Decile 1 schools are given more government funding, while decile 10 schools have fewer students from low socio-economic communities so receive less funding.
Rotorua Seventh-day Adventist School will seek a review of the ministry's decision to increase its decile rating from 3 to 6, its principal says.
Lanea Strickland said because the Glenholme school's students came from across the Rotorua district to seek a Christian education, measuring the decile rating on the surrounding community was not appropriate.
She said the school would receive about $7000 less each year, which raised concerns the school's 35 students would be affected.
Rotorua Intermediate's rating dropped from decile 4 to 3.
Principal Garry de Thierry said the outcome was a positive one.
"We're over the moon. The change means we will get about $75,000 of extra funding, which can be put towards programmes to boost student achievement and further help them with their learning."
Mr de Thierry said there were a number of programmes the school had to put on hold because of a lack of government funding.
Otonga Road Primary School principal Linda Woon agreed, saying the change in her school's rating, from decile 9 to 7, would not change the school's expectation of pupil achievement.
She said the school welcomed the additional $24,000 it would receive.
That money would be put towards providing extra teacher aides, which she said were very much needed.
Mihi School principal Katie McIndoe said the drop from decile 7 to 5 was a great thing for her Reporoa school.
"At the end of the day, the students are our priority. While this will only see us get an extra couple of thousand dollars, any extra resources that enable us to help students with their progress has got to be a good thing."
St Mary's Catholic School will hold a board meeting to discuss the reduction in its funding due to the decile rating increasing from 5 to 7.
Schools will have an 18-month transition before the changes take full effect.
For a list of new decile ratings at Tokoroa, Taupo, Whakatane and Kawerau schools see the Ministry of Education website at www.minedu.govt.nz