Most popular international schools in New Zealand

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.

Annual fees

Fees not listed

Ages

13 to 18 years

Curriculum

IB (DP)

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.

Annual fees

NZ$22 – 24

Ages

13 to 18 years

Curriculum

IB (DP)

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.

Annual fees

NZ$22,731 – 62,227

Ages

3 to 18 years

Curriculum

IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum

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.

Annual fees

NZ$25,595 – 31,170

Ages

0 to 18 years

Curriculum

Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels

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.

Annual fees

NZ$500 – 29,056

Ages

0 to 18 years

Curriculum

IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)

Saint Kentigern College sits on 100 acres overlooking Tamaki Estuary in Pakuranga, Auckland. It serves day and boarding students aged 11 to 18 and offers both International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and a NZQA/NCEA pathway in Years 12–13. In Year 11, students complete NCEA Level 1. The IB Diploma has six subjects (three HL, three SL), one language, and core elements: Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and Creativity, Activity and Service. The Senior School provides a broad range of subjects across Arts, Commerce, Humanities, Languages, Applied Mathematics, Sciences and Technology. The campus includes the Jack Paine Centre for arts and design, dedicated science and commerce spaces, and Music Centre with choral and instrumental programs plus a dance studio. Sports facilities include a Sports Centre, outdoor fields, a synthetic turf, a swimming pool and on-site rowing programme. The college began in 1953 and welcomed girls in 1996, adopting a parallel education model.

Annual fees

NZ$28,422 – 51,232

Ages

11 to 18 years

Curriculum

IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum

Diocesan School for Girls is an independent Anglican day and boarding school for girls aged 3 to 18, located in Epsom, Auckland. The school offers a dual-path curriculum combining the International Baccalaureate programmes (MYP and DP) with a bespoke NZ‑Curriculum pathway. In the junior years, students follow the New Zealand Curriculum; in the senior years, families choose between NCEA or the IB Diploma, with 2025 Year 11 aligned to Level 1 NCEA content to prepare for Levels 2 and 3 or the IB Diploma. Anglican traditions inform a holistic spiritual and ethical approach alongside strong academics. Facilities include a historic Chapel, an Arts Centre, a high‑tech science and innovation block, and two indoor heated pools, plus a MakerSpace and dedicated spaces for performance and STEAM learning. A broad sport programme and diverse arts opportunities, together with Duke of Edinburgh leadership and service programmes, support well‑rounded student development for future success.

Annual fees

NZ$22,832 – 53,941

Ages

3 to 18 years

Curriculum

IB (DP), IB (MYP), Bespoke Curriculum

St Cuthbert's College is an all-girls day and boarding school in New Zealand offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma and a bespoke curriculum for ages 5 to 18. The college operates across multiple campuses, including the Epsom site and the Kahunui campus in the Bay of Plenty, with a Learning Hub and spaces as part of enhancements. The Junior School (Years 0-6) features a Structured Literacy Approach, strong numeracy, smaller class sizes, and specialist teaching in Music, French and Physical Education. The Senior School (Years 7-10) provides a core programme with language tasters and pathways, plus Year 10's outdoor learning experience. Year 11-13 offer a bespoke Year 11 Diploma and two pathways: NCEA Levels 2 and 3 or the IB Diploma. The college serves almost 1,700 students and provides facilities, including a Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Philosophy wing, technology labs, libraries, a Performing Arts Centre, and a Centennial Centre for Wellbeing.

Annual fees

NZ$27,500 – 63,088

Ages

5 to 18 years

Curriculum

IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum

John McGlashan College is a state-integrated boys' secondary school in Dunedin, New Zealand, serving Years 7–13 with on-site boarding. The college offers the IB Diploma Programme alongside Learning Pathways 2024, with Years 7–8 taught in homerooms where Integrated Studies and Mathematics form a foundation; core subjects are taught by specialist teachers. Year 9 continues Integrated Studies in homerooms. Facilities include Davies' Sport Centre, the Edgar Learning Centre, Library with print and digital resources, on-site Boarding Houses (Ross House and Balmacewan House), Chapel, and a canteen. A Second Campus at Te Anau Downs supports adventure-based learning. The school has a history, opened in 1918 and state-integrated since 1990. It supports international students through ESOL and pathways to IB English Language B, with DISC International Social, German exchanges and PASCH scholarships. Co-curriculars span music and drama, outdoor education, debating and chess, and leadership programs such as Duke of Edinburgh and World Challenge.

Annual fees

NZ$1,430 – 24,990

Ages

11 to 18 years

Curriculum

IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum

St Peter's School is a private co-educational day and boarding school in Cambridge, New Zealand, founded in 1936. The school offers NCEA, IB, and the St Peter's Diploma alongside extensive co-curricular activities.

Annual fees

NZ$310 – 1,190

Ages

11 to 18 years

Curriculum

NCEA, International Baccalaureate