Frequently Asked Questions

At state schools, an enrolment scheme defines a geographic home zone: if you live within the zone, your child has the right to enrol, and students outside it may be accepted through a ballot if spaces are available. State-integrated schools work differently — places go first to applicants with a preference connection to the school's special character (such as a faith connection), so living nearby doesn't carry the same entitlement.

The Equity Index (EQI) replaced New Zealand's decile rating system in January 2023. Unlike deciles, which were based on census data from surrounding areas, the EQI looks at the actual circumstances of enrolled students using 37 socioeconomic indicators. Each school receives an EQI number from 344 to 569—lower numbers indicate fewer socioeconomic barriers, while higher numbers indicate more barriers and therefore more funding. Importantly, the EQI is not a measure of school quality—it's about how schools are resourced to support their students.

State schools are fully funded by the government and free to attend. State-integrated schools have a special character (usually religious), may charge attendance dues, and enrol by preference criteria tied to that special character rather than by home zone. Private schools are independently funded and charge tuition fees.

Use BoundFor's zone checker tool by entering your address. We'll show you which school zones you're in and provide information about those schools.

Roll size refers to the total number of students enrolled at a school. It can indicate the size of the school community and may affect class sizes, resources, and extracurricular opportunities.

Look at factors that matter most to your family: location, school type, performance data, special programs, values alignment, and zone status. BoundFor's comparison tools help you evaluate multiple schools side by side.