Schools in Nelson
Nelson, Marlborough & West Coast · New Zealand
There are 27 schools in and around Nelson (Nelson, Marlborough & West Coast) — 16 primary, 4 intermediate, 5 secondary. Nelson College For Girls Prep School 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.
27 schools · refreshed from Education Counts 2026-07-12. Full methodology.
Browse Nelson schools by suburb
4 Nelson suburbs have their own schools page.
Schools in Nelson 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.
- View profile →
83
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory58ERO review83 - View profile →
80
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing84Trajectory89ERO review70 - View profile →
79
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory43ERO review84 - View profile →
79
/ 100 composite
Academic84Outcomes64Retention86Wellbeing83Trajectory80ERO review85 - View profile →
77
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing90Trajectory53ERO review80 - View profile →
76
/ 100 composite
Academic80Outcomes69Retention84Wellbeing79Trajectory60ERO review68 - View profile →
76
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory45ERO review75 - View profile →
73
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing84Trajectory59ERO review71 - View profile →
72
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing84Trajectory43ERO review79 - View profile →
69
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing84Trajectory37ERO review77 - View profile →
66
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing67Trajectory49ERO review75 - View profile →
65
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing74Trajectory31ERO review79 - View profile →
64
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing100Trajectory0ERO review73 - View profile →
63
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing73Trajectory39ERO review69 - View profile →
62
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing32Trajectory85ERO review75 - View profile →
61
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing79Trajectory41ERO review58 - View profile →
60
/ 100 composite
Academic74Outcomes42Retention74Wellbeing32Trajectory62ERO review81 - View profile →
60
/ 100 composite
Academic76Outcomes56Retention80Wellbeing0Trajectory45ERO review85 - 19Nelson Teen Parent Unit
Nelson · Teen Parent Unit · — students · EQI 510+ (most disadvantaged)
View profile →60
/ 100 composite
Academic72Outcomes1Retention100Wellbeing100Trajectory38ERO review83 - View profile →
52
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory88ERO review74 - View profile →
42
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory31ERO review85 - View profile →
41
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory54ERO review69 - View profile →
38
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory32ERO review76 - View profile →
36
/ 100 composite
Academic49Outcomes3Retention73Wellbeing18Trajectory33ERO review45 - View profile →
36
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing10Trajectory8ERO review75 - View profile →
33
/ 100 composite
Wellbeing0Trajectory26ERO review67
More schools in Nelson
These schools don't yet have a composite score (often small rolls or limited scored data). Their full source-linked profiles are still available.
- Lake Rotoiti School Full Primary · 26 students
What the record says about Nelson schools
Plain-language summaries distilled from each school's ERO reports and Ministry records. Every claim is source-linked on the school's profile.
Nelson College For Girls Prep School
Nelson College For Girls Prep School is a private intermediate school that meets all eight criteria for registration. The school has suitable premises, appropriate staffing for its student population, and regularly reviewed safety policies. The 2024 ERO special review found the school meets registration requirements.
Full source-linked profile →Clifton Terrace School
Clifton Terrace School is a contributing primary school in Nelson with 297 students. An ERO review in July 2023 found effective pedagogical knowledge across teaching teams and a reflective, improvement-focused school culture based on research and best practice. The school has strong leadership providing clear vision for mathematics teaching, and is working with ERO to evaluate how effectively mathematics initiatives are improving learning outcomes for all learners.
Full source-linked profile →Garin College
Garin College's hostel facilities comprise two separate, well-maintained boarding buildings (Francis Douglas House and Mother Theresa House) that provide a homely environment for boarders. The hostel manager and school leadership maintain effective liaison, with regular trips and activities arranged for residents. The hostel meets the requirements of the Hostel Regulations 2005, with policies and procedures well integrated with the school's pastoral systems.
Full source-linked profile →Richmond School (Nelson)
Richmond School's February 2025 ERO review found that success and progress for all learners is increasing, with high quality teaching practice improving outcomes in reading, writing and mathematics. The school demonstrates an inclusive approach, using data to identify and support learners at risk, and has an experienced leadership team focused on sustained improvement. The composite score is 80.
Full source-linked profile →Nelson College For Girls
Nelson College For Girls has sustained high levels of achievement across the school with strong relationships and effective pastoral systems. An ERO review noted persistent differences between NCEA achievement levels for New Zealand European and Māori students, which the school is working to address. The curriculum requires modernising to better respond to students' needs, particularly regarding culture, language and identity.
Full source-linked profile →Nelson College (Prep Dept)
Nelson College (Prep Dept) is a private intermediate school serving 96 students in Nelson. An ERO special review in March 2021 confirmed the school meets all registration criteria under the Education Act 1989. The school has suitable premises, appropriate staffing for the age range, suitable equipment, and regularly reviewed policies to ensure student safety.
Full source-linked profile →Victory Primary School
Victory Primary School is a contributing primary school in Nelson with 371 students and a composite score of 71. ERO's 2024 review found learners are engaged with improving achievement outcomes, with the majority of students achieving at or above curriculum expectations in reading, writing and mathematics. The school has strengths in culturally responsive practices, use of student progress data to inform teaching improvements, and consistent curriculum delivery, though improving equity for Māori students and boys in writing remains a priority. The school currently has a limited statutory manager in place.
Full source-linked profile →Hampden Street School
Hampden Street School is a contributing primary in Nelson with a composite score of 79. ERO found almost all learners achieve at or above curriculum expectations in reading, writing and mathematics by end of Year 6, with most Māori learners achieving at curriculum level expectations. The school has strengths in culturally responsive literacy teaching, strong whānau engagement, and collaborative leadership informed by data and evaluation.
Full source-linked profile →St Joseph's School (Nelson)
St Joseph's School has successfully grown teaching and learning in mathematics and is working to apply this approach to literacy, supported by an external facilitator. The school has embedded values fostering pastoral care and respect, with purposeful professional development in culturally responsive pedagogy. Strategic leadership and collaborative systems support capability-building for staff, while the school works on growing cultural capability to support success for Māori and priority learners.
Full source-linked profile →Birchwood School
Birchwood School is a Contributing school in Stoke, Nelson with a roll of 256 students. The Board of Trustees attested to meeting all regulatory and legislative requirements as of May 2022, with board administration and curriculum requirements confirmed in the July 2022 board assurance review. No composite score is currently available.
Full source-linked profile →Nelson Central School
Nelson Central School's October 2024 ERO review found most students achieve at or above curriculum expectations in reading, writing and mathematics, with improvements continuing over time. Outcomes for Māori and Pacific students show significant improvements, though equity for Māori students in mathematics and boys in writing remain priorities. The school demonstrates collaborative leadership, culturally responsive practice, and teachers with high expectations who differentiate learning to meet student needs.
Full source-linked profile →Hira School
Hira School's March 2025 ERO review found that a large majority of learners meet or exceed expected curriculum levels in reading, writing, and mathematics, though results are not yet equitable for all groups. The school demonstrates strengths in high-quality teaching practice, inclusive leadership, and a structured literacy approach. While attendance remains below the 80% target, the school has a suitable plan in place and chronic absence is reducing.
Full source-linked profile →Frequently asked questions about Nelson schools
What schools are in Nelson?
Nelson has 27 schools on our records (16 primary, 4 intermediate, 5 secondary): Nayland College, Nelson College, Nelson College For Girls, Tapawera Area School, Nelson Teen Parent Unit, Nelson Christian Academy, St Paul's School (Richmond), Auckland Point School, Birchwood School, Broadgreen Intermediate, Clifton Terrace School, Enner Glynn 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 Nelson?
On the SchoolsNearMe value-added composite — which scores each school against its EQI peer group across all year levels — Nelson College For Girls Prep School ranks highest among Nelson schools (83/100). On NCEA and University Entrance results, Garin College 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 Nelson?
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 Nelson 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 Nelson address.
Decile or EQI — how are Nelson 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).