A long waiting list to enrol at John Paul College shows religion as a drawcard, rather than deterrent.
The Catholic secondary school proudly promotes its Gospel values and believes they contribute to their students' success, principal Patrick Walsh says.
"A strong focus of a Catholic school is to emphasise to our students that they all have God-given gifts and to not take that for granted. Whether it be in academics, sports or the arts, they have an obligation to use their gifts not only for themselves but for others."
Mr Walsh said John Paul College believed in the importance of relationships and values of honesty, integrity, doing your best and giving to the community.
"Catholic schools are counter-culture schools so parents have a lot of concerns about drugs, violence and promiscuity. Catholic schools have a strong emphasis on being moral and that your body is a temple of the Lord's which you should not put illegal drugs and substances in."
Many of its students volunteer at St Vincent de Paul and work in the school-sponsored food van. The college also supported orphans with Aids in Africa. "We have a motto in our school, 'Enter to learn, leave to serve'."
However in science class, the evolution theory was taught.
"We have taken the Biblical truth from it but do not have a literal view of the creation story."
Mr Walsh said when parents enrolled their child into the school, they understood the teachings their child would receive. "We make it abundantly clear that we are a specific type of school which they can accept or choose another type of school in Rotorua. But there seems to be a demand in what we are teaching as there is a long waiting list for enrolments."
Rotorua Seventh Day Adventist Primary School principal Lanea Strickland said their children were not only building an education for life, but for eternity.
"Our school vision is to develop the character of God in our students and for them to have academic excellence.
"What the children learn is the same subjects as state schools - but interwoven in this is the simplicity of the Gospel."
Mrs Strickland said children did not learn about evolution in science but learnt they "are a masterpiece of God's hand".