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All About Schools In Rarotonga: Education Options In The Cook Islands. 

Sarah Steiner

Are you looking at moving to the Cook Islands? Here is everything you wanted to know about schools in Rarotonga.

Because did I mention that I have been teaching in the Cook Islands? Plus good news? We have done this move to Rarotonga twice!  

This is our second time living in Rarotonga and moving to the Cook Islands as a family.  

So not only can we share with you all about moving to Rarotonga. But we also have all the deets about shipping, health checks, renting a house, buying a car – and schools! 

Read all about: 

Now, let’s get into making that move and talk about schools in Rarotonga before you get going. 

SCHOOLS – Rarotonga and the Cook Islands 

Education in Rarotonga, the largest and most populous island of the Cook Islands, is a unique blend of traditional values and modern curricula, and deeply tied to the New Zealand education system. 

In Cook Islands Māori, the word Apii means ‘School’. Many of the schools in Rarotonga and the Cook Islands have the word ‘Apii’ in the name. 

There are 12x Registered Schools on Rarotonga, 11x Preschools (for children under the age of 5 years old) and 3x Daycare options. 

I am a teacher at Apii Nikao so I may be bias as I love and recommend it as a fantastic school! But there are a range of other great schools in Rarotonga.

The schools on Rarotonga consist of government established Primary and Secondary Schools, Church Schools and Private Schools. The term ‘private’ is used to denote a non-government school that is neither owned nor operated by a religious organisation.

Hey! We are Away With The Steiners. Wondering honestly about Living in Rarotonga?

REGISTERED SCHOOLS – Schools in Rarotonga 

In Rarotonga there are 6 Primary Schools, 2 Secondary Schools, 3 Church Schools (including one Secondary School) and two private schools. 

Primary Schools in Rarotonga

Secondary Schools in Rarotonga 

Private Schools in Rarotonga 

Two of the church schools on Rarotonga are administered by the Catholic Church – St Joseph’s Primary and Nukutere College – one by the Seventh Day Adventist Church – Papaaroa School – and one by the Assembly of God Church – Imanuela Akatemia.

The two private schools on Rarotonga are Apii Te Uki Ou and Blackrock Preschool.

Tarome’s Daycare is a private childcare option. 

Apii Imanuela students on a weekly art class at Gallery Tavioni in Avarua.

Early Childhood Education (ECE) – Schools in Rarotonga

The journey of learning and schools in Rarotonga often begins in Early Childhood Education (ECE). In Rarotonga, ECE options cater to children up to five years old, with most centres accepting children from three years of age. 

While ECE is not compulsory, it is highly valued as a crucial period for laying the foundations for future learning.

Rarotonga boasts a mix of privately operated childcare centres and government-funded ECE facilities. These centres are designed to provide a nurturing and inclusive environment, recognizing the holistic development of each child – catering to their social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and spiritual needs.

A key feature of the Cook Islands’ ECE curriculum, “Te Kura Api’i Tamariki Potiki,” is its connection to nature and the local environment. Children learn through play, exploration, and inquiry, often engaging with their surroundings, including the lagoon and taro plantations. There’s a strong emphasis on fostering Cook Islands Māori language and culture, ensuring children develop a secure sense of identity and belonging from a young age.

ECE – Schools in Rarotonga

There are currently 11 Registered ECE in Rarotonga:

Most of the above ECE are associated with the Primary Schools in Rarotonga. BlackRock Preschool is a privately registered ECE. Titikaveka ECE is not connected with a primary school. 

Beautifully shaded play area at Blackrock Preschool.

Read ECE and Daycare Options in Rarotonga.

Primary Education – Schools in Rarotonga 

Compulsory education in the Cook Islands begins at age five and continues until fifteen.  

Primary schooling typically covers Years 1 to 6. Though some primary schools in Rarotonga include up to Year 8 in ‘Area Schools’ that combine primary and intermediate levels. Most are integrated with ECE.

The curriculum is based on the Cook Islands Curriculum Framework, which aims to provide a broad and balanced education.

Key learning areas in primary schools include:

Many primary schools on Rarotonga are government-funded, such as Apii Avarua, Apii Nikao, Apii Arorangi, and Apii Takitumu. 

There are also private primary schools like Apii Te Uki Ou and St Joseph’s Primary School, which often follow a similar curriculum but may have different fee structures and additional programs (e.g., Apii Te Uki Ou has a mix of local and international students and New Zealand qualified educators).  

The school day typically runs from early morning (around 8:00 AM) to mid-afternoon (around 2:00pm).

Apii Nikao school uniforms for sale at Tuki’s Pareu in Avarua.

PRIMARY – Schools in Rarotonga

There are nine Primary Schools in Rarotonga, serving communities across the island.

Many of these schools are ‘Area Schools’ meaning they cater to both primary (ECE to Year 6/8) and sometimes junior secondary levels. Most are integrated with ECE. 

Based on information for 2021-2025, the following are details for the nine Primary Schools in Rarotonga.

Students from Apii Nikao Year 4-6 Marae getting ready for the Primary Schools Culture Festival.

Apii Arorangi 

Arorangi School caters to around 160 students from ECE to Year 8.  

The primary school is adequately resourced with a small library, computer room and food and technology room.

Teachers at Apii Arorangi demonstrate a high use of Cook Islands Māori in the classrooms and the school is involved in island-wide cultural events across all ages. 

Vibrant colours and children’s work on display in Apii Arorangi ECE.

Apii Avarua

Avarua School caters to 460+ students from ECE to Year 8.  

Avarua School or Apii Avarua is the largest primary school in the Cook Islands, with a steady roll of over 450 students up to and including Year 8. 

Inside the 4 year olds classroom at Apii Avarua ECE. 

Imanuela Akatemia

Apii Imanuela Akatemia is a small private school in Rarotonga providing Christian education for children from ECE level to Year 13.

Students complete individual units of work across a range of subjects at their own pace working from booklets or on the computer with the support of teachers that have been trained in the ACE programme.

Imanuela Akatemia in Muri, Ngatangiia.

Apii Nikao 

Apii Nikao is the second largest primary school in Rarotonga (after Avarua) and the newest school to open on the island. This is where I teach and where our kids go!

Apii Nikao was built with funding from the Chinese Government. It is a merge of two of Nikao’s original primary schools in Rarotonga – Nikao Māori and Avatea School.

The large school grounds of Apii Nikao include a sizeable sports field, school assembly hall and two playgrounds (one in the lower primary and one in ECE). 

The classrooms are built in a modern learning hub-classroom style and the school is built to cater for up to 500 students.

School Fees for Apii Nikao

Apii Nikao Year 4-5 Marae during a visit from Volunteer Firefighter, Gavin. 
Flowers galore at the end of year Parents Day and Prizegiving.

Apii Rutaki

Rutaki School is one of the smaller primary schools on the island with less than 90 students from ECE to Year 6. 

The grounds of Apii Rutaki are attractive with a large playing field, vegetable garden and vibrant playground in the ECE outdoor space all located adjacent to the beautiful Rutaki Beach.

Rutaki School playing field opposite the beautiful Rutaki beach.

Apii Takitumu – Schools in Rarotonga

Apii Takitumu is one of the government primary schools in Rarotonga. The current roll of 185 includes children from ECE level up to Year 6.

Takitumu School has a special character of Māori Language and only teaches Māori reading and writing from Year 1 – 3.  At intermediate levels there is a bilingual language programme from Year 4 – 6. 

Apii Takitumu uniforms for sale at Tuki’s Pareu. 

Apii Te Uki Ou – Private Schools in Rarotonga

Apii Te Tuki Ou is a privately funded primary school in Rarotonga. It is located on the beachfront in the village of Ngatangiia (on the eastern side of the island).  

The majority of teachers are New Zealand Qualified educators with a mixture of local and international students. 

School Fees for Apii Te Uki Ou

The colourful beachfront playground at Apii Te Uki Ou. 
Apii Te Uki Ou boys uniform and sports singlet. 

Papaaroa Adventist School

Papaaroa Adventist School is a small school in Rarotonga operating under the management of the Seventh Day Adventist Mission in Papaaroa.

Education is offered from ECE to Year 10 with the children making full use of the school grounds, playing on the playground or field at the front of the school – right opposite the beach. 

St Joseph’s Primary School

St Joseph’s Primary School in Rarotonga is located in Avarua town centre. 

It was established in 1895 by Catholic missionaries. Today the school caters for around 170 children offering education from ECE to Year 6.

While there are other small ECE centres (like Blackrock Preschool, which has about 40 students), the nine listed above are generally considered the main primary-level schools on Rarotonga, including those private institutions that provide primary education as part of their broader offerings. 

The student numbers reflect the relative sizes and reach of these educational institutions across the island’s different districts.

St Joseph’s ECE playground. 
St Joseph’s Primary School classrooms.

Secondary Education – Schools in Rarotonga

Secondary education in Rarotonga builds upon the primary foundation, with students typically progressing from Year 7 to Year 13. Similar to primary, attendance is compulsory until age 15, but students are encouraged to continue beyond this age to complete their studies.

Tereora College is the main government-owned secondary school on Rarotonga, offering a comprehensive curriculum.

Nukutere College is a second Catholic secondary school.  

The secondary curriculum is also aligned with the Cook Islands Curriculum Framework, providing a broad education in Years 7-10 before allowing for more specialization in Years 12 and 13 to meet students’ individual needs and interests. Subjects offered include a range of academic disciplines, as well as technical and commercial studies, environmental studies, and a continued focus on Cook Islands Māori culture and heritage.

SECONDARY – Schools in Rarotonga

The following are details for the three Secondary Schools in Rarotonga.

Nukutere College

Nukutere College is the country’s only Catholic secondary school and has an important role across the archipelago.

The secondary school offers tuition from Year 7 (Form 1) up to Year 11 (Form 5) including NCEA Level 1.  In 2007, a government-funded Special Needs unit was opened at the college (the only such unit in Rarotonga).

Nukutere College grounds with a view of Maungatea and Te Manga in the background. 
Nukutere College jacket.

Tereora College – Schools in Rarotonga

Tereora is the largest school in the Cook Islands and the national college. It is also the only public college offering education to Year 13 (NCEA Level 3) in the country.  Other secondary schools in Rarotonga go up to Year 11 or 12. 

The school offers a wide range of subjects for students to study at all levels of NCEA.

Most students enter the college at Year 9 from the major contributing primary schools in Rarotonga.  Many students also come to the College to complete their senior years (Years 11-13) and NCEA Qualifications from local secondary schools that offer education up to Year 10 or 11 as well as from the Pa Enua (the outer Cook Islands). 

Students bikes parked outside the junior block classrooms at Tereora.

Titikaveka College

Titikaveka College is a small secondary school on the south side of the island of Rarotonga. The College offers education from Year 7 up to Year 11/NCEA Level 1 with one classroom per year level. 

Class sizes are small which allows teachers to work more often with individual students. In turn, this is a strength of the school which is particularly recognised and appreciated by the students and families alike.

Study room and main office, Titikaveka College. 
Titikaveka College tuck shop. 

TERTIARY – Adult Education on Rarotonga

There are also options for tertiary and higher level education on the island including:

Challenges and Successes: Schools in the Cook Islands 

Education in a small island nation like the Cook Islands comes with its unique set of challenges and successes:

In essence, education in Rarotonga is a dynamic system that strives to provide a nurturing, culturally relevant, and academically sound environment for its young people. It’s a continuous journey of adaptation and growth, aiming to empower Cook Islanders to navigate their future with confidence, competence, and a strong sense of who they are.

SUMMARY – Schools in Rarotonga

Well, there you have it; all the information you were looking for about options for schools in Rarotonga. 

And how lucky are we! There are lots of amazing schools here in Rarotonga. 

It’s not easy as a parent (or a teacher) trying to find information and make decisions prior to moving to Rarotonga.

So if you have any more questions leave us a comment or come and find us on Facebook.

Wishing you a great year ahead!

Read more about travel to Rarotonga

More about travel planning for Cook Islands and beyond

These are the companies we use while traveling as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel. 

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