Ruru Special School vs Windsor North School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Southland, New Zealand, 2.4 km apart, using official New Zealand 2026 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Ruru Special School
Invercargill ยท State special school
128 students
Windsor North School
Windsor ยท State contributing ยท Years 1โ6
326 students
| Measure | Ruru Special School Invercargill, Southland | Windsor North School Windsor, Southland |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (NZ) | โ Not rated | 64 Top 50% |
| Region rank | โ | #7 of 48 |
| National rank | โ | #542 of 1,559 |
| Sector | State | State |
| Type | Special School | Contributing |
| Year range | โ | Years 1โ6 |
| Students | 128 | 326 |
| Equity Index (EQI) | 519 | 422 |
| Total roll | 128 | 326 |
| Roll growth (5 yrs) | 27.7% | -16.3% |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 2+ | โ | โ |
| Leavers with NCEA Level 3+ | โ | โ |
| Leavers with University Entrance | โ | โ |
| Mฤori students | 30.5% | 15% |
| Pacific students | 10.2% | 3.7% |
| International students | 0% | 0% |
| suburb or town | Invercargill | Windsor |
| region | Southland | Southland |
| Website | www.rurued.school.nz | www.windsornorth.school.nz |
The verdict
- โขWindsor North School does better on equity index (fewer barriers is higher) (422 vs 519).
- โขWindsor North School does better on roll size (326 vs 128).
- โขRuru Special School does better on roll growth (5 years) (27.7% vs -16.3%).
- โขWindsor North School is the larger school with 326 students compared with 128.
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 Ruru Special School better than Windsor North School?
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 Ruru Special School and Windsor North School?
About 2.4 km in a straight line, between Invercargill and Windsor in Southland.
Which has the better Equity Index (EQI)?
Ruru Special School: 519. Windsor North School: 422. Ministry of Education measure of socio-economic barriers faced by students; lower means fewer barriers.
How do Ruru Special School and Windsor North School rank in Southland?
Ruru Special School is unranked and Windsor North School is 7th of 48 among special school schools in Southland on the 2026 Success Index (NZ).