Schools in Southland (2026)
82 schools · 16,858 students · 70 state, 12 state integrated · median Equity Index (EQI) 455.
Best primary schools in SouthlandBest secondary schools in SouthlandBest state schools in SouthlandBest state integrated schools in Southland
Ranked schools in Southland
Ordered by Success Index (NZ). Rank positions shown on each profile are within New Zealand and Southland.
- 179St Theresa's School (Invercargill)Invercargill · State integrated ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 405 · 277 students
- 270Te Anau SchoolTe Anau · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 429 · 281 students
- 368Waihopai SchoolGladstone · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 428 · 354 students
- 467Otatara SchoolOtatara · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 412 · 247 students
- 566James Hargest CollegeInvercargill · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 445 · 1,887 students
- 666St Thomas School (Winton)Winton · State integrated Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 407 · 93 students
- 765Myross Bush SchoolMyross Bush · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 414 · 173 students
- 864Southland Girls' High SchoolGeorgetown · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 463 · 1,076 students
- 964Fiordland CollegeTe Anau · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 441 · 307 students
- 1064Windsor North SchoolWindsor · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 422 · 326 students
- 1163St John's Girls' School (Invercargill)Invercargill · State integrated Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 417 · 126 students
- 1263Salford SchoolHargest · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 422 · 250 students
- 1361Balfour SchoolBalfour · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 421 · 71 students
- 1460St Peter's College (Gore)Gore · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 442 · 348 students
- 1559St Mary's School (Gore)Gore · State integrated ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 429 · 199 students
- 1659Makarewa SchoolMakarewa · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 440 · 155 students
- 1759Waikaka SchoolGore · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 430 · 64 students
- 1858Limehills SchoolLimehills · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 429 · 140 students
- 1958Southland Adventist Christian SchoolWaikiwi · State integrated Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 439 · 129 students
- 2058Riversdale SchoolRiversdale · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 441 · 144 students
- 2157Hauroko Valley Primary SchoolTuatapere · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 428 · 75 students
- 2257Edendale School (Southland)Edendale · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 431 · 121 students
- 2357Sacred Heart School (Waikiwi)Waikiwi · State integrated ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 430 · 87 students
- 2456Woodlands Primary SchoolInvercargill · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 440 · 106 students
- 2556Lochiel SchoolLochiel · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 432 · 79 students
- 2655Thornbury SchoolThornbury · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 438 · 69 students
- 2755Central Southland CollegeWinton · State Secondary (Year 9-15)Equity Index (EQI) 462 · 659 students
- 2855Heddon Bush SchoolWinton · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 439 · 70 students
- 2955Waianiwa SchoolWaianiwa · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 438 · 61 students
- 3055Gore Main SchoolGore · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 455 · 213 students
- 3154Southland Boys' High SchoolInvercargill · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 464 · 1,078 students
- 3253Verdon CollegeInvercargill · State integrated Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 464 · 684 students
- 3351Drummond Primary SchoolDrummond · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 450 · 114 students
- 3451Wyndham SchoolWyndham · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 455 · 142 students
- 3549Rimu SchoolRimu · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 446 · 106 students
- 3647St Joseph's School (Invercargill)Invercargill · State integrated Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 465 · 153 students
- 3747Lumsden SchoolLumsden · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 458 · 92 students
- 3845Donovan Primary SchoolWaikiwi · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 464 · 378 students
- 3945Wallacetown SchoolWallacetown · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 461 · 77 students
- 4044Menzies CollegeWyndham · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 477 · 347 students
- 4143Takitimu Primary SchoolNightcaps · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 467 · 100 students
- 4243Otautau SchoolOtautau · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 461 · 132 students
- 4342St Patrick's School (Invercargill)Georgetown · State integrated ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 468 · 282 students
- 4440Winton SchoolWinton · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 471 · 270 students
- 4540Tisbury SchoolInvercargill · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 467 · 126 students
- 4640Riverton SchoolRiverton · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 469 · 131 students
- 4737Māruawai CollegeGore · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 494 · 591 students
- 4835Aparima CollegeRiverton · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 489 · 213 students
- 4935Northern Southland CollegeLumsden · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 464 · 218 students
- 5035West Gore SchoolGore · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 482 · 154 students
- 5134Invercargill Middle SchoolInvercargill · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 484 · 155 students
- 5232New River PrimaryKew · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 522 · 229 students
- 5332Waverley Park SchoolGlengarry · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 495 · 263 students
- 5430Fernworth Primary SchoolStrathern · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 535 · 266 students
- 5528Newfield Park SchoolNewfield · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 506 · 223 students
- 5625Ascot Community SchoolHawthorndale · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 516 · 237 students
- 5725Bluff SchoolBluff · State Full PrimaryEquity Index (EQI) 511 · 115 students
- 5823East Gore SchoolGore · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 518 · 132 students
- 5923Te Wharekura o ArowhenuaInvercargill · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 536 · 192 students
- 6023Mataura SchoolMataura · State ContributingEquity Index (EQI) 514 · 60 students
- 6118Aurora CollegeInvercargill · State Secondary (Year 7-15)Equity Index (EQI) 545 · 579 students
- 6217Waiau Area SchoolTuatapere · State CompositeEquity Index (EQI) 525 · 133 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (NZ) | Equity Index (EQI) | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Theresa's School (Invercargill) Invercargill · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State integrated | 79.0 Top 10% | 405 | 277 |
| 2 | Te Anau School Te Anau · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 70.2 Top 25% | 429 | 281 |
| 3 | Waihopai School Gladstone · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 68.1 Top 25% | 428 | 354 |
| 4 | Otatara School Otatara · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 66.5 Top 50% | 412 | 247 |
| 5 | James Hargest College Invercargill · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 66.0 Top 50% | 445 | 1,887 |
| 6 | St Thomas School (Winton) Winton · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 65.7 Top 50% | 407 | 93 |
| 7 | Myross Bush School Myross Bush · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 65.1 Top 50% | 414 | 173 |
| 8 | Southland Girls' High School Georgetown · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 64.3 Top 50% | 463 | 1,076 |
| 9 | Fiordland College Te Anau · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 64.2 Top 50% | 441 | 307 |
| 10 | Windsor North School Windsor · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 63.5 Top 50% | 422 | 326 |
| 11 | St John's Girls' School (Invercargill) Invercargill · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 63.0 Top 50% | 417 | 126 |
| 12 | Salford School Hargest · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 62.8 Top 50% | 422 | 250 |
| 13 | Balfour School Balfour · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 60.5 Top 50% | 421 | 71 |
| 14 | St Peter's College (Gore) Gore · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 60.3 Top 50% | 442 | 348 |
| 15 | St Mary's School (Gore) Gore · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State integrated | 59.2 Top 50% | 429 | 199 |
| 16 | Makarewa School Makarewa · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 59.1 Top 50% | 440 | 155 |
| 17 | Waikaka School Gore · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 58.6 Top 50% | 430 | 64 |
| 18 | Limehills School Limehills · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 58.2 Top 50% | 429 | 140 |
| 19 | Southland Adventist Christian School Waikiwi · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 58.2 Top 50% | 439 | 129 |
| 20 | Riversdale School Riversdale · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 58.0 Top 50% | 441 | 144 |
| 21 | Hauroko Valley Primary School Tuatapere · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 57.3 Top 50% | 428 | 75 |
| 22 | Edendale School (Southland) Edendale · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 56.9 Top 50% | 431 | 121 |
| 23 | Sacred Heart School (Waikiwi) Waikiwi · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State integrated | 56.7 Top 50% | 430 | 87 |
| 24 | Woodlands Primary School Invercargill · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 56.3 Top 50% | 440 | 106 |
| 25 | Lochiel School Lochiel · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 55.8 Top 50% | 432 | 79 |
| 26 | Thornbury School Thornbury · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 55.3 Top 50% | 438 | 69 |
| 27 | Central Southland College Winton · Secondary (Year 9-15) · Years 9–13 | State | 55.2 Top 50% | 462 | 659 |
| 28 | Heddon Bush School Winton · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 54.9 Top 50% | 439 | 70 |
| 29 | Waianiwa School Waianiwa · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 54.9 Top 50% | 438 | 61 |
| 30 | Gore Main School Gore · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 54.7 Top 50% | 455 | 213 |
| 31 | Southland Boys' High School Invercargill · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 53.7 Top 50% | 464 | 1,078 |
| 32 | Verdon College Invercargill · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State integrated | 53.4 Top 50% | 464 | 684 |
| 33 | Drummond Primary School Drummond · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 51.4 Top 50% | 450 | 114 |
| 34 | Wyndham School Wyndham · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 51.0 Top 50% | 455 | 142 |
| 35 | Rimu School Rimu · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 49.3 Lower 50% | 446 | 106 |
| 36 | St Joseph's School (Invercargill) Invercargill · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State integrated | 47.4 Lower 50% | 465 | 153 |
| 37 | Lumsden School Lumsden · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 47.0 Lower 50% | 458 | 92 |
| 38 | Donovan Primary School Waikiwi · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 45.1 Lower 50% | 464 | 378 |
| 39 | Wallacetown School Wallacetown · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 45.0 Lower 50% | 461 | 77 |
| 40 | Menzies College Wyndham · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 43.8 Lower 50% | 477 | 347 |
| 41 | Takitimu Primary School Nightcaps · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 43.4 Lower 50% | 467 | 100 |
| 42 | Otautau School Otautau · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 43.3 Lower 50% | 461 | 132 |
| 43 | St Patrick's School (Invercargill) Georgetown · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State integrated | 41.7 Lower 50% | 468 | 282 |
| 44 | Winton School Winton · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 40.3 Lower 50% | 471 | 270 |
| 45 | Tisbury School Invercargill · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 40.2 Lower 50% | 467 | 126 |
| 46 | Riverton School Riverton · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 39.6 Lower 50% | 469 | 131 |
| 47 | Māruawai College Gore · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 37.0 Lower 50% | 494 | 591 |
| 48 | Aparima College Riverton · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 35.3 Lower 50% | 489 | 213 |
| 49 | Northern Southland College Lumsden · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 34.8 Lower 50% | 464 | 218 |
| 50 | West Gore School Gore · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 34.8 Lower 50% | 482 | 154 |
| 51 | Invercargill Middle School Invercargill · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 34.2 Lower 50% | 484 | 155 |
| 52 | New River Primary Kew · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 31.9 Lower 50% | 522 | 229 |
| 53 | Waverley Park School Glengarry · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 31.5 Lower 50% | 495 | 263 |
| 54 | Fernworth Primary School Strathern · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 30.1 Lower 50% | 535 | 266 |
| 55 | Newfield Park School Newfield · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 27.8 Lower 50% | 506 | 223 |
| 56 | Ascot Community School Hawthorndale · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 25.1 Lower 50% | 516 | 237 |
| 57 | Bluff School Bluff · Full Primary · Years 1–8 | State | 24.5 Lower 50% | 511 | 115 |
| 58 | East Gore School Gore · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 23.1 Lower 50% | 518 | 132 |
| 59 | Te Wharekura o Arowhenua Invercargill · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 22.9 Lower 50% | 536 | 192 |
| 60 | Mataura School Mataura · Contributing · Years 1–6 | State | 22.8 Lower 50% | 514 | 60 |
| 61 | Aurora College Invercargill · Secondary (Year 7-15) · Years 7–13 | State | 18.4 Lower 50% | 545 | 579 |
| 62 | Waiau Area School Tuatapere · Composite · Years 1–13 | State | 16.7 Lower 50% | 525 | 133 |
Other schools in Southland
Schools without a rank: fewer than 60 students, no published Equity Index (EQI), or a school type that is not scored.
65.3
Waikaia School
Waikaia · State full primary · Years 1–8
24 students
59.9
Dipton School
Dipton · State full primary · Years 1–8
45 students
59.4
Mossburn School
Mossburn · State contributing · Years 1–6
56 students
57.4
Mararoa School
Te Anau · State full primary · Years 1–8
31 students
55.1
Garston School
Garston · State full primary · Years 1–8
24 students
53.4
Hedgehope School
Hedgehope · State full primary · Years 1–8
55 students
52.1
Pukerau School
Gore · State contributing · Years 1–6
57 students
50.1
Otama School
Otama · State full primary · Years 1–8
17 students
46.1
Knapdale School
Gore · State full primary · Years 1–8
56 students
45.5
Halfmoon Bay School
Half Moon Bay · State full primary · Years 1–8
32 students
42.4
Hillside Primary School
Browns · State full primary · Years 1–8
17 students
41.1
Tokanui School
Tokanui · State full primary · Years 1–8
53 students
40.9
Gorge Road School
Invercargill · State full primary · Years 1–8
26 students
29.6
Tuturau Primary School
Gore · State contributing · Years 1–6
22 students
25.7
Te Tipua School
Gore · State full primary · Years 1–8
38 students
24.7
St Teresa's School (Bluff)
Bluff · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
5 students
13.0
St Patrick's School (Nightcaps)
Nightcaps · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
13 students
–
Invercargill Activity Centre
Invercargill · State activity centre
–
Murihiku Young Parents' Learning Centre
Invercargill · State teen parent unit
–
Ruru Special School
Invercargill · State special school
128 students
Compare the top 4 schools in Southland side by side →
Territorial authoritys in Southland
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best school in Southland?
St Theresa's School (Invercargill) is the highest-ranked school in Southland with a Success Index (NZ) of 79.0 out of 100 (Top 10% of contributing schools in New Zealand).
How many schools are in Southland?
Southland has 82 schools (33 contributing, 11 secondary (year 7-15), 32 full primary, 1 secondary (year 9-15), 2 composite, 1 activity centre, 1 teen parent unit, 1 special school) educating 16,858 students in 2026.
What is the typical Equity Index (EQI) in Southland?
The median Equity Index (EQI) across schools in Southland is 455. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.