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The principal of Flaxmere College credits improved teaching and wider support from the school community for a turnaround in achievement standards.
Louise Anaru was given a Sir Peter Blake leadership award for her work at the decile 1 school, which has a 75 percent Māori roll.
When she arrived three years ago NCEA pass rates were around 30 percent, after dropping as low as 20 percent.
Last year 86 percent of NCEA level one students got the qualification and 92 percent at level two.
Ms Anaru says using research-based practices like Te Kotahitanga have helped to improve what happens in the classroom.
"We came up with a shared vision with the students, community, whānau and the kura so there is real ownership and buy-in, and we took a strategic approach so we set goals and targets in terms of leadership, teaching and learning and student achievement, raised the bar, had high expectations and students have achieved and been so successful," she says.
Ms Anaru says all students have potential, whatever decile the school is in.
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