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The present school was built in 1961 following an amalgamation of the Macraes and Moonlight Schools. The first school in this area was established in 1868.
The school has a covered, heated swimming pool on site, modern playground equipment and excellent sporting facilities, in the form of tennis and basketball courts, with large grounds within and adjacent to the school property.
The school is well resourced with two full time teachers, one being funded by the board and community. . There is a strong emphasis placed on Information Technology, with the school’s computers all networked. We have an Intranet facility, through which students are able to access their own and each others’ work, as well as Broad banded Internet Access. All pupils and staff have access to e-mail within and outside of the school.
Buildings consist of two adjoining classrooms, a small library and a staff room. The school interior has recently been redesigned with a mini computer lab in the senior room, extra shelving for storage and a kitchen / technology area in the junior room.
The schoolhouse is a 3 bedroom wooden dwelling opposite the school.
The Public Health Nurse visits the school regularly, and there is ready access to Advisory Services. Dental treatment is available at the Palmerston Mobile School Clinic.
Close links are maintained with the pre-school community through a weekly playgroup session held in the Macraes Pavilion.
The school provides a focal point for this small community, which places strong emphasis on the traditional skills of language development and mathematics.
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The school serves the general area of Macraes, Moonlight, Nenthorn and Horse Flat. Originally a pastoral farming community, the area has undergone considerable change since the establishment of a large opencast gold mine. Continuing expansion of the mine has encouraged several new families into the community, although the housing is limited.
Other local businesses include the hotel, transport and farming contractors.
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Our school is a small country school, set in the high country between the East Otago coastline and the vast expanse of the Maniototo basin. It is 38kms from Palmerston and 90kms NE of Dunedin. It is situated 500m above sea level and has extremes in climate, cold icy winters with hot dry summers. In the village there is one hotel, an information centre on the mine and local history, five local houses, a community hall and fire station. Our neighbours are sheep and rabbits as well as the Macraes Gold Mine run by OceanaGold Limited (OGL). Our school is a full primary, for children from Years 1 to 8, and our individualised learning programmes cater for all needs and learning styles. 
