Catholic schools feature in University Entrance rankings

By CathNews New Zealand

October 2nd, 2026

(Google Maps)

Fifteen Catholic colleges feature in a list of the 70 New Zealand schools that have the highest University Entrance attainment rates for school leavers. Source: Kiwiblog.

Researcher and education commentator Alwyn Poole put the list together, noting that leavers’ data “includes all students who begin a school year and leave during, or at the end of the year, from any year level – and don’t enrol in another New Zealand school”.

The highest placed Catholic school on the list was Baradene College in Auckland at 93.7 per cent.

Percentages for some of the other Catholic schools were Carmel College (Auckland, North Shore) 91.5 per cent – 15th equal; St Peter’s College (Epsom) 89.6 per cent – 21st; St Catherine’s College (Kilbirnie) 88.6 per cent – 25th; Marist College (Auckland) 86.5 per cent – 27th; St Mary’s College (Ponsonby) 84.7 per cent – 34th; St Joseph’s Māori Girls’ College (Napier) 84.6 per cent – 35th; and St Paul’s College (Auckland) 84.1 per cent – 37th.

Topping the list was City Impact Church School at 100 per cent, with Diocesan School for Girls (Auckland) next at 97.2 per cent.

The percentages for some other notable colleges were Auckland Girls’ Grammar School 83.9 per cent – 38th, Epsom Girls’ Grammar School 76.8 per cent – 58th and Auckland Grammar School 75.6 per cent – 64th.

Mr Poole said the implication of the list that he put together “is not that UE is the only valid school qualification – but it is the one that provides the most future options and, on average, students leaving school with it earn significantly”.

He cited “modelling done by the Ministry of Education in 2024 of earnings at age 30 showed income premiums for those attaining a Level 2 qualification, a Level 3 qualification or for meeting the requirements for University Entrance (UE). These were around $10,000 higher for learners with a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification and $23,000 higher for learners with UE compared to those with no qualifications”.

This list does not necessarily define NZ’s “best” schools, Mr Poole added, noting the average percentage across all secondary schools was 42.8 per cent.

He did not give the exact year the figures were derived from, but did refer to a data set for UE for school leavers from 2018 to 2025.

Mr Poole noted in comments under the blog post that a “great many of the leading schools are faith-based”.

FULL STORY

Top 70 Schools: University Entrance (UE) for LEAVERS (By Alwyn Poole/Kiwiblog)