Education Ministry figures show the number of Pakeha students attending low-decile schools has almost halved since 2000.
Tamaki College has a roll of 550 students but only seven are Pakeha.
The entire school is digital and has been from 2012. The school has a multi-million dollar sports hall and academic performances are getting better and better.
NCEA Level 3 pass rates are up from 18 percent in 2010 to 60 percent now, and university entrance is also up at 26 percent.
But principal Soana Pamaka says academic results are not the only measure of achievement. The school's achievements are all the more impressive when you consider the pupils' parents' income levels.
The community has an average income of $19,000 so there are challenges for the school. They're not trying to sugar-coat the situation and start with basics such as ensuring each child is fed and warm.
So why is a low-decile school such a tough sell to Pakeha parents? And what can be done to increase the roll of Pakeha students?
Story investigates.
Watch the video for the full Story report.
