Top 62 largest schools in Southland (2026)
Schools with the largest rolls. Ordered by the measure shown, with the Success Index (NZ) for context; 62 schools shown.
- 166James Hargest CollegeInvercargill · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Roll: 1,887
- 254Southland Boys' High SchoolInvercargill · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Roll: 1,078
- 364Southland Girls' High SchoolGeorgetown · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Roll: 1,076
- 453Verdon CollegeInvercargill · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Roll: 684
- 555Central Southland CollegeWinton · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Roll: 659
- 637Māruawai CollegeGore · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Roll: 591
- 718Aurora CollegeInvercargill · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Roll: 579
- 845Donovan Primary SchoolWaikiwi · State ContributingRoll: 378
- 968Waihopai SchoolGladstone · State ContributingRoll: 354
- 1060St Peter's College (Gore)Gore · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Roll: 348
- 1144Menzies CollegeWyndham · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Roll: 347
- 1264Windsor North SchoolWindsor · State ContributingRoll: 326
- 1364Fiordland CollegeTe Anau · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Roll: 307
- 1442St Patrick's School (Invercargill)Georgetown · State integrated ContributingRoll: 282
- 1570Te Anau SchoolTe Anau · State ContributingRoll: 281
- 1679St Theresa's School (Invercargill)Invercargill · State integrated ContributingRoll: 277
- 1740Winton SchoolWinton · State Full PrimaryRoll: 270
- 1830Fernworth Primary SchoolStrathern · State ContributingRoll: 266
- 1932Waverley Park SchoolGlengarry · State ContributingRoll: 263
- 2063Salford SchoolHargest · State ContributingRoll: 250
- 2167Otatara SchoolOtatara · State ContributingRoll: 247
- 2225Ascot Community SchoolHawthorndale · State Full PrimaryRoll: 237
- 2332New River PrimaryKew · State ContributingRoll: 229
- 2428Newfield Park SchoolNewfield · State ContributingRoll: 223
- 2535Northern Southland CollegeLumsden · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Roll: 218
- 2635Aparima CollegeRiverton · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Roll: 213
- 2755Gore Main SchoolGore · State ContributingRoll: 213
- 2859St Mary's School (Gore)Gore · State integrated ContributingRoll: 199
- 2923Te Wharekura o ArowhenuaInvercargill · State CompositeRoll: 192
- 3065Myross Bush SchoolMyross Bush · State ContributingRoll: 173
- 3134Invercargill Middle SchoolInvercargill · State ContributingRoll: 155
- 3259Makarewa SchoolMakarewa · State ContributingRoll: 155
- 3335West Gore SchoolGore · State ContributingRoll: 154
- 3447St Joseph's School (Invercargill)Invercargill · State integrated Full PrimaryRoll: 153
- 3558Riversdale SchoolRiversdale · State Full PrimaryRoll: 144
- 3651Wyndham SchoolWyndham · State ContributingRoll: 142
- 3758Limehills SchoolLimehills · State Full PrimaryRoll: 140
- 3817Waiau Area SchoolTuatapere · State CompositeRoll: 133
- 3923East Gore SchoolGore · State ContributingRoll: 132
- 4043Otautau SchoolOtautau · State Full PrimaryRoll: 132
- 4140Riverton SchoolRiverton · State ContributingRoll: 131
- 4258Southland Adventist Christian SchoolWaikiwi · State integrated Full PrimaryRoll: 129
- 4340Tisbury SchoolInvercargill · State ContributingRoll: 126
- 4463St John's Girls' School (Invercargill)Invercargill · State integrated Full PrimaryRoll: 126
- 4557Edendale School (Southland)Edendale · State ContributingRoll: 121
- 4625Bluff SchoolBluff · State Full PrimaryRoll: 115
- 4751Drummond Primary SchoolDrummond · State Full PrimaryRoll: 114
- 4849Rimu SchoolRimu · State Full PrimaryRoll: 106
- 4956Woodlands Primary SchoolInvercargill · State ContributingRoll: 106
- 5043Takitimu Primary SchoolNightcaps · State Full PrimaryRoll: 100
- 5166St Thomas School (Winton)Winton · State integrated Full PrimaryRoll: 93
- 5247Lumsden SchoolLumsden · State ContributingRoll: 92
- 5357Sacred Heart School (Waikiwi)Waikiwi · State integrated ContributingRoll: 87
- 5456Lochiel SchoolLochiel · State Full PrimaryRoll: 79
- 5545Wallacetown SchoolWallacetown · State ContributingRoll: 77
- 5657Hauroko Valley Primary SchoolTuatapere · State Full PrimaryRoll: 75
- 5761Balfour SchoolBalfour · State ContributingRoll: 71
- 5855Heddon Bush SchoolWinton · State Full PrimaryRoll: 70
- 5955Thornbury SchoolThornbury · State ContributingRoll: 69
- 6059Waikaka SchoolGore · State Full PrimaryRoll: 64
- 6155Waianiwa SchoolWaianiwa · State Full PrimaryRoll: 61
- 6223Mataura SchoolMataura · State ContributingRoll: 60
| # | School | Sector | Roll | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Hargest College Invercargill · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 1,887 | 66.0 Top 50% | 445 | 1,887 |
| 2 | Southland Boys' High School Invercargill · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 1,078 | 53.7 Top 50% | 464 | 1,078 |
| 3 | Southland Girls' High School Georgetown · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 1,076 | 64.3 Top 50% | 463 | 1,076 |
| 4 | Verdon College Invercargill · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 684 | 53.4 Top 50% | 464 | 684 |
| 5 | Central Southland College Winton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 659 | 55.2 Top 50% | 462 | 659 |
| 6 | Māruawai College Gore · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 591 | 37.0 Lower 50% | 494 | 591 |
| 7 | Aurora College Invercargill · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 579 | 18.4 Lower 50% | 545 | 579 |
| 8 | Donovan Primary School Waikiwi · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 378 | 45.1 Lower 50% | 464 | 378 |
| 9 | Waihopai School Gladstone · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 354 | 68.1 Top 25% | 428 | 354 |
| 10 | St Peter's College (Gore) Gore · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 348 | 60.3 Top 50% | 442 | 348 |
| 11 | Menzies College Wyndham · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 347 | 43.8 Lower 50% | 477 | 347 |
| 12 | Windsor North School Windsor · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 326 | 63.5 Top 50% | 422 | 326 |
| 13 | Fiordland College Te Anau · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 307 | 64.2 Top 50% | 441 | 307 |
| 14 | St Patrick's School (Invercargill) Georgetown · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State integrated | 282 | 41.7 Lower 50% | 468 | 282 |
| 15 | Te Anau School Te Anau · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 281 | 70.2 Top 25% | 429 | 281 |
| 16 | St Theresa's School (Invercargill) Invercargill · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State integrated | 277 | 79.0 Top 10% | 405 | 277 |
| 17 | Winton School Winton · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 270 | 40.3 Lower 50% | 471 | 270 |
| 18 | Fernworth Primary School Strathern · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 266 | 30.1 Lower 50% | 535 | 266 |
| 19 | Waverley Park School Glengarry · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 263 | 31.5 Lower 50% | 495 | 263 |
| 20 | Salford School Hargest · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 250 | 62.8 Top 50% | 422 | 250 |
| 21 | Otatara School Otatara · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 247 | 66.5 Top 50% | 412 | 247 |
| 22 | Ascot Community School Hawthorndale · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 237 | 25.1 Lower 50% | 516 | 237 |
| 23 | New River Primary Kew · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 229 | 31.9 Lower 50% | 522 | 229 |
| 24 | Newfield Park School Newfield · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 223 | 27.8 Lower 50% | 506 | 223 |
| 25 | Northern Southland College Lumsden · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 218 | 34.8 Lower 50% | 464 | 218 |
| 26 | Aparima College Riverton · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 213 | 35.3 Lower 50% | 489 | 213 |
| 27 | Gore Main School Gore · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 213 | 54.7 Top 50% | 455 | 213 |
| 28 | St Mary's School (Gore) Gore · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State integrated | 199 | 59.2 Top 50% | 429 | 199 |
| 29 | Te Wharekura o Arowhenua Invercargill · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 192 | 22.9 Lower 50% | 536 | 192 |
| 30 | Myross Bush School Myross Bush · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 173 | 65.1 Top 50% | 414 | 173 |
| 31 | Invercargill Middle School Invercargill · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 155 | 34.2 Lower 50% | 484 | 155 |
| 32 | Makarewa School Makarewa · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 155 | 59.1 Top 50% | 440 | 155 |
| 33 | West Gore School Gore · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 154 | 34.8 Lower 50% | 482 | 154 |
| 34 | St Joseph's School (Invercargill) Invercargill · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 153 | 47.4 Lower 50% | 465 | 153 |
| 35 | Riversdale School Riversdale · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 144 | 58.0 Top 50% | 441 | 144 |
| 36 | Wyndham School Wyndham · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 142 | 51.0 Top 50% | 455 | 142 |
| 37 | Limehills School Limehills · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 140 | 58.2 Top 50% | 429 | 140 |
| 38 | Waiau Area School Tuatapere · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 133 | 16.7 Lower 50% | 525 | 133 |
| 39 | East Gore School Gore · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 132 | 23.1 Lower 50% | 518 | 132 |
| 40 | Otautau School Otautau · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 132 | 43.3 Lower 50% | 461 | 132 |
| 41 | Riverton School Riverton · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 131 | 39.6 Lower 50% | 469 | 131 |
| 42 | Southland Adventist Christian School Waikiwi · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 129 | 58.2 Top 50% | 439 | 129 |
| 43 | Tisbury School Invercargill · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 126 | 40.2 Lower 50% | 467 | 126 |
| 44 | St John's Girls' School (Invercargill) Invercargill · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 126 | 63.0 Top 50% | 417 | 126 |
| 45 | Edendale School (Southland) Edendale · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 121 | 56.9 Top 50% | 431 | 121 |
| 46 | Bluff School Bluff · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 115 | 24.5 Lower 50% | 511 | 115 |
| 47 | Drummond Primary School Drummond · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 114 | 51.4 Top 50% | 450 | 114 |
| 48 | Rimu School Rimu · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 106 | 49.3 Lower 50% | 446 | 106 |
| 49 | Woodlands Primary School Invercargill · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 106 | 56.3 Top 50% | 440 | 106 |
| 50 | Takitimu Primary School Nightcaps · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 100 | 43.4 Lower 50% | 467 | 100 |
| 51 | St Thomas School (Winton) Winton · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 93 | 65.7 Top 50% | 407 | 93 |
| 52 | Lumsden School Lumsden · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 92 | 47.0 Lower 50% | 458 | 92 |
| 53 | Sacred Heart School (Waikiwi) Waikiwi · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State integrated | 87 | 56.7 Top 50% | 430 | 87 |
| 54 | Lochiel School Lochiel · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 79 | 55.8 Top 50% | 432 | 79 |
| 55 | Wallacetown School Wallacetown · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 77 | 45.0 Lower 50% | 461 | 77 |
| 56 | Hauroko Valley Primary School Tuatapere · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 75 | 57.3 Top 50% | 428 | 75 |
| 57 | Balfour School Balfour · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 71 | 60.5 Top 50% | 421 | 71 |
| 58 | Heddon Bush School Winton · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 70 | 54.9 Top 50% | 439 | 70 |
| 59 | Thornbury School Thornbury · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 69 | 55.3 Top 50% | 438 | 69 |
| 60 | Waikaka School Gore · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 64 | 58.6 Top 50% | 430 | 64 |
| 61 | Waianiwa School Waianiwa · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 61 | 54.9 Top 50% | 438 | 61 |
| 62 | Mataura School Mataura · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 60 | 22.8 Lower 50% | 514 | 60 |
James Hargest College in Invercargill leads the 2026 list of largest schools in Southland with Roll 1,887. Of the 62 schools shown, 52 are state, 10 are state integrated.
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 largest school in Southland?
James Hargest College in Invercargill ranks first among largest schools in Southland with Roll 1,887 (Equity Index (EQI): 445).
How are largest schools in Southland ranked?
Schools with the largest rolls. Only schools eligible for the Success Index (NZ) are included; the index is shown alongside for context.
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.