Academic Strength
- Northcote College rates among the top performing schools, consistently achieving academic results well above the average. It has a history of success and students are encouraged to achieve.
- An outstanding music and arts programme has had continual success. The Jazz band has the national record of wins in the national Easter competition
National Scholarship Examinations
NCEA Scholarship results in 2009 were outstanding: Scholarship is the most challenging examination for Year 13 students and only for the very top students. At Northcote College in 2009 two Year 12 students chose to challenge themselves academically with these very demanding examinations and we are pleased to report that they achieved considerable success. Ruby Porter who entered Scholarship English achieved an Outstanding award, which is the highest award any school student in New Zealand can achieve.
2009 Scholarship Results
| Subject | Student Name | 2009 Class Level |
| Chemistry | Emma Cameron | Year 12 |
| Classical Studies | Megan Alexander | Year 13 |
| Drama | Adam Gerrett | Year 13 |
| Drama | Zachary Haldane | Year 13 |
| Drama | Andrew Harrison | Year 13 |
| Drama | Anna Kempkers | Year 13 |
| Drama | Tom Walter | Year 13 |
| Economics | Ivor Popovich | Year 13 |
| English | Ruby Porter | Year 12 |
| English | Douglas Tang | Year 13 |
| Geography | Alex Tod | Year 13 |
| Mathematics with Calculus | Jonathan Valois | Year 13 |
| Mathematics with Calculus | Matthew Yates | Year 13 |
| Mathematics with Statistics | David Carpenter | Year 13 |
| Music Studies | Rebekah Ryan | Year 13 |
| Painting | Tim Vickers | Year 13 |
| Photography | Daiyaan Rhoda | Year 13 |
| Photography | Camilla Tresadern | Year 13 |
| Physical Education | Sarah Denmark | Year 13 |
| Physical Education | Andrew Fegan | Year 13 |
| Physics | Kenny Chan | Year 13 |
| source http://www.nzqa.govt.nz |
