Donovan Primary School vs St John's Girls' School (Invercargill)
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Southland, New Zealand, 2.3 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Donovan Primary School
Waikiwi · State contributing · Years 1–6
378 students
St John's Girls' School (Invercargill)
Invercargill · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
126 students
| Measure | Donovan Primary School Waikiwi, Southland | St John's Girls' School (Invercargill) Invercargill, Southland |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 45 Lower 50% | 63 Top 50% |
| Region rank | #31 of 48 | #8 of 48 |
| National rank | #997 of 1,559 | #555 of 1,559 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Contributing | Full Primary |
| Year range | Years 1–6 | Years 1–8 |
| Students | 378 | 126 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 464 | 417 |
| Total roll | 378 | 126 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | -14.5% | -3.6% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | – |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | – |
| Māori students | 22% | 13.5% |
| Pacific students | 5.8% | 1.6% |
| International students | 0% | 0% |
| suburb or town | Waikiwi | Invercargill |
| region | Southland | Southland |
| Website | www.donovanprimary.ac.nz | www.stjohnsgirls.school.nz/ |
The verdict
- •St John's Girls' School (Invercargill) scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (63.0 vs 45.1).
- •St John's Girls' School (Invercargill) does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (417 vs 464).
- •Donovan Primary School does better on roll size (378 vs 126).
- •St John's Girls' School (Invercargill) does better on roll growth (5 years) (-3.6% vs -14.5%).
- •Donovan Primary School is the larger school with 378 students compared with 126.
- •Donovan Primary School is a state school while St John's Girls' School (Invercargill) is a state integrated school, so fees and admission rules differ.
- •Donovan Primary School is co-educational and St John's Girls' School (Invercargill) is girls.
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 Donovan Primary School better than St John's Girls' School (Invercargill)?
On the Success Index (NZ), St John's Girls' School (Invercargill) ranks higher (63.0 vs 45.1 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 Donovan Primary School and St John's Girls' School (Invercargill)?
About 2.3 km in a straight line, between Waikiwi and Invercargill in Southland.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Donovan Primary School: 464. St John's Girls' School (Invercargill): 417. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Donovan Primary School and St John's Girls' School (Invercargill) rank in Southland?
Donovan Primary School is 31st of 48 and St John's Girls' School (Invercargill) is 8th of 48 among contributing schools in Southland on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).