Fernside School vs St Joseph's School (Rangiora)
A head-to-head comparison of two full primary schools in Canterbury, New Zealand, 5.0 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
St Joseph's School (Rangiora)
Rangiora · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
187 students
| Measure | Fernside School Fernside, Canterbury | St Joseph's School (Rangiora) Rangiora, Canterbury |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 67 Top 25% | 70 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #67 of 187 | #55 of 187 |
| National rank | #464 of 1,559 | #397 of 1,559 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Full Primary | Full Primary |
| Year range | Years 1–8 | Years 1–8 |
| Students | 271 | 187 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 412 | 420 |
| Total roll | 271 | 187 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | -2.9% | 3.5% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | – |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | – |
| Māori students | 10.3% | 8% |
| Pacific students | 0.4% | 4.8% |
| International students | 0% | 0% |
| suburb or town | Fernside | Rangiora |
| region | Canterbury | Canterbury |
| Website | www.fernside.school.nz | www.sjr.nz |
The verdict
- •St Joseph's School (Rangiora) scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (70.1 vs 66.7).
- •Fernside School does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (412 vs 420).
- •Fernside School does better on roll size (271 vs 187).
- •St Joseph's School (Rangiora) does better on roll growth (5 years) (3.5% vs -2.9%).
- •Fernside School is the larger school with 271 students compared with 187.
- •Fernside School is a state school while St Joseph's School (Rangiora) 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 St Joseph's School (Rangiora)?
On the Success Index (NZ), St Joseph's School (Rangiora) ranks higher (70.1 vs 66.7 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 Fernside School and St Joseph's School (Rangiora)?
About 5.0 km in a straight line, between Fernside and Rangiora in Canterbury.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Fernside School: 412. St Joseph's School (Rangiora): 420. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Fernside School and St Joseph's School (Rangiora) rank in Canterbury?
Fernside School is 67th of 187 and St Joseph's School (Rangiora) is 55th of 187 among full primary schools in Canterbury on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).