Fernworth Primary School vs St Joseph's School (Invercargill)
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Southland, New Zealand, 2.2 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Fernworth Primary School
Strathern · State contributing · Years 1–6
266 students
St Joseph's School (Invercargill)
Invercargill · State integrated full primary · Years 1–8
153 students
| Measure | Fernworth Primary School Strathern, Southland | St Joseph's School (Invercargill) Invercargill, Southland |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | 30 Lower 50% | 47 Lower 50% |
| Region rank | #43 of 48 | #29 of 48 |
| National rank | #1325 of 1,559 | #943 of 1,559 |
| Sector | State | State integrated |
| Type | Contributing | Full Primary |
| Year range | Years 1–6 | Years 1–8 |
| Students | 266 | 153 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 535 | 465 |
| Total roll | 266 | 153 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | 12.7% | 12.2% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | – | – |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | – | – |
| Leavers with University Entrance | – | – |
| Māori students | 44.7% | 15% |
| Pacific students | 16.5% | 15.7% |
| International students | 0% | 0% |
| suburb or town | Strathern | Invercargill |
| region | Southland | Southland |
| Website | www.wharepa.school.nz/ | – |
The verdict
- •St Joseph's School (Invercargill) scores higher on the Success Index (NZ) (47.4 vs 30.1).
- •St Joseph's School (Invercargill) does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (465 vs 535).
- •Fernworth Primary School does better on roll size (266 vs 153).
- •Fernworth Primary School does better on roll growth (5 years) (12.7% vs 12.2%).
- •Fernworth Primary School is the larger school with 266 students compared with 153.
- •Fernworth Primary School is a state school while St Joseph's School (Invercargill) 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 Fernworth Primary School better than St Joseph's School (Invercargill)?
On the Success Index (NZ), St Joseph's School (Invercargill) ranks higher (47.4 vs 30.1 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 Fernworth Primary School and St Joseph's School (Invercargill)?
About 2.2 km in a straight line, between Strathern and Invercargill in Southland.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Fernworth Primary School: 535. St Joseph's School (Invercargill): 465. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Fernworth Primary School and St Joseph's School (Invercargill) rank in Southland?
Fernworth Primary School is 43rd of 48 and St Joseph's School (Invercargill) is 29th of 48 among contributing schools in Southland on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).