Best state schools in Invercargill City (2026)
Government schools across all year levels. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 20 schools in Invercargill City, Southland. Rank positions shown on each profile are within New Zealand and Southland.
- 168Waihopai SchoolGladstone · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 428 · 354 students
- 267Otatara SchoolOtatara · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 412 · 247 students
- 366James Hargest CollegeInvercargill · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 445 · 1,887 students
- 465Myross Bush SchoolMyross Bush · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 414 · 173 students
- 564Southland Girls' High SchoolGeorgetown · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 463 · 1,076 students
- 664Windsor North SchoolWindsor · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 422 · 326 students
- 763Salford SchoolHargest · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 422 · 250 students
- 859Makarewa SchoolMakarewa · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 440 · 155 students
- 954Southland Boys' High SchoolInvercargill · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 464 · 1,078 students
- 1045Donovan Primary SchoolWaikiwi · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 464 · 378 students
- 1140Tisbury SchoolInvercargill · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 467 · 126 students
- 1234Invercargill Middle SchoolInvercargill · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 484 · 155 students
- 1332New River PrimaryKew · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 522 · 229 students
- 1432Waverley Park SchoolGlengarry · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 495 · 263 students
- 1530Fernworth Primary SchoolStrathern · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 535 · 266 students
- 1628Newfield Park SchoolNewfield · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 506 · 223 students
- 1725Ascot Community SchoolHawthorndale · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 516 · 237 students
- 1825Bluff SchoolBluff · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 511 · 115 students
- 1923Te Wharekura o ArowhenuaInvercargill · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 536 · 192 students
- 2018Aurora CollegeInvercargill · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 545 · 579 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waihopai School Gladstone · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 68.1 Top 25% | 428 | 354 |
| 2 | Otatara School Otatara · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 66.5 Top 50% | 412 | 247 |
| 3 | James Hargest College Invercargill · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 66.0 Top 50% | 445 | 1,887 |
| 4 | Myross Bush School Myross Bush · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 65.1 Top 50% | 414 | 173 |
| 5 | Southland Girls' High School Georgetown · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 64.3 Top 50% | 463 | 1,076 |
| 6 | Windsor North School Windsor · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 63.5 Top 50% | 422 | 326 |
| 7 | Salford School Hargest · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 62.8 Top 50% | 422 | 250 |
| 8 | Makarewa School Makarewa · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 59.1 Top 50% | 440 | 155 |
| 9 | Southland Boys' High School Invercargill · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 53.7 Top 50% | 464 | 1,078 |
| 10 | Donovan Primary School Waikiwi · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 45.1 Lower 50% | 464 | 378 |
| 11 | Tisbury School Invercargill · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 40.2 Lower 50% | 467 | 126 |
| 12 | Invercargill Middle School Invercargill · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 34.2 Lower 50% | 484 | 155 |
| 13 | New River Primary Kew · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 31.9 Lower 50% | 522 | 229 |
| 14 | Waverley Park School Glengarry · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 31.5 Lower 50% | 495 | 263 |
| 15 | Fernworth Primary School Strathern · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 30.1 Lower 50% | 535 | 266 |
| 16 | Newfield Park School Newfield · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 27.8 Lower 50% | 506 | 223 |
| 17 | Ascot Community School Hawthorndale · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 25.1 Lower 50% | 516 | 237 |
| 18 | Bluff School Bluff · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 24.5 Lower 50% | 511 | 115 |
| 19 | Te Wharekura o Arowhenua Invercargill · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 22.9 Lower 50% | 536 | 192 |
| 20 | Aurora College Invercargill · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 18.4 Lower 50% | 545 | 579 |
Waihopai School in Gladstone leads the 2026 list of state schools in Invercargill City with a Success Index (NZ) of 68.1. Of the 20 schools shown, 20 are state.
For the full picture see the wider Southland state 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 state school in Invercargill City?
Waihopai School in Gladstone, Southland ranks first among state schools in Invercargill City with a Success Index (NZ) of 68.1 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 428).
How are state 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.