| Taihape Area School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
26 Huia St, Taihape, New Zealand | |
| Coordinates | 39°40′33″S175°48′03″E / 39.675764°S 175.8008974°E /-39.675764; 175.8008974 |
| Information | |
| Type | State composite coeducational |
| Established | 2009[1] |
| Ministry of Education Institution no. | 549 |
| Principal | Richard McMillan[2] |
| School roll | 244[2](November 2024) |
| Socio-economic decile | 4(November 2024) |
| Website | www.tas.school.nz |
Taihape Area School is astate composite coeducational school located inTaihape,Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand. It is located on 26 Huia St.[2]
The school has a roll of 244 students as of August 2017 and provides education for students in years 1–13.[2]
Taihape Area School was formed in 2009 after Taihape's primary and secondary schools amalgamated. It was officially opened in October 2009 by formerMinister of EducationTrevor Mallard and localRangitikei MPSimon Power.[3] The reason for the amalgamation between the two schools was budget-based because of a decline in student numbers.[1]
Between its establishment in 2009 and 2010 the principal was Boyce Davey and since 2010 it is Richard McMillan.[2][1]
As of November 2024, Taihape Area School has a roll of 244 students, of which 158 (64.8%) identify as Māori.[2]
As of 2024, the school has anEquity Index of 509,[4] placing it amongst schools whose students have many socioeconomic barriers to achievement (roughly equivalent to deciles 2 and 3 under the formersocio-economic decile system).[5]
The school was described by former principal Davey as "one of the most technologically advanced schools built in New Zealand".[1] All 29 of its learning spaces are provided with large interactive touch sensitive whiteboards linked to computer systems.[3]
In August 2024, it was revealed that some schools around the country were earthquake prone.[6] On 15 August 2024, it was reported that the school's main teaching block and gym have a 15 percent seismic rating and that the buildings have been leaking since they opened.[7] This was reported a day after Wellington Girls' College students protested outside Parliament after a teaching block in their school was closed due to having a 15 percent seismic rating.[6] The Ministry of Education plans for Taihape Area School include demolishing and rebuilding the main teaching block and strengthening the gym sometime in 2025.[7]