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Western Heights High School

Rotorua · Bay of Plenty Region

State Secondary (Year 9-15) Report an error
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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

At a glance

About Western Heights High School

Western Heights High School is a co-educational secondary (year 9-15) school in Rotorua, within the Bay of Plenty Region, operating in the state sector, with 1,187 students on roll, and an Equity Index of 499. The school has been open since 1961.

With 1,187 students on roll, Western Heights High School is a very large school — larger than about 96% of New Zealand schools.

The school's Equity Index is 499, 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 72.3%, with a meaningful Asian community at 14.8% — a mixed but clearly led roll.

On the isolation index the school scores 0.33 (low isolation) — this measures how far students travel and how accessible the school is, not how good it is.

Students by ethnicity

European 696 · 72.3%
Pasifika 91 · 9.5%
Asian 142 · 14.8%
Middle Eastern / Latin American / African 8 · 0.8%
Other 5 · 0.5%
International 20 · 2.1%

Total roll recorded: 1,187 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

1,187Students on rollLarger than 96% of NZ schools · national median 215.5
499Equity IndexAbove national mean of 463
0.89Diversity scoreHigher = more mixed roll (max 1.95)
0.33Isolation indexlow isolation
344 · lowest need569 · highest need

Te reo Māori programme

24Taught predominantly in te reo Māori2.25% of the roll
58Learning te reo in English mediumLevels 3–5 immersion recorded separately

Location

Bay of Plenty Region
Rotorua 38.1196° S · 176.2212° E
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Nearby schools

Rotorua Specialist School - Te Kura Pūkenga o RotoruaRotorua · Specialist School 0.4 km Selwyn SchoolRotorua · Contributing 0.5 km Kaitao IntermediateRotorua · Intermediate 0.7 km TKKM o Te KoutuRotorua · Composite 1.2 km St Michael's Catholic School (Rotorua)Rotorua · Contributing 1.3 km Western Heights Primary School (Rotorua)Rotorua · Contributing 1.4 km

School information

  • School typeSecondary (Year 9-15)
  • YearsYears 9–15
  • AuthorityState
  • GenderCo-Educational
  • SettingLarge urban area
  • Territorial authorityRotorua District
  • Education regionBay of Plenty, Waiariki
  • Regional councilBay of Plenty 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
  • Opened1961
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