Birkenhead College vs Chelsea School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Auckland, New Zealand, 2.0 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Birkenhead College
Birkenhead · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
487 students
Chelsea School
Birkenhead · State contributing · Years 1–6
401 students
| Measure | Birkenhead College Birkenhead, Auckland | Chelsea School Birkenhead, Auckland |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 50 Top 50% | 81 Top 10% |
| Region rank | #70 of 101 | #70 of 390 |
| National rank | #231 of 486 | #115 of 1,559 |
| Sector | State | State |
| Type | Secondary (Year 9-15) | Contributing |
| Year range | Years 9–13 | Years 1–6 |
| Students | 487 | 401 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 464 | 352 |
| Total roll | 487 | 401 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | -2.4% | -1.3% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | 82.2% | – |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | 68.2% | – |
| Māori students | 21.4% | 6.5% |
| Pacific students | 23% | 3.2% |
| International students | 6.8% | 1.5% |
| suburb or town | Birkenhead | Birkenhead |
| region | Auckland | Auckland |
| Website | www.birkenhead.school.nz/ | www.chelsea.school.nz/ |
The verdict
- •Chelsea School scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (81.0 vs 50.2).
- •Chelsea School does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (352 vs 464).
- •Birkenhead College does better on roll size (487 vs 401).
- •Chelsea School does better on roll growth (5 years) (-1.3% vs -2.4%).
- •Birkenhead College is the larger school with 487 students compared with 401.
The Success Index (NZ) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Birkenhead College better than Chelsea School?
On the Success Index (NZ), Chelsea School ranks higher (81.0 vs 50.2 out of 100). The index is built from published results and context data, not from teaching quality or fit, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Birkenhead College and Chelsea School?
About 2.0 km in a straight line, between Birkenhead and Birkenhead in Auckland.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Birkenhead College: 464. Chelsea School: 352. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Birkenhead College and Chelsea School rank in Auckland?
Birkenhead College is 70th of 101 and Chelsea School is 70th of 390 among secondary (year 9-15) schools in Auckland on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).