Several charter schools are experiencing overwhelming demand even before their official openings, with some turning away students due to limited capacity.
Tipene, the first Māori boarding school in 100 years, received four times the number of applications for its initial intake and increased its roll to 42 students.
Tipene is on the site of the former St Stephen’s School, in Auckland’s Bombay, and will open on Waitangi Day.
Despite a $20,000 boarding fee, scholarships make the school accessible to a diverse range of families. In Christchurch, Mastery School has a waitlist for its specialised teaching methods aimed at children with learning struggles, while Christchurch North College, designed for disengaged youth, has also exceeded its initial enrollment capacity.
Principals highlight the flexibility and resources of the charter model in addressing students’ unique needs, with plans for potential expansion.
