Avonside Girls' High School vs St James School (Aranui)
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Canterbury, New Zealand, 2.0 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Avonside Girls' High School
North New Brighton · State secondary (year 9-15) · Years 9–13
1,090 students
St James School (Aranui)
Aranui · State integrated contributing · Years 1–6
105 students
| Measure | Avonside Girls' High School North New Brighton, Canterbury | St James School (Aranui) Aranui, Canterbury |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 54 Top 50% | 28 Lower 50% |
| Region rank | #36 of 57 | #184 of 187 |
| National rank | #210 of 486 | #1388 of 1,559 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Secondary (Year 9-15) | Contributing |
| Year range | Years 9–13 | Years 1–6 |
| Students | 1,090 | 105 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 472 | 501 |
| Total roll | 1,090 | 105 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | 2.9% | -10.9% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | 77.8% | – |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | 57.4% | – |
| Māori students | 26.1% | 24.8% |
| Pacific students | 10.9% | 50.5% |
| International students | 5.4% | 0% |
| suburb or town | North New Brighton | Aranui |
| region | Canterbury | Canterbury |
| Website | www.avonside.school.nz | www.stjames.school.nz |
The verdict
- •Avonside Girls' High School scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (53.5 vs 27.5).
- •Avonside Girls' High School does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (472 vs 501).
- •Avonside Girls' High School does better on roll size (1,090 vs 105).
- •Avonside Girls' High School does better on roll growth (5 years) (2.9% vs -10.9%).
- •Avonside Girls' High School is the larger school with 1,090 students compared with 105.
- •Avonside Girls' High School is a state school while St James School (Aranui) is a state integrated school, so fees and admission rules differ.
- •Avonside Girls' High School is girls and St James School (Aranui) is co-educational.
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 Avonside Girls' High School better than St James School (Aranui)?
On the Success Index (NZ), Avonside Girls' High School ranks higher (53.5 vs 27.5 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 Avonside Girls' High School and St James School (Aranui)?
About 2.0 km in a straight line, between North New Brighton and Aranui in Canterbury.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Avonside Girls' High School: 472. St James School (Aranui): 501. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Avonside Girls' High School and St James School (Aranui) rank in Canterbury?
Avonside Girls' High School is 36th of 57 and St James School (Aranui) is 184th of 187 among secondary (year 9-15) schools in Canterbury on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).