Wainuiomata High School does not operate an enrolment scheme, so the school is open to enrolment from any eligible student. Its effective service area is the entire Wainuiomata Valley, although it is easily accessible from most parts of Lower Hutt via the 160 "Wainuiomata North" public bus route, which stops outside the school and connects to Waterloo Interchange railway station and the Queensgate bus interchange in central Lower Hutt. In 2008, it was estimated around 40 students attending the school (or 5% of the roll) resided outside of Wainuiomata.
