Nova Montessori School vs St James School (Aranui)
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Canterbury, New Zealand, 1.6 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Nova Montessori School
New Brighton · Private full primary · Years 1–8
40 students
St James School (Aranui)
Aranui · State integrated contributing · Years 1–6
105 students
| Measure | Nova Montessori School New Brighton, Canterbury | St James School (Aranui) Aranui, Canterbury |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | – Not rated | 28 Lower 50% |
| Region rank | – | #184 of 187 |
| National rank | – | #1388 of 1,559 |
| Sector | Private | State integrated |
| Type | Full Primary | Contributing |
| Year range | Years 1–8 | Years 1–6 |
| Students | 40 | 105 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | – | 501 |
| Total roll | 40 | 105 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | -19.1% | -10.9% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | – |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | – |
| Māori students | 7.5% | 24.8% |
| Pacific students | 2.5% | 50.5% |
| International students | 0% | 0% |
| suburb or town | New Brighton | Aranui |
| region | Canterbury | Canterbury |
| Website | www.novamontessori.school.nz | www.stjames.school.nz |
The verdict
- •St James School (Aranui) does better on roll size (105 vs 40).
- •St James School (Aranui) does better on roll growth (5 years) (-10.9% vs -19.1%).
- •St James School (Aranui) is the larger school with 105 students compared with 40.
- •Nova Montessori School is a private school while St James School (Aranui) 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 Nova Montessori School better than St James School (Aranui)?
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 Nova Montessori School and St James School (Aranui)?
About 1.6 km in a straight line, between New Brighton and Aranui in Canterbury.
How do Nova Montessori School and St James School (Aranui) rank in Canterbury?
Nova Montessori School is unranked and St James School (Aranui) is 184th of 187 among full primary schools in Canterbury on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).