Top 4 secondary schools in Nelson (2026)
Secondary and composite schools offering Years 9–13. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 4 schools shown.
- 166Nelson College For GirlsNelson · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 442 · 956 students
- 265Garin CollegeRichmond · State integrated Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 429 · 635 students
- 361Nayland CollegeStoke · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 462 · 1,270 students
- 455Nelson CollegeNelson · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 441 · 1,009 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nelson College For Girls Nelson · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 66.0 Top 50% | 442 | 956 |
| 2 | Garin College Richmond · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State integrated | 65.3 Top 50% | 429 | 635 |
| 3 | Nayland College Stoke · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 60.5 Top 50% | 462 | 1,270 |
| 4 | Nelson College Nelson · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 55.3 Top 50% | 441 | 1,009 |
Nelson College For Girls in Nelson leads the 2026 list of secondary schools in Nelson with a Success Index (NZ) of 66.0. Of the 4 schools shown, 3 are state, 1 are state integrated.
Scores are percentiles within school type, so a primary school and a secondary school with the same score sit at the same point in their own distributions. Use the rankings to build a shortlist, then visit the schools and ask how they support students at your child's level.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best secondary school in Nelson?
Nelson College For Girls in Nelson ranks first among secondary schools in Nelson with a Success Index (NZ) of 66.0 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 442).
How are secondary 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.