According to the Ministry of Education, Tarawera High School has a gender composition of 56% male, and 44% female.

[4][5] The school is located on the old Kawerau College site, on River Road, and uses the facilities already there.

[7] The announcement stated that the new facilities would be progressively built, so the school will be able to continue operating during construction.

[8] The new facilities will replace 60% of the existing buildings, and will provide a modern teaching space for 525 students with a library, a wharenui, technology and performance spaces, an administration block, and a wireless fibre network.

[9] The re-development was said to feature environmentally sustainable initiatives, such as solar heating.