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Most popular international schools in New zealand

· updated monthly

The five schools New zealand parents researched most this year, chosen from the 24 international schools in the country. Ranked by how many families opened each school’s profile and spent time reading it between July 2025 and June 2026, then the full picture on curricula, class sizes and fees.

24
International schools
inc. 11 boarding
NZD 26.2K
Average school fee
For a 12 yr old
1,145
Average school size
80 – 4,105 students
20.1
Average class size
Range 12 - 25

The 2026 ranking

New zealand’s five most-researched schools

Ranked purely by parent interest — the number of families who opened each school’s profile and spent time reading it between July 2025 and June 2026.

1
Q

Queen Margaret College

Queen Margaret College is an independent Presbyterian day school for girls in Wellington, New Zealand, educating pupils aged 3 to 18. It is an International Baccalaureate World School offering the IB Primary Years Programme (Years 1–6), the IB Middle Years Programme (Years 7–10) and the IB Diploma Programme (Years 12–13). In Year 11 students undertake NZ's National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 1 and may continue with Levels 2 and 3 or pursue the two‑year IB Diploma. The school also delivers a bespoke curriculum to suit individual strengths and learning styles. The campus provides arts, drama and music facilities, a purpose‑built performance space, a theatre, and sports complex with a gym, tennis courts and a dance studio. On-site boarding includes Queen Margaret House and Queen Margaret Residence (nine two‑person rooms). Notable features include Queen's Edge after‑school programmes, the Queen of Hearts service initiative and the THRIVE programme for students.

NZD 22.0 NZD 62.2K
🏷️ NZ$22,731 – 62,227 / year
😊 Ages 3 to 18
📖 IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
📍 Wellington
2
T

Takapuna Grammar School

Takapuna Grammar School is a co-educational state school on Auckland's North Shore, New Zealand, serving Years 9-13. Notably, it was the first state school in New Zealand to be approved to offer the IB qualification, alongside NCEA. The school motto is "Per Angusta Ad Augusta" (Through endeavour to greatness). Extensive extracurricular opportunities include sport, music, performing arts, co-curricular clubs, and service organizations. The school maintains a Houses system and offers learning support, special education, and e-learning options.

🏷️ Fees not listed
😊 Ages 13 to 18
📖 IB (DP)
📍 Auckland
3
R

Rangitoto College

Rangitoto College is New Zealand's largest secondary school on a 23-hectare campus in Mairangi Bay, Auckland. It serves students aged 13 to 18 and offers a dual-pathway curriculum: the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and NCEA, with Year 11 Diploma replacing NCEA Level 1 in 2024. The IB cohort consistently performs above the global average, including a 95% pass rate, multiple Top IB Scholar results, and 26% of students attaining the Bilingual Diploma across seven language pairings. The school provides university pathways through University Approved Subjects and study support. Facilities include a library with over 20,000 titles and around 80 librarians, the Millennium Institute with a 50-metre pool and on-site medical services, a Performing Arts venue, and an Auditorium seating 700. Sports facilities feature an Olympic-standard hockey turf and multiple gymnasia. A broad co-curricular program spans robotics, Esports, performing arts, sport, service, and leadership, augmented by AUT Millennium partnership access globally.

NZD 22.0 NZD 62.2K
🏷️ NZ$22 – 24 / year
😊 Ages 13 to 18
📖 IB (DP)
📍 Auckland
4
K

Kristin School

Kristin School is an independent, co-educational day school in New Zealand serving students from 0 to 18. As an International Baccalaureate World School, Kristin delivers a full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) alongside NCEA options, with senior learners able to choose between the IB Diploma Programme and NCEA. The campus spans 50 acres of park-like grounds and houses modern learning facilities designed to support intellectual, physical and emotional development. Key spaces include the Science and Technology Centre with 16 teaching spaces and labs, the Library and Information Centre, the Canon Creative Studio for media production, and purpose-built performing arts venues such as the Dove Theatre and a 1,000-seat auditorium. Sports facilities are extensive, including a competition hockey turf, multiple pitches, two gymnasia and indoor sport spaces. Enriching programs emphasize leadership, service, experiential learning and international exchanges through initiatives like the Dovetail Exchange Programme and GAIL partnerships across global partner networks.

NZD 22.0 NZD 62.2K
🏷️ NZ$500 – 29,056 / year
😊 Ages 0 to 18
📖 IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
📍 Auckland
5
A

ACG Parnell College

ACG Parnell College is a four-campus Cambridge International school in Auckland, New Zealand, offering Early Learning through Year 13. The Cambridge Pathway encompasses Cambridge Primary, Cambridge Secondary, IGCSE, and A Levels, with AS Levels in Year 12 and A Levels in Year 13. The school serves ages 0 to 18 across four campuses: Early Learning, Primary, Middle School, and Senior, with the Senior Campus in Newmarket. Facilities include technology-enabled classrooms, science laboratories, well-stocked libraries, and specialist spaces for drama, music, and visual arts. A broad sports program uses multi-sport facilities and supports football, basketball and netball in regional competitions. The Senior Campus provides 24 teaching spaces, physics, chemistry and biology labs, a music room, and a large theatre. Extracurriculars extend to 90+ clubs, including STEM and science contests, debating, MUN, arts ensembles and cultural clubs. The college emphasizes a journey from infancy to university preparation with leadership and service opportunities.

NZD 22.0 NZD 62.2K
🏷️ NZ$25,595 – 31,170 / year
😊 Ages 0 to 18
📖 Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels
📍 Auckland

What’s on offer

Curricula & languages in New zealand

The mix of programmes and teaching languages across all 24 schools. Many offer more than one curriculum, so totals run higher than the school count.

Most popular curricula

Number of schools teaching each curriculum.

IB
11
Cambridge
10
International
8
Other
2

Languages of instruction

Number of schools teaching in each language.

English
23

Size & classes

How big are the schools, and the classes?

School size and class size shape day-to-day experience as much as curriculum does.

School size, by students

Schools grouped by total enrolment.

Avg 1,145
12
5
6
0
1
80–885886–1,6911,692–2,4972,498–3,3033,304–4,105

Average school size is 1,145 students · based on the 24 schools that report enrolment.

Class size

Schools grouped by typical class size.

Avg 20.1
2
5
12
3
10–1415–1920–2425–29

Average class size is 20.1 students · based on the 22 schools that report it.

What it costs

Annual fees in New zealand

Fees shown are one year for a 12-year-old (or the closest age available), excluding one-time enrolment costs.

Fees at a glance

Across the 23 schools that publish a price for a 12-year-old. All figures in NZD.

Minimum
23
Average
26,228
Maximum
53,135

Schools by fee band

How many schools sit in each annual-fee range.

NZD 23.0 – 17.7K
7
NZD 17.7K – 35.4K
8
NZD 35.4K – 53.1K
8

Keep exploring

Not sure which school fits your family?

Tell Doris your budget, your child’s age and what matters most — we will shortlist the right schools in New zealand, free and impartial.

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