Southland Boys' High School
181 Herbert Street, Invercargill · Otago & Southland
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Composite score
Developing
Below median
Rank #1,704 of scored NZ schools
In summary
Southland Boys' High School's leaders maintain high expectations for learner achievement, progress and wellbeing. Most junior students make expected or better progress in literacy and mathematics with improved engagement reflected in attendance levels. The school has strengthened collaborative teacher practice and shows increasingly equitable learning outcomes for Māori and Pacific learners, though some inequity remains at NCEA Level 2 and University Entrance.
Best suited for
Students aged 13-18 in Invercargill looking for a state-funded setting.
Is Southland Boys' High School a good school?
Southland Boys' High School scores 57/100 on the SchoolsNearMe composite — a weighted average of 5 axes (academic, outcomes, retention, wellbeing, trajectory). Below median nationally. ERO trajectory has declined across recent review cycles. The full breakdown is below; every input links to its source.
Strengths from the latest ERO report
- Significant progress made in strengthening collaborative teacher practice structures and processes
- Improved engagement in learning for junior students in Years 9 and 10 with improved attendance levels
- Students report supportive connections across year levels and a strong sense of belonging and collective identity
Summary derived from ERO reports + audited financials + MoE records. Every claim links to its source — see data transparency at the bottom of this page.
Score breakdown
6 axes, each scored 0–100 on a national absolute scale. As at 2025.
L1 87% · L2 76% · UE 36% · near band median (n=84) · why? ▼ hide
Uni 16% · Te Pūkenga 9% · Industry 25% · top quartile of band (n=81) · why? ▼ hide
74% to Y13 · below band median (n=86) · why? ▼ hide
standdowns 79.4/1k · suspensions 7.7/1k · exclusions 2.6/1k · bottom quartile of band (n=404) · why? ▼ hide
+4.1% roll over 5yr (2020→2025) · above band median (n=403) · why? ▼ hide
69/100 from ERO review 2024-09 · bottom quartile of band (n=406) · why? ▼ hide
⚠ Insufficient EQI-band peers (n<10) to compute per-axis percentile context. The score above is absolute; treat it as a single-school read rather than a peer comparison.
Real ERO composite (from the latest review): 69/100.
Latest ERO review
2024-09-26 · Shelley Booysen, ERO
- Leaders have high expectations for achievement, progress and wellbeing of all learners and promote collective responsibility for learner outcomes
- Most junior students make expected or better progress in literacy and mathematics with improved engagement shown in improved attendance levels
- Learning outcomes in national qualifications are increasingly equitable for Māori and Pacific learners, though some inequity remains at NCEA Level 2 and University Entrance
- Curriculum and teaching are increasingly responsive to students' learning needs, interests, aspirations, culture and identity
- Attendance rates are improving but not yet at the Ministry of Education's target
"Leaders have high expectations for the achievement, progress and wellbeing of all learners and promote collective responsibility for learner outcomes."
Composite score across reviews
3 ERO reviews on file, 2022–2024. Click a point to read that review.
Trajectory across review cycles
Year-over-year change per dimension based on consecutive ERO reviews.
Both reports affirm strong wellbeing practices, but with a shift in focus and evidence. The 2022 report emphasizes refined pastoral care conditions and practices. The 2024 report demonstrates concrete outcomes of those efforts, highlighting that students now "report supportive connections across year levels and a strong sense of belonging and collective identity" alongside improved engagement and attendance. The wellbeing score decreased slightly (75 to 70), yet the later report provides more detailed evidence of student-reported wellbeing outcomes and leadership opportunities.
2022-11 → 2024-09 diff source
Both reports maintain the same equity focus and score (65), but the 2024 report provides more concrete evidence of progress. The earlier report emphasizes commitment and refined processes for equitable opportunities, while the later report documents measurable improvements in equitable outcomes, particularly noting that 'Learning outcomes in national qualifications are increasingly equitable for Māori and Pacific learners, though some inequity remains at NCEA Level 2 and University Entrance.'
2022-11 → 2024-09 diff source
NCEA achievement
School leavers with NCEA at each level. National average is ~85% (Level 1).
NCEA Level 1 · 2024
87.3%
137 of 157 leavers
+3.2pt vs prior year
NCEA Level 2 · 2024
76.4%
120 of 157 leavers
+3.8pt vs prior year
University Entrance · 2024
36.3%
57 of 157 leavers
-5.8pt vs prior year
Data: Ministry of Education / Education Counts, CC-BY-4.0
Stay-on rate
Percentage of students who stay at school until at least their 17th birthday — the standard NZ proxy for Year-9-to-Year-13 retention.
73.9%
2024 cohort · 157 students
+5.6pt vs 2023
Discipline (age-standardised, per 1,000 students)
Stand-down = sent home temporarily. Suspension = formal investigation. Exclusion = removed from school. National averages shown for comparison.
Stand-downs · 2024
79.4
129 this year · NZ avg ~37
Suspensions · 2024
7.7
14 this year · NZ avg ~5
Exclusions · 2024
2.6
4 this year · NZ avg ~1.5
Vocational Pathway Awards
School leavers achieving Vocational Pathway Awards by industry sector (2024).
- Service Industries 10
- Primary Industries 5
- Creative Industries 2
- Construction and Infrastructure 2
Government funding
Crown funding only (school operations + teacher salaries + property). Excludes locally-raised funds, international fees and trading income — those are in the audited financial report above.
Total Crown funding · 2022
$10.80M
Per-student funding · 2022
$10,466
2018
$6.7M
2019
$6.9M
2020
$8.4M
2021
$10.3M
2022
$10.8M
Roll by year level
July 2025 roll return.
- Year 07 176
- Year 08 158
- Year 09 172
- Year 10 163
- Year 11 174
- Year 12 148
- Year 13+ 80
Roll by ethnicity
Share of total roll. Students who identify with multiple ethnicities are counted once.
- European/Pākehā 82.8%
- Māori 27.3%
- Pacific 10.9%
- Asian 4.1%
- Other / MELAA 2.7%
- International 0.1%
Location
181 Herbert Street, Invercargill. Nearby schools marked in grey.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap, © CARTO
Schools nearby
Within 15km, sorted by distance. Add any to compare with Southland Boys' High School.
Waihopai School
Contributing · 0.3km · 367 roll
78
+21 vs this
Windsor North School
Contributing · 0.6km · 323 roll
43
-14 vs this
St John's Girls' School (Invercargill)
Full Primary · 0.9km · 139 roll
81
+24 vs this
Invercargill Activity Centre
Activity Centre · 1km · roll n/a
91
+34 vs this
St Theresa's School (Invercargill)
Contributing · 1km · 284 roll
79
+22 vs this
Salford School
Contributing · 1.5km · 269 roll
72
+15 vs this
Frequently asked
Is Southland Boys' High School a good school?
Southland Boys' High School scores 57/100 on the SchoolsNearMe composite — a weighted average of 5 axes (academic, outcomes, retention, wellbeing, trajectory). Below median nationally. ERO trajectory has declined across recent review cycles. The full breakdown is below; every input links to its source.
What does the latest ERO review say?
ERO's 2024-09 review identified 6 key findings. Leaders have high expectations for achievement, progress and wellbeing of all learners and promote collective responsibility for learner outcomes
How do I enrol my child at Southland Boys' High School?
Contact the school directly on 03-2113003, email mail@sbhs.school.nz, or visit www.sbhs.school.nz. For state schools, check your home address against the school's enrolment zone — some schools are in-zone-only.
What are the fees?
Southland Boys' High School is a state school. There is no tuition fee for domestic students; voluntary donations may be requested.
What is the roll size?
Southland Boys' High School has 1,032 students, with an EQI of 464 (mid-range socio-economic context). It is a boys school-only school.
When was the school last reviewed by ERO?
The Education Review Office last reviewed Southland Boys' High School in 2024-09, signed by Shelley Booysen. 5 ERO reports are on file in our archive.
Data transparency
Every fact on this page links to its source. We never publish a claim without provenance — read our methodology for the full rules.
Sourced from
- ero.govt.nz
- sieba.nz
- schoolsdata.co.nz
- sbhs.school.nz
- crimestats.co.nz