Best secondary schools in Invercargill City (2026)
Secondary and composite schools offering Years 9–13. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 6 schools in Invercargill City, Southland. Rank positions shown on each profile are within New Zealand and Southland.
- 166James Hargest CollegeInvercargill · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 445 · 1,887 students
- 264Southland Girls' High SchoolGeorgetown · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 463 · 1,076 students
- 354Southland Boys' High SchoolInvercargill · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 464 · 1,078 students
- 453Verdon CollegeInvercargill · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 464 · 684 students
- 523Te Wharekura o ArowhenuaInvercargill · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 536 · 192 students
- 618Aurora CollegeInvercargill · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 545 · 579 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Hargest College Invercargill · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 66.0 Top 50% | 445 | 1,887 |
| 2 | Southland Girls' High School Georgetown · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 64.3 Top 50% | 463 | 1,076 |
| 3 | Southland Boys' High School Invercargill · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 53.7 Top 50% | 464 | 1,078 |
| 4 | Verdon College Invercargill · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 53.4 Top 50% | 464 | 684 |
| 5 | Te Wharekura o Arowhenua Invercargill · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 22.9 Lower 50% | 536 | 192 |
| 6 | Aurora College Invercargill · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 18.4 Lower 50% | 545 | 579 |
James Hargest College in Invercargill leads the 2026 list of secondary schools in Invercargill City with a Success Index (NZ) of 66.0. Of the 6 schools shown, 5 are state, 1 are state integrated.
For the full picture see the wider Southland secondary schools rankings, every school on the Invercargill City page, or the comparison tool to put a shortlist side by side.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best secondary school in Invercargill City?
James Hargest College in Invercargill, Southland ranks first among secondary schools in Invercargill City with a Success Index (NZ) of 66.0 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 445).
How are secondary schools in Invercargill City ranked?
Each school's Success Index (NZ) combines 5 factors: equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (45%), roll size (10%), roll growth (5 years) (15%), school leavers with ncea level 2+ (20%), school leavers with university entrance (10%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type across New Zealand. Schools with fewer than 60 students are excluded from rankings.
Are these 2026 rankings official?
No. They are computed by Success Tutoring from official New Zealand data (Ministry of Education – Schools Directory; Ministry of Education – School leaver attainment (Find a school)). The Equity Index describes the student community, not teaching quality.