This section needs expansion. You can help by adding missing information. (February 2022)

The college was declared open on 11 February 1924 by the Minister for Education, James Parr.^[1]

In July 2012, a student was killed by a train after he ran out from several trees alongside the tracks outside the school.^[2] In March 2025, a 13-year-old girl named Sarie Morton was struck by a train shortly after class at 3:15 PM.^[3] Consequently, the mayor of Matamata-Piako, Adrienne Wilcock, stated that she was assisting authorities in regard to implementing protective measures, such as a trackside fences or barriers.^[4]

As of March 2026, Matamata College has a roll of 855 students, of which 238 (27.8%) identify as Māori.^[5] The school has an Equity Index of 479,^[6] placing it amongst schools whose students have above average socioeconomic barriers to achievement (roughly equivalent to decile 4 under the former socio-economic decile system).^[7]

• Anne Taylor – netball player^[8]
• Brendon Leonard – rugby union player
• Casey Williams – netball player
• Catherine Tizard – Governor-General
• Craig Innes – rugby union and rugby league player
• Judith Collins – politician; former National leader
• Julie Hawkes – squash player
• Lyn Grime – Olympic hurdler^[9]
• Murray Taylor – rugby union player
• Nicola Browne – cricketer
• Richard Nunns – Māori traditional instrumentalist of Pākehā heritage
• Shane Dye – jockey
• Warwick Taylor – rugby union player

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  Aerial and front view of Matamata College in 1978.
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  Aerial view of Matamata College in the 1940s
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  Front of Matamata College in the 1950s