Best schools in Nelson (2026)
The top five of 23 schools in each category, with links to the full top 100. Rankings use the Success Index (NZ), built only from official New Zealand data.
Nelson has 23 schools educating 8,767 students in 2026: 18 state, 3 state integrated, 2 private.
The median Equity Index (EQI) across Nelson is 454. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
Browse every school in Nelson →
Best primary schools in Nelson
Contributing, full primary, intermediate and composite schools offering Years 1–8.
St Joseph's School (Nelson)
Nelson · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
376 students
Clifton Terrace School
Nelson · State contributing · Years 1–6
280 students
Hampden Street School
Nelson · State contributing · Years 1–6
451 students
Nelson Central School
Nelson · State contributing · Years 1–6
380 students
Enner Glynn School
Stoke · State contributing · Years 1–6
329 students
Best secondary schools in Nelson
Secondary and composite schools offering Years 9–13.
Nelson College For Girls
Nelson · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
956 students
Garin College
Richmond · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
635 students
Nayland College
Stoke · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,270 students
Nelson College
Nelson · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,009 students
Best state schools in Nelson
Government schools across all year levels.
Clifton Terrace School
Nelson · State contributing · Years 1–6
280 students
Nelson College For Girls
Nelson · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
956 students
Hampden Street School
Nelson · State contributing · Years 1–6
451 students
Nelson Central School
Nelson · State contributing · Years 1–6
380 students
Enner Glynn School
Stoke · State contributing · Years 1–6
329 students
Best state integrated schools in Nelson
State integrated (mostly church-affiliated) schools.
St Joseph's School (Nelson)
Nelson · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
376 students
Garin College
Richmond · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
635 students
Nelson Christian Academy
Stoke · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
316 students
Best girls' schools in Nelson
Single-sex girls' schools.
Best boys' schools in Nelson
Single-sex boys' schools.
Best secondary schools by ncea level 2 attainment in Nelson
Secondary schools ranked by the percentage of school leavers who left with at least NCEA Level 2 (Ministry of Education), for schools with 30 or more leavers.
Nelson College For Girls
Nelson · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
956 students
Nayland College
Stoke · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,270 students
Garin College
Richmond · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
635 students
Nelson College
Nelson · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,009 students
Best secondary schools by university entrance in Nelson
Secondary schools ranked by the percentage of school leavers who attained the University Entrance award (Ministry of Education).
Nelson College For Girls
Nelson · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
956 students
Nayland College
Stoke · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,270 students
Garin College
Richmond · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
635 students
Nelson College
Nelson · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,009 students
Best largest schools in Nelson
Schools with the largest rolls.
Nayland College
Stoke · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,270 students
Nelson College
Nelson · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,009 students
Nelson College For Girls
Nelson · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
956 students
Garin College
Richmond · State integrated secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
635 students
Broadgreen Intermediate
Stoke · State intermediate · Years 7–8
490 students
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best primary school in Nelson?
St Joseph's School (Nelson) in Nelson ranks first among primary schools in Nelson with a Success Index (NZ) of 71.6 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 401).
How are primary schools in Nelson 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.