Fernside School vs Rangiora New Life School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Canterbury, New Zealand, 5.3 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Fernside School
Fernside · State full primary · Years 1–8
271 students
Rangiora New Life School
Southbrook · State integrated composite · Years 1–13
469 students
| Measure | Fernside School Fernside, Canterbury | Rangiora New Life School Southbrook, Canterbury |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 67 Top 25% | 67 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #67 of 187 | #17 of 57 |
| National rank | #464 of 1,559 | #119 of 486 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Full Primary | Composite |
| Year range | Years 1–8 | Years 1–13 |
| Students | 271 | 469 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 412 | 434 |
| Total roll | 271 | 469 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | -2.9% | 4.9% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | 87.8% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | 56.1% |
| Māori students | 10.3% | 9% |
| Pacific students | 0.4% | 2.6% |
| International students | 0% | 0.4% |
| suburb or town | Fernside | Southbrook |
| region | Canterbury | Canterbury |
| Website | www.fernside.school.nz | www.rnls.school.nz |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index (NZ) scores (66.7 vs 67.3).
- •Fernside School does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (412 vs 434).
- •Rangiora New Life School does better on roll size (469 vs 271).
- •Rangiora New Life School does better on roll growth (5 years) (4.9% vs -2.9%).
- •Rangiora New Life School is the larger school with 469 students compared with 271.
- •Fernside School is a state school while Rangiora New Life School is a state integrated school, so fees and admission rules differ.
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 Fernside School better than Rangiora New Life School?
The two schools are very close on the Success Index (NZ). Differences in sector, size, programmes and distance from home will matter more than the score.
How far apart are Fernside School and Rangiora New Life School?
About 5.3 km in a straight line, between Fernside and Southbrook in Canterbury.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Fernside School: 412. Rangiora New Life School: 434. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Fernside School and Rangiora New Life School rank in Canterbury?
Fernside School is 67th of 187 and Rangiora New Life School is 17th of 57 among full primary schools in Canterbury on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).