Top 52 state schools in Southland (2026)
Government schools across all year levels. Ranked by the Success Index (NZ) from official New Zealand data; 52 schools shown.
- 170Te Anau SchoolTe Anau · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 429 · 281 students
- 268Waihopai SchoolGladstone · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 428 · 354 students
- 367Otatara SchoolOtatara · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 412 · 247 students
- 466James Hargest CollegeInvercargill · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 445 · 1,887 students
- 565Myross Bush SchoolMyross Bush · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 414 · 173 students
- 664Southland Girls' High SchoolGeorgetown · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 463 · 1,076 students
- 764Fiordland CollegeTe Anau · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 441 · 307 students
- 864Windsor North SchoolWindsor · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 422 · 326 students
- 963Salford SchoolHargest · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 422 · 250 students
- 1061Balfour SchoolBalfour · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 421 · 71 students
- 1159Makarewa SchoolMakarewa · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 440 · 155 students
- 1259Waikaka SchoolGore · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 430 · 64 students
- 1358Limehills SchoolLimehills · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 429 · 140 students
- 1458Riversdale SchoolRiversdale · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 441 · 144 students
- 1557Hauroko Valley Primary SchoolTuatapere · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 428 · 75 students
- 1657Edendale School (Southland)Edendale · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 431 · 121 students
- 1756Woodlands Primary SchoolInvercargill · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 440 · 106 students
- 1856Lochiel SchoolLochiel · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 432 · 79 students
- 1955Thornbury SchoolThornbury · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 438 · 69 students
- 2055Central Southland CollegeWinton · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 462 · 659 students
- 2155Heddon Bush SchoolWinton · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 439 · 70 students
- 2255Waianiwa SchoolWaianiwa · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 438 · 61 students
- 2355Gore Main SchoolGore · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 455 · 213 students
- 2454Southland Boys' High SchoolInvercargill · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 464 · 1,078 students
- 2551Drummond Primary SchoolDrummond · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 450 · 114 students
- 2651Wyndham SchoolWyndham · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 455 · 142 students
- 2749Rimu SchoolRimu · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 446 · 106 students
- 2847Lumsden SchoolLumsden · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 458 · 92 students
- 2945Donovan Primary SchoolWaikiwi · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 464 · 378 students
- 3045Wallacetown SchoolWallacetown · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 461 · 77 students
- 3144Menzies CollegeWyndham · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 477 · 347 students
- 3243Takitimu Primary SchoolNightcaps · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 467 · 100 students
- 3343Otautau SchoolOtautau · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 461 · 132 students
- 3440Winton SchoolWinton · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 471 · 270 students
- 3540Tisbury SchoolInvercargill · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 467 · 126 students
- 3640Riverton SchoolRiverton · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 469 · 131 students
- 3737Māruawai CollegeGore · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 494 · 591 students
- 3835Aparima CollegeRiverton · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 489 · 213 students
- 3935Northern Southland CollegeLumsden · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 464 · 218 students
- 4035West Gore SchoolGore · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 482 · 154 students
- 4134Invercargill Middle SchoolInvercargill · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 484 · 155 students
- 4232New River PrimaryKew · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 522 · 229 students
- 4332Waverley Park SchoolGlengarry · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 495 · 263 students
- 4430Fernworth Primary SchoolStrathern · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 535 · 266 students
- 4528Newfield Park SchoolNewfield · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 506 · 223 students
- 4625Ascot Community SchoolHawthorndale · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 516 · 237 students
- 4725Bluff SchoolBluff · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 511 · 115 students
- 4823East Gore SchoolGore · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 518 · 132 students
- 4923Te Wharekura o ArowhenuaInvercargill · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 536 · 192 students
- 5023Mataura SchoolMataura · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 514 · 60 students
- 5118Aurora CollegeInvercargill · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 545 · 579 students
- 5217Waiau Area SchoolTuatapere · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 525 · 133 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Te Anau School Te Anau · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 70.2 Top 25% | 429 | 281 |
| 2 | Waihopai School Gladstone · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 68.1 Top 25% | 428 | 354 |
| 3 | Otatara School Otatara · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 66.5 Top 50% | 412 | 247 |
| 4 | James Hargest College Invercargill · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 66.0 Top 50% | 445 | 1,887 |
| 5 | Myross Bush School Myross Bush · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 65.1 Top 50% | 414 | 173 |
| 6 | Southland Girls' High School Georgetown · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 64.3 Top 50% | 463 | 1,076 |
| 7 | Fiordland College Te Anau · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 64.2 Top 50% | 441 | 307 |
| 8 | Windsor North School Windsor · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 63.5 Top 50% | 422 | 326 |
| 9 | Salford School Hargest · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 62.8 Top 50% | 422 | 250 |
| 10 | Balfour School Balfour · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 60.5 Top 50% | 421 | 71 |
| 11 | Makarewa School Makarewa · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 59.1 Top 50% | 440 | 155 |
| 12 | Waikaka School Gore · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 58.6 Top 50% | 430 | 64 |
| 13 | Limehills School Limehills · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 58.2 Top 50% | 429 | 140 |
| 14 | Riversdale School Riversdale · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 58.0 Top 50% | 441 | 144 |
| 15 | Hauroko Valley Primary School Tuatapere · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 57.3 Top 50% | 428 | 75 |
| 16 | Edendale School (Southland) Edendale · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 56.9 Top 50% | 431 | 121 |
| 17 | Woodlands Primary School Invercargill · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 56.3 Top 50% | 440 | 106 |
| 18 | Lochiel School Lochiel · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 55.8 Top 50% | 432 | 79 |
| 19 | Thornbury School Thornbury · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 55.3 Top 50% | 438 | 69 |
| 20 | Central Southland College Winton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 55.2 Top 50% | 462 | 659 |
| 21 | Heddon Bush School Winton · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 54.9 Top 50% | 439 | 70 |
| 22 | Waianiwa School Waianiwa · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 54.9 Top 50% | 438 | 61 |
| 23 | Gore Main School Gore · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 54.7 Top 50% | 455 | 213 |
| 24 | Southland Boys' High School Invercargill · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 53.7 Top 50% | 464 | 1,078 |
| 25 | Drummond Primary School Drummond · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 51.4 Top 50% | 450 | 114 |
| 26 | Wyndham School Wyndham · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 51.0 Top 50% | 455 | 142 |
| 27 | Rimu School Rimu · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 49.3 Lower 50% | 446 | 106 |
| 28 | Lumsden School Lumsden · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 47.0 Lower 50% | 458 | 92 |
| 29 | Donovan Primary School Waikiwi · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 45.1 Lower 50% | 464 | 378 |
| 30 | Wallacetown School Wallacetown · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 45.0 Lower 50% | 461 | 77 |
| 31 | Menzies College Wyndham · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 43.8 Lower 50% | 477 | 347 |
| 32 | Takitimu Primary School Nightcaps · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 43.4 Lower 50% | 467 | 100 |
| 33 | Otautau School Otautau · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 43.3 Lower 50% | 461 | 132 |
| 34 | Winton School Winton · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 40.3 Lower 50% | 471 | 270 |
| 35 | Tisbury School Invercargill · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 40.2 Lower 50% | 467 | 126 |
| 36 | Riverton School Riverton · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 39.6 Lower 50% | 469 | 131 |
| 37 | Māruawai College Gore · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 37.0 Lower 50% | 494 | 591 |
| 38 | Aparima College Riverton · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 35.3 Lower 50% | 489 | 213 |
| 39 | Northern Southland College Lumsden · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 34.8 Lower 50% | 464 | 218 |
| 40 | West Gore School Gore · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 34.8 Lower 50% | 482 | 154 |
| 41 | Invercargill Middle School Invercargill · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 34.2 Lower 50% | 484 | 155 |
| 42 | New River Primary Kew · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 31.9 Lower 50% | 522 | 229 |
| 43 | Waverley Park School Glengarry · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 31.5 Lower 50% | 495 | 263 |
| 44 | Fernworth Primary School Strathern · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 30.1 Lower 50% | 535 | 266 |
| 45 | Newfield Park School Newfield · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 27.8 Lower 50% | 506 | 223 |
| 46 | Ascot Community School Hawthorndale · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 25.1 Lower 50% | 516 | 237 |
| 47 | Bluff School Bluff · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 24.5 Lower 50% | 511 | 115 |
| 48 | East Gore School Gore · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 23.1 Lower 50% | 518 | 132 |
| 49 | Te Wharekura o Arowhenua Invercargill · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 22.9 Lower 50% | 536 | 192 |
| 50 | Mataura School Mataura · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 22.8 Lower 50% | 514 | 60 |
| 51 | Aurora College Invercargill · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 18.4 Lower 50% | 545 | 579 |
| 52 | Waiau Area School Tuatapere · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 16.7 Lower 50% | 525 | 133 |
Te Anau School in Te Anau leads the 2026 list of state schools in Southland with a Success Index (NZ) of 70.2. Of the 52 schools shown, 52 are state.
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.
Download this table as CSV · free to reuse with attribution to the original sources and Success Tutoring
State Schools in:New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWaikatoBay of PlentyGisborneHawke's BayTaranakiManawatū-WhanganuiWellingtonTasmanNelsonMarlboroughWest CoastCanterburyOtagoChatham Islands
Free academic assessment
Is your child on track for NCEA?
Success Tutoring runs personalised English and Maths tutoring for Years 1–13 in New Zealand. Start with a free assessment mapped to the New Zealand Curriculum.
- Personalised learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum
- English & Maths from Kindergarten to Year 12
- Flexible memberships, no lock-in contracts
- Centres across NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA and ACT
Frequently asked questions
What is the best state school in Southland?
Te Anau School in Te Anau ranks first among state schools in Southland with a Success Index (NZ) of 70.2 out of 100 (Equity Index (EQI): 429).
How are state schools in Southland 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.