Aberfeldy School
Whanganui, Manawatū-Whanganui Region
Full PrimaryState
Central Normal School
Palmerston North · Manawatū-Whanganui Region
Figures on this page come from the New Zealand Ministry of Education school directory export dated 1 September 2026, with roll and ethnicity recorded at the same snapshot. Always confirm enrolment, zoning and fees directly with the school. About this directory
- YearsYears 1–6
- GenderCo-Educational
- SettingLarge urban area
- Roll485 students
About Central Normal School
Central Normal School is a co-educational contributing school in Palmerston North, within the Manawatū-Whanganui Region, operating in the state sector, with 485 students on roll, and an Equity Index of 491. The school has been open since 1873.
With 485 students on roll, Central Normal School is a large school — larger than about 80% of New Zealand schools.
The school's Equity Index is 491, which is close to the national average of 463. That means the roll faces a broadly typical level of socio-economic challenge compared with schools across Aotearoa.
The largest group is European at 67%, with a meaningful Pasifika community at 17.8% — a mixed but clearly led roll.
On the isolation index the school scores 0.05 (very low isolation) — this measures how far students travel and how accessible the school is, not how good it is.
Students by ethnicity
European
282 · 67.0%
Pasifika
75 · 17.8%
Asian
59 · 14.0%
Middle Eastern / Latin American / African
5 · 1.2%
Total roll recorded: 485 students, from the 2026 roll census. Percentages may not sum to exactly 100% because of rounding and students who decline to state an ethnicity.
Roll in context
485Students on rollLarger than 80% of NZ schools · national median 215.5
491Equity IndexAbove national mean of 463
0.9Diversity scoreHigher = more mixed roll (max 1.95)
0.05Isolation indexvery low isolation
344 · lowest need569 · highest need
Te reo Māori programme
97Taught predominantly in te reo Māori20.17% of the roll
384Learning te reo in English mediumLevels 3–5 immersion recorded separately
Location
Nearby schools
Queen Elizabeth CollegePalmerston North · Secondary (Year 7-15)
0.5 km
Te Ohanui (Palmerston North Specialist School) (Proposed opening date: 2027-07-19)Palmerston North · Specialist School
0.5 km
Palmerston North Boys' High SchoolPalmerston North · Secondary (Year 9-15)
0.6 km
Mana TamarikiPalmerston North · Composite
1.1 km
Palmerston North Adventist Christian SchoolPalmerston North · Contributing
1.2 km
Palmerston North IntermediatePalmerston North · Intermediate
1.3 km
School information
- School typeContributing
- YearsYears 1–6
- AuthorityState
- GenderCo-Educational
- SettingLarge urban area
- Territorial authorityPalmerston North City
- Education regionTaranaki, Whanganui, Manawatū
- Regional councilManawatū-Whanganui Region
- Enrolment schemeYes — has an in-zone entitlement
- BoardingDay school only
- Language of instructionSome students taught in te reo Māori
- Cohort entryNo — individual entry
- DonationsDonations should not be requested, unless for a school camp
- Opened1873
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