Number of schools
Data on the number of schools in New Zealand, by school type, as at 1 July.
Last updated: October 2025
Introduction
At 1 July 2025, the total number of schools in New Zealand (State, State-Integrated, Private and Charter) was 2,536. This is three more schools than July 2024.
The period between 1 July 2024 and 1 July 2025 saw a total of 5 schools closed:
- two Full Primary schools (one State and one Fully Registered Private),
- one Contributing Primary school (a State school),
- one Secondary Year 7-15 school (a Fully Registered Private school), and
- one Secondary Year 9-15 school (a Fully Registered Private school).
Between 1 July 2024 and 1 July 2025, a total of 8 schools opened:
- two Full Primary schools (both Charter Schools),
- one Contributing Primary school (a Charter School),
- two Secondary Year 7-15 schools (both Charter Schools),
- two Secondary Year 9-15 schools (both Charter Schools), and
- one Composite school (a Provisionally Registered Private school).
Between 1 July 2024 and 1 July 2025, 7 schools changed type:
- four Full Primary schools to Composite schools, and
- three Contributing Primary schools to Full Primary schools.
For more information on school mergers, closures and new schools, please visit our page: School mergers, closures and new schools
| Type of school | Number of schools | Change 2024-25 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||
| Primary subtotal | 1,943 | 1,941 | 1,942 | 1,935 | 1,930 | 1,927 | -3 |
| Full Primary | 1,059 | 1,056 | 1,057 | 1,051 | 1,045 | 1,044 | -1 |
| Contributing | 767 | 768 | 768 | 768 | 771 | 769 | -2 |
| Intermediate | 117 | 117 | 117 | 116 | 114 | 114 | 0 |
| Composite subtotal | 178 | 182 | 189 | 193 | 193 | 197 | 4 |
| Composite | 174 | 178 | 185 | 189 | 189 | 193 | 4 |
| Restricted Composite | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Secondary subtotal | 378 | 377 | 377 | 374 | 374 | 376 | 2 |
| Year 7-15 | 113 | 113 | 113 | 114 | 118 | 119 | 1 |
| Year 9-15 | 238 | 240 | 239 | 235 | 231 | 232 | 1 |
| Teen Parent Unit | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 0 |
| Specialist school | 37 | 37 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 0 |
| Total | 2,536 | 2,536 | 2,544 | 2,538 | 2,533 | 2,536 | 3 |
Time series data
This spreadsheet provides time series data in a single table for each of the dimensions shown in the chart above. Each table focuses on a single dimension and covers 1996-2025.
- Time series: Data for trend analysis 1996-2025[MS Excel 479kB]
Pivot table
This spreadsheet provides the number of schools for a range of dimensions across time in a simple, easy to use format.
- Pivot table: New Zealand schools 1996-2025[MS Excel 2.5MB]