Queen Elizabeth College vs Russell Street School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand, 1.1 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Queen Elizabeth College
Palmerston North · State secondary (year 7-15) · Years 7–13
408 students
Russell Street School
Palmerston North · State contributing · Years 1–6
334 students
| Measure | Queen Elizabeth College Palmerston North, Manawatū-Whanganui | Russell Street School Palmerston North, Manawatū-Whanganui |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 21 Lower 50% | 72 Top 25% |
| Region rank | #27 of 33 | #6 of 111 |
| National rank | #435 of 486 | #351 of 1,559 |
| Sector | State | State |
| Type | Secondary (Year 7-15) | Contributing |
| Year range | Years 7–13 | Years 1–6 |
| Students | 408 | 334 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 556 | 429 |
| Total roll | 408 | 334 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | 44.5% | 2.7% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | 62.3% | – |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | 49.2% | – |
| Māori students | 58.3% | 21.6% |
| Pacific students | 19.4% | 7.8% |
| International students | 1.7% | 0% |
| suburb or town | Palmerston North | Palmerston North |
| region | Manawatū-Whanganui | Manawatū-Whanganui |
| Website | www.qec.school.nz | www.russellst.school.nz |
The verdict
- •Russell Street School scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (71.6 vs 20.7).
- •Russell Street School does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (429 vs 556).
- •Queen Elizabeth College does better on roll size (408 vs 334).
- •Queen Elizabeth College does better on roll growth (5 years) (44.5% vs 2.7%).
- •Queen Elizabeth College is the larger school with 408 students compared with 334.
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 Queen Elizabeth College better than Russell Street School?
On the Success Index (NZ), Russell Street School ranks higher (71.6 vs 20.7 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 Queen Elizabeth College and Russell Street School?
About 1.1 km in a straight line, between Palmerston North and Palmerston North in Manawatū-Whanganui.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Queen Elizabeth College: 556. Russell Street School: 429. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Queen Elizabeth College and Russell Street School rank in Manawatū-Whanganui?
Queen Elizabeth College is 27th of 33 and Russell Street School is 6th of 111 among secondary (year 7-15) schools in Manawatū-Whanganui on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).