Wakatipu High School (WHS) is a premier New Zealand secondary school located in the stunning, safe alpine environment of Queenstown. With a vibrant community of over 1,500 students in Years 9–13, we are dedicated to delivering a safe, high-quality learning environment where every student is supported to reach their full potential.
Our International Department maintains a community of typically 20 to 30 international students at any given time, ensuring you receive personalized care, build lifelong global friendships, and develop true independence.
Academic Excellence & University Pathways
We provide a solid academic foundation with rigorous monitoring and a focus on high performance, including Merit and Excellence endorsements and Scholarships. Our students consistently outperform national averages, providing an ideal pathway to university success.
Wakatipu High School NCEA Results (Well Above National Averages):
- University Entrance: 80% of Year 13 students achieved UE (National Average: 52%).
- NCEA Level 3: 91% pass rate (National Average: 72%).
- NCEA Level 2: 89% pass rate (National Average: 74%).
Our International Programme
Our comprehensive programme is designed to give you the ultimate New Zealand high school experience:
- Integrated & Personalised Learning: Students are fully immersed in mainstream classes, with personalised learning programmes designed to match your individual abilities, passions, and goals.
- Outstanding Pastoral Care: The happiness and wellbeing of our students is our highest priority. As a proud signatory to the Code of Pastoral Care for International Students, we ensure a safe, caring environment backed by a dedicated international team, guidance counsellors, and our House and Ako system.
- Iconic Outdoor Education: Located in the adventure capital of New Zealand, we offer world-class outdoor education opportunities that allow you to explore our breathtaking environment while building confidence, maturity, and teamwork skills.
- Extensive Extracurriculars: Beyond outdoor education, we offer a specialized curriculum complemented by a wealth of opportunities across sport, the arts, music, culture, and leadership—including our vibrant inter-House competitions.
- End-of-Year (EOY) Programme: For senior international students (Years 11–13) who are not sitting NCEA exams, we run a dedicated two-week activity programme in November while domestic students are on exam leave. The perfect way to experience the very best of the Queenstown region.
- Tentative 2026 EOY program dates: 9-19 November. You can view a sample EOY program here.
Key Information for Enrolment
- Programme Length & Intake: We invite applications for durations of two terms (one semester) or longer. Students can choose to begin their programme at the start of either Term 1 (January) or Term 3 (July).
- First-Day Orientation: To help you feel happy and settled, all international students take part in a comprehensive one-day orientation and welcome programme on their first day.
- The New Zealand School Year: The academic year runs from January to December and is split into four 10-week terms, with two-week holidays between terms and a six-week summer break at the end of the year.