Porirua:Education

Porirua has a reasonable coverage in the education field for a New Zealand city of its size.

History
Early settlements such as Plimmerton, Pauatahanui, and central Porirua had primary schools like any other rural settlement.

With the gradual growth of "private" suburban areas and the faster growth of State housing after 1950, numerous primary and a few intermediate schools emerged. One primary school in Waitangirua closed after a few decades because of changing demographics.

Libraries
Porirua is well supplied with public libraries. The main one is in the same complex as the museum, which is an educational facility itself. We reputedly have the smallest branch library in the country among our network of local resources.

Secondary and tertiary
The first secondary school was Mana College in Elsdon just across Elsdon Park from what was harbour but has since been reclaimed.

Subsequent secondary schools include:
 * Bishop Viard College, just south-west of the CBD
 * Aotea College, near Aotea Lagoon, the Royal New Zealand Police College, and Gear Homestead
 * Whitby College

North of the CBD is the tertiary institution Whitireia Community Polytechnic.

Some pupils travel to nearby cities such as Wellington or Lower Hutt for education with some perceived advantages over local schools.

Chronology of schools' opening and closing

 * - Plimmerton School
 * 1957 - Mana College