Schools in Invercargill
Otago & Southland · New Zealand
There are 32 schools in and around Invercargill (Otago & Southland) — 23 primary, 6 secondary. Invercargill Activity Centre is the highest-scoring on the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite, which compares every school against its EQI peer group. Each profile is source-linked to Education Counts, ERO and the Ministry of Education.
32 schools · refreshed from Education Counts 2026-07-12. Full methodology.
Browse Invercargill schools by suburb
14 Invercargill suburbs have their own schools page.
- Schools in Georgetown 2
- Schools in Gladstone 1
- Schools in Glengarry 1
- Schools in Hargest 1
- Schools in Hawthorndale 1
- Schools in Hedgehope 1
- Schools in Kew 1
- Schools in Makarewa 1
- Schools in Newfield 1
- Schools in Otatara 1
- Schools in Rimu 1
- Schools in Strathern 1
- Schools in Waikiwi 3
- Schools in Windsor 1
Top 30 schools in Invercargill ranked by value-added score
The SchoolsNearMe composite scores every level against its EQI peer group, so it surfaces schools that get the most out of their students — not just the most advantaged intake. How it's calculated.
- 1Invercargill Activity Centre
Invercargill · Activity Centre · — students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →91
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory—ERO review83 - View profile →
90
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory100ERO review75 - 3St John's Girls' School (Invercargill)
Invercargill · Full Primary · 139 students · EQI <420 (most advantaged)
View profile →81
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory46ERO review85 - 4St Joseph's School (Invercargill)
Invercargill · Full Primary · 178 students · EQI 450–474
View profile →80
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing86Trajectory65ERO review83 - 5St Theresa's School (Invercargill)
Invercargill · Contributing · 284 students · EQI <420 (most advantaged)
View profile →79
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory52ERO review78 - View profile →
78
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory51ERO review75 - View profile →
75
/ 100 composite
Academic87Outcomes56Retention91Wellbeing73Trajectory54ERO review80 - View profile →
75
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing67Trajectory70ERO review84 - View profile →
73
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing54Trajectory85ERO review81 - View profile →
72
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing91Trajectory34ERO review78 - View profile →
70
/ 100 composite
Academic80Outcomes62Retention77Wellbeing66Trajectory49ERO review66 - View profile →
70
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing81Trajectory32ERO review84 - 13Murihiku Young Parents' Learning Centre
Invercargill · Teen Parent Unit · — students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →68
/ 100 composite
Academic48Outcomes—Retention100Wellbeing100Trajectory36ERO review85 - View profile →
68
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing81Trajectory39ERO review75 - View profile →
67
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing72Trajectory35ERO review82 - View profile →
65
/ 100 composite
Academic76Outcomes57Retention80Wellbeing31Trajectory55ERO review83 - View profile →
65
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing51Trajectory49ERO review87 - View profile →
61
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing56Trajectory28ERO review85 - View profile →
60
/ 100 composite
Academic87Outcomes3Retention91Wellbeing54Trajectory55ERO review84 - View profile →
58
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory100ERO review83 - View profile →
57
/ 100 composite
Academic73Outcomes51Retention74Wellbeing0Trajectory55ERO review69 - View profile →
56
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing54Trajectory35ERO review71 - View profile →
48
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing34Trajectory26ERO review75 - View profile →
48
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory70ERO review75 - View profile →
46
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory66ERO review74 - View profile →
43
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory53ERO review75 - View profile →
43
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory37ERO review84 - View profile →
43
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing10Trajectory30ERO review80 - View profile →
40
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory16ERO review89 - View profile →
38
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory48ERO review66
More schools in Invercargill
The rest of Invercargill's schools — some scored, some without a composite score yet (often small rolls or limited scored data). Every one has a full source-linked profile.
- Aurora College Secondary (Year 7-15) · 597 students
- Gorge Road School Full Primary · 26 students
What the record says about Invercargill schools
Plain-language summaries distilled from each school's ERO reports and Ministry records. Every claim is source-linked on the school's profile.
Invercargill Activity Centre
Invercargill Activity Centre is an activity centre in Invercargill serving students who benefit from alternative education settings. The 2017 ERO review found the centre successfully promotes positive outcomes, with most students remaining engaged in education after attendance. Students made significant improvements in behaviour, work habits, attendance and literacy learning, supported by effective governance, strong staff relationships, and fair transition processes. The centre achieved a composite score of 83.
Full source-linked profile →St John's Girls' School (Invercargill)
St John's Girls' School maintains high standards and expectations for teaching and learning, with a curriculum offering students a wide range of opportunities to develop confidence and engage in rich learning experiences. Teachers are well supported in refining the school's mathematics teaching approach to emphasise higher-order and creative thinking. The school was reviewed by ERO in September 2022.
Full source-linked profile →St Joseph's School (Invercargill)
St Joseph's School received a Te Ara Huarau review in June 2023. The school has established a strong culture of care and effective teaching, with rigorous monitoring of student achievement in foundational learning. School leadership maintains relational trust and supports continuous improvement. The school's composite score is 83.
Full source-linked profile →St Theresa's School (Invercargill)
St Theresa's School has a composite score of 78. The school's 2022 ERO review found caring, trusting, inclusive relationships at all levels that support students to take responsibility for their learning. Teaching practice is underpinned by current research and supports student empowerment, with students at the centre of school direction and decision-making.
Full source-linked profile →Waihopai School
Waihopai School is a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 and has attested compliance with all aspects. The school provides appropriate academic and social support for its small cohort of international students and creates opportunities for students and families to share culture and language with the school community. An ERO review in 2022 focused on international student support.
Full source-linked profile →Southland Girls' High School
Southland Girls' High School received a composite score of 80 in its November 2022 ERO review. The school demonstrates high expectations across leadership and staff, with consistently high student achievement. Key strengths include an embedded culture of self-improvement based on evidence, strong pastoral systems centred on student wellbeing, and collaborative staff culture focused on learning outcomes.
Full source-linked profile →Makarewa School
Makarewa School's board assurance review in March 2023 confirmed the board has met regulatory and legislative requirements across key areas, including board administration and curriculum requirements as of May 2022. The school has a roll of 176 students. No composite score was available at the time of this review.
Full source-linked profile →Ruru Special School
Ruru Special School's board attested to meeting all regulatory and legislative requirements as of March 2024, with board administration and curriculum requirements confirmed. The school is a specialist facility serving 123 students in Invercargill. No composite score is currently available.
Full source-linked profile →Salford School
Salford School is a contributing primary school in Hargest, Invercargill with a roll of 269 students. The school is a signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 and attested compliance at the time of the February 2023 ERO review; no international students were enrolled then. The school is currently under active limited statutory manager intervention from the Ministry of Education.
Full source-linked profile →Verdon College
Verdon College is a secondary school in Invercargill serving Year 7-15 students. The Board of Trustees attested in July 2024 to meeting all regulatory and legislative requirements, with Board Administration and Curriculum requirements confirmed in the September 2024 assurance review. No composite score is currently available.
Full source-linked profile →Murihiku Young Parents' Learning Centre
Murihiku Young Parents' Learning Centre is a teen parent unit in Invercargill that achieved a composite score of 85 in its 2017 ERO review. All 2016 graduates attained NCEA Level 3, with some achieving university entrance, and students attending for more than 12 months made good to very good progress toward qualifications. The school's strengths include well-tracked individual student progress with strong NCEA outcomes, effective governance and management, and teachers' close knowledge of students' academic progress and wellbeing.
Full source-linked profile →Otatara School
Otatara School achieved a composite score of 82 in its April 2024 ERO review. Most learners achieved at or above curriculum expectations in reading, writing and mathematics, with Pacific learners achieving very well across all areas. The school demonstrates high and sustained achievement, very effective governance and leadership, and a responsive curriculum that authentically integrates mātauranga Māori, though some disparity exists for Māori learners in writing and mathematics compared to reading.
Full source-linked profile →Frequently asked questions about Invercargill schools
What schools are in Invercargill?
Invercargill has 32 schools on our records (23 primary, 6 secondary): Southland Boys' High School, Southland Girls' High School, Verdon College, Aurora College, James Hargest College, Murihiku Young Parents' Learning Centre, Ascot Community School, New River Primary, Fernworth Primary School, Newfield Park School, Donovan Primary School, Gorge Road School, and more. Every school links to a source-backed profile with ERO history, NCEA results and audited financials.
What is the best school in Invercargill?
On the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite — which scores each school against its EQI peer group across all year levels — Invercargill Activity Centre ranks highest among Invercargill schools (91/100). On NCEA and University Entrance results, Southland Girls' High School leads the local secondary schools. "Best" depends on what you value — compare profiles to weigh academic results, ERO trajectory, retention and wellbeing.
What is the school zone for Invercargill?
Many New Zealand state schools operate an enrolment zone (home zone), so your home address — not just the suburb — determines which in-zone state schools you can enrol at. Living in Invercargill does not guarantee a place at any particular school. Check each school's current zone with the school directly or use our by-address tool to see which schools cover a specific Invercargill address.
Decile or EQI — how are Invercargill schools rated for socio-economic need?
New Zealand replaced the decile system with the Equity Index (EQI) in 2023. A lower EQI means a more socio-economically advantaged community; a higher EQI means greater need. EQI is a funding tool, not a quality measure — a high-EQI school can outperform a low-EQI one. The SchoolsNearMe composite controls for EQI so a school serving a more disadvantaged community isn't unfairly penalised.
Source data: Education Counts (NCEA, retention, destinations, discipline, funding) · Ministry of Education (roll, EQI, identity) · Education Review Office (reviews).