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St Cuthbert's College - considered a poster-school for the NCEA because of its academic success and staunch defence of the qualification - is now considering offering an overseas qualification.
The private girls' school in Auckland has supported the National Certificate of Educational Achievement since its introduction and is one of the top performing schools under the system.
It is now considering whether to offer the Cambridge International Examinations or the International Baccalaureate as well as the NCEA.
This week one of the country's largest schools, Avondale College, revealed it was considering the Cambridge exams.
Yesterday, two more state schools told the Weekend Herald it was only a matter of time before they sought alternatives for their top students.
National Party education spokeswoman Katherine Rich expected other schools to follow Avondale College.
"A lot of mid-decile schools have been waiting patiently but have not seen the changes they wanted to NCEA.
"Now they will follow Avondale or parents will pull their children out."
But last night Education Minister Steve Maharey said he would wait, and see what happened. Schools were entitled to offer other qualifications, he said.
St Cuthbert's principal Lynda Reid said the school would decide by the end of the year whether to adopt a new qualification.
The school reviewed its qualifications every four or five years, and this was the first review since NCEA was introduced.
The move was partly prompted by other private schools offering alternative qualifications.
Diocesan School and St Kentigern College recently introduced the International Baccalaureate.
"I think there is a need to make sure the qualification we are offering is still the right one for the school," Mrs Reid said.
"While I have been very supportive of NCEA and it has been extremely successful for our students, we have to look at what is going on around us and whether we are giving the right message."
Mrs Reid said a lot of "myths" had clouded the NCEA debate, but some valid calls for change had been ignored.
"Every single qualification has areas that need work, and there have been opportunities to strengthen the public view of NCEA but they haven't been taken.
"It is a good system but things like the decision not to record when a student has a 'not achieved' are not good for public confidence.
"We have lobbied for those things, and the feedback from many in the sector has not been followed."
Kelston Boys High School in West Auckland yesterday said it hoped to introduce the Cambridge exams next year.
Principal Steve Watt was hoping to have the Cambridge exams available for the top 10 per cent of students next year, although it was more difficult financially to offer at a smaller school.
He said boys in particular struggled under NCEA, and many did the minimum needed to pass, because it lacked the narrow grade differences to motivate them.
"As a state school, you have an obligation to give it a go. But if you give it a try and it won't cater for all levels at the school then you have to look at alternatives."
Manurewa High School has also put the Qualifications Authority on notice, said principal Richard Thornton.
"I'm happy to give the new broom with [NZQA chief executive] Karen Poutasi a chance to change issues that have gone unchanged time and time again.
"But down the track, by 2009, if things aren't improved, we would have to look at a better pathway for the top-end."
NZQA deputy chief executive Bali Haque said the NCEA system prepared students well for university and was internationally recognised.
The authority was constantly trying to improve internal and external assessment processes.
- Additional reporting Elizabeth Binning
