Number of Schools

Data on the number of schools in New Zealand as at 1 July, by School Type.

At 1 July 2021, the total number of schools in New Zealand (state, state-Integrated and private) was 2,536. This is the same number of schools as July 2020.

For more information on school mergers, closures and new schools, please visit our page: School Closures, Mergers and New Schools

Table 1: Total number of schools by school type at July 2016-2021
Type of School Number of Schools Change
2020-21
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Primary Subtotal 1,9511,9451,9461,9451,943 1,941 -2
Full Primary 1,068 1,064 1,063 1,058 1,059 1,056 -3
Contributing 766 764 766 770 767 768 1
Intermediate 117 117 117 117 117 117 0
Composite Subtotal 171173174176178 182 4
Composite 165 167 168 172 174 178 4
Restricted Composite 5 5 5 3 3 3 0
Correspondence School 1 1 1 1 1 1 0
Secondary Subtotal 368374374376378 377 -1
Year 7-15 108 111 111 113 113 113 0
Year 9-15 236 238 238 238 240 239 -1
Teen Parent Unit 24 25 25 25 25 25 0
Specialist 3838373737 36 -1
Total2,5282,5302,5312,5342,5362,536 0

Time Series Data

This spreadsheet provides time series data in a single table for each of the dimensions shown in the chart below. Each table focuses on a single dimension and covers 1996-2021.

Pivot Table

This spreadsheet provides the number of schools for a range of dimensions across time in a simple, easy to use format.

Please note: use of this spreadsheet requires MS Excel version 2007 or later.