	790	[69]
Windwhistle School	3597	1–6	Darfield	State		30	[70]

Ashburton District

The Ashburton District covers the area between the Rakaia River and the Rangitata River, and is home to 38,400 people. Ashburton (pop. 21,700) is the district seat and by far the largest town, with significant other towns including Methven (pop. c.1350) and Rakaia (pop. c. 1000).

Name	Years	Gender	Area	Authority	Decile	Roll	Website	MOE
Allenton School	1–6	Coed	Ashburton	State	8	403	[71]	3274
Ashburton Borough School	1–8	Coed	Ashburton	State	7	284	[72]	3281
Ashburton Christian School	1–8	Coed	Elgin	State integrated	10	280	[73]	608
Ashburton College	9–13	Coed	Ashburton	State	7	1316	[74]	351
Ashburton Intermediate	7–8	Coed	Ashburton	State	6	475	[75]	3282
Ashburton Netherby School	1–6	Coed	Netherby	State	3	176	[76]	3283
Carew Peel Forest School	1–6	Coed	Carew	State	10	78	[77]	3308
Chertsey School	1–6	Coed	Chertsey	State	6	39	[78]	3313
Dorie School	1–8	Coed	Rakaia	State	9	76	[79]	3329
Fairton School	1–6	Coed	Ashburton	State	6	39	[80]	3336
Hampstead School	1–6	Coed	Ashburton	State	4	325	[81]	3367
Hinds School	1–8	Coed	Hinds	State	9	159	[82]	3375
Lauriston School	1–6	Coed	Lauriston	State	9	83	[83]	3407
Longbeach School	1–8	Coed	Willowby	State	9	150	[84]	3594
Mayfield School	1–8	Coed	Mayfield	State	9	89	[85]	3432
Methven School	1–6	Coed	Methven	State	9	287	[86]	3436
Mount Hutt College	7–13	Coed	Methven	State	9	565	[87]	348
Mt Somers Springburn School	1–8	Coed	Mount Somers	State	10	86	[88]	3441
Our Lady of Snows School	1–8	Coed	Methven	State integrated	10	37	[89]	3462
Rakaia School	1–8	Coed	Rakaia	State	4	188	[90]	3480
St Joseph's School	1–8	Coed	Ashburton	State integrated	8	249	[91]	3527
Tinwald School	1–6	Coed	Tinwald	State	6	278	[92]	3561
Wakanui School	1–8	Coed	Wakanui	State	8	103	[93]	3580

Former schools

Lowcliffe School - full primary school, closed October 2011 due to declining roll numbers.^[15]
Pendarves School - years 1–6, closed in the late 20th century due to declining roll numbers. Pendarves School children were moved to Chertsey School when it closed.

Timaru District

Name	Years	Gender	Area	Authority	Decile	Roll	Website	MOE
Arowhenua Maori School	1–8	Coed	Arowhenua	State	4	35	[94]	3280
Barton Rural School	1–8	Coed	Fairview	State	8	178	[95]	2112
Beaconsfield School	1–8	Coed	Pareora West	State	8	110	[96]	2114
Bluestone School	1–8	Coed	West End	State	5	508	[97]	2113
Craighead Diocesan School	7–13	Girls	Highfield	State integrated	9	420	[98]	357
Geraldine High School	7–13	Coed	Geraldine	State	8	609	[99]	352
Geraldine Primary School	1–6	Coed	Geraldine	State	8	267	–	2107
Gleniti School	1–8	Coed	Gleniti	State	10	407	[100]	3347
Grantlea Downs School	1–8	Coed	Marchwiel	State	4	318	[101]	2111
Highfield School	1–8	Coed	Highfield	State	7	315	[102]	3373
Mountainview High School	9–13	Coed	Marchwiel	State	6	511	[103]	359
Oceanview Heights School	1–8	Coed	Marchwiel	State	2	99	[104]	2110
Opihi College	7–13	Coed	Temuka	State	5	285	[105]	354
Pleasant Point Primary School	1–8	Coed	Pleasant Point	State	8	265	[106]	3477
Roncalli College	9–13	Coed	Parkside	State integrated	6	514	[107]	358
Sacred Heart School	1–8	Coed	Timaru Central	State integrated	5	229	[108]	3498
St Joseph's School (Pleasant Point)	1–8	Coed	Pleasant Point	State integrated	7	58	[109]	3528
St Joseph's School (Temuka)	1–8	Coed	Temuka	State integrated	5	126	[110]	3532
St Joseph's School (Timaru)	1–8	Coed	Marchwiel	State integrated	7	219	[111]	3533
Temuka Primary School	1–6	Coed	Temuka	State	5	230	[112]	2109
Timaru Boys' High School	9–13	Boys	West End	State	7	750	[113]	360
Timaru Christian School	1–10	Coed	Watlington	State integrated	8	165	[114]	1611
Timaru Girls' High School	9–13	Girls	Parkside	State	5	451	[115]	361
Timaru South School	1–8	Coed	Parkside	State	3	227	[116]	2115
Waihi School	4–8	Coed	Winchester	Private	9	122	[117]	4147
Waimataitai School	1–8	Coed	Waimataitai	State	7	513	[118]	3572
Winchester Rural School	1–6	Coed	Winchester	State	5	241	[119]	2108
Woodbury School	1–6	Coed	Woodbury	State	9	112	[120]	3599

Mackenzie District

Name	Years	Gender	Area	Authority	Decile	Roll	Website	MOE
Albury School	1–6	Coed	Albury	State	8	30	[121]	3273
Aoraki Mount Cook School	1–8	Coed	Mount Cook Village	State	10	6	[122]	3442
Cannington School	1–8	Coed	Cave	State	9	18	-	3307
Fairlie School	1–6	Coed	Fairlie	State	7	120	[123]	3335
Lake Tekapo School	1–6	Coed	Lake Tekapo	State	7	35	-	3406
Mackenzie College	7–13	Coed	Fairlie	State	7	186	[124]	353
St Joseph's School	1–8	Coed	Fairlie	State integrated	7	20	[125]	3529
Twizel Area School	1–13	Coed	Twizel	State	8	232	[126]	527

Former schools

Twizel Primary School, a contributing primary (Year 1–6) school, and Twizel High School, a Year 7–13 secondary school. The schools opened in Twizel in 1970 and 1971 respectively, primarily to serve the children of workers building the Upper Waitaki hydroelectric scheme. After the scheme was completed in 1985 and the workers moved on, the two separate schools were no longer needed, and in 1986 were merged on the High School site to form Twizel Area School.

Waimate District

Name	Years	Gender	Area	Authority	Decile	Roll	Website	MOE
Glenavy School	1–8	Coed	Glenavy	State	9	127	[127]	3348
Makikihi School	1–8	Coed	Makikihi	State	7	30	[128]	3426
St Andrew's School	1–8	Coed	Saint Andrews	State	5	100	[129]	3519
St Patrick's School	1–8	Coed	Waimate	State integrated	3	28	[130]	3539
Waihao Downs School	1–6	Coed	Waihao Downs	State	8	88	[131]	3567
Waimate Centennial School	1–6	Coed	Waimate	State	3	141	[132]	3573
Waimate High School	7–13	Coed	Waimate	State	4	310	[133]	362
Waimate Main School	1–6	Coed	Waimate	State	2	91	[134]	3574
Waituna Creek School	1–8	Coed	Waituna	State	5	33	[135]	3579

Former schools

Morven School - full primary school, closed 2016 due to declining roll numbers.
Waihaorunga School - full primary school, closed 2010 due to declining roll numbers.^[16]

Notes

^ "About School: School basics". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Archived from the original on 26 May 2008. Retrieved 8 June 2008.
^ "School Donations & Fees". New Zealand Ministry of Education. 23 June 1998. Archived from the original on 14 July 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2006.
^ "about NZ education". EduSearch. Archived from the original on 2 June 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
^ "How The Decile Is Calculated". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 8 June 2008.
^ "Reviews of Deciles - General Information". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 8 June 2008.
^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
^ Dangerfield, Emma (18 December 2013). "Farewell to Woodbank School after 99 years". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
^ "Lynton Downs School (3422) Closure Notice - 2017-go910 - New Zealand Gazette".
^ Teen Parent Unit rolls are returned with their host school. In the case of Karanga Mai Young Parents College and Kimihia Parent's College, the host schools are Kaiapoi High School and Linwood College respectively.
^ Topp, Shelley (19 November 2019). "Celebrations mark 150 years at school". Retrieved 5 August 2022.
^ Law, Tina (13 June 2013). "Principal prepares for Pegasus move". The Press. Christchurch. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
^ Parata, Hekia (3 March 2017). "Three new primary schools to open in 2019". New Zealand Government. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
^ Parata, Hekia (17 September 2015). "New School Establishment Notice – Rolleston South Primary School". New Zealand Gazette. 2015 (101). New Zealand Government. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
^ Parata, Hekia (27 February 2014). "New School Establishment Notice – Rolleston Secondary School". New Zealand Gazette. 2014 (24). New Zealand Government: 716. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
^ Durry, Amanda (16 September 2011). "Lowcliffe School to officially close next month". Ashburton Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
^ "Waihaorunga school to shut". The Timaru Herald. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 13 September 2011.

References

Te Kete Ipurangi Ministry of Education website
ERO school and early childhood education reports Education Review Office
Decile change 2007 to 2008 for state & state integrated schools

[1] "About School: School basics". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Archived from the original on 26 May 2008. Retrieved 8 June 2008.

[2] "School Donations & Fees". New Zealand Ministry of Education. 23 June 1998. Archived from the original on 14 July 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2006.

[3] "about NZ education". EduSearch. Archived from the original on 2 June 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2012.

[4] "How The Decile Is Calculated". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 8 June 2008.

[5] "Reviews of Deciles - General Information". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 8 June 2008.

[NZ_school_roll_data-6] "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.

[7] Dangerfield, Emma (18 December 2013). "Farewell to Woodbank School after 99 years". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 1 February 2017.

[8] "Lynton Downs School (3422) Closure Notice - 2017-go910 - New Zealand Gazette".

[TPU-9] Teen Parent Unit rolls are returned with their host school. In the case of Karanga Mai Young Parents College and Kimihia Parent's College, the host schools are Kaiapoi High School and Linwood College respectively.

[10] Topp, Shelley (19 November 2019). "Celebrations mark 150 years at school". Retrieved 5 August 2022.

[11] Law, Tina (13 June 2013). "Principal prepares for Pegasus move". The Press. Christchurch. Retrieved 8 December 2013.

[12] Parata, Hekia (3 March 2017). "Three new primary schools to open in 2019". New Zealand Government. Retrieved 4 March 2016.

[13] Parata, Hekia (17 September 2015). "New School Establishment Notice – Rolleston South Primary School". New Zealand Gazette. 2015 (101). New Zealand Government. Retrieved 20 January 2015.

[14] Parata, Hekia (27 February 2014). "New School Establishment Notice – Rolleston Secondary School". New Zealand Gazette. 2014 (24). New Zealand Government: 716. Retrieved 6 May 2014.

[15] Durry, Amanda (16 September 2011). "Lowcliffe School to officially close next month". Ashburton Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2012.

[16] "Waihaorunga school to shut". The Timaru Herald. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 13 September 2011.

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v t e Schools in Christchurch and Canterbury, New Zealand
State primary & intermediate	Breens Intermediate Chisnallwood Intermediate Christchurch East School Christchurch South Intermediate Cobham Intermediate Discovery 1 School Fendalton Open Air School Linwood North School Russley School Tamariki School
State secondary & composite	Akaroa Area School Amuri Area School Ao Tawhiti Ashburton College Avonside Girls' High School Burnside High School Cashmere High School Cheviot Area School Christchurch Boys' High School Christchurch Girls' High School Darfield High School Ellesmere College Geraldine High School Haeata Community Campus Hagley College Hillmorton High School Hornby High School Hurunui College Kaiapoi High School Kaikōura High School Lincoln High School Mackenzie College Mairehau High School Mount Hutt College Mountainview High School Opihi College Oxford Area School Papanui High School Rangiora High School Riccarton High School Rolleston College Shirley Boys' High School Te Aratai College Timaru Boys' High School Timaru Girls' High School Twizel Area School Waimate High School
State-integrated	Aidanfield Christian School Catholic Cathedral College Christchurch Adventist School Craighead Diocesan School Hillview Christian School Marian College Middleton Grange School Rangiora New Life School Rolleston Christian School Roncalli College Rudolf Steiner School St Bede's College St Thomas of Canterbury College Tamariki School Villa Maria College
Private	Cathedral Grammar School Christ's College Medbury School Rangi Ruru Girls' School St Andrew's College St Margaret's College St Michael's Church School
Special	Van Asch College
Defunct	Aorangi School Aranui High School Burwood School Christchurch West High School Christchurch Normal School Marylands School Phillipstown School