Nelson College

Nelson · Nelson Region

Secondary (Year 9-15) · State · Boys School · Large urban area · Boarding

Nelson College at a glance

Nelson College is a boys school secondary (year 9-15) school in Nelson, within the Nelson Region, operating in the state sector, with 1,009 students on roll, and an Equity Index of 441. The school has been open since 1858.

With 1,009 students on roll, Nelson College is a very large school — larger than about 95% of New Zealand schools.

The school's Equity Index is 441, which is below the national average of 463. A lower Equity Index signals less socio-economic need in the school's community than the national norm.

The largest group is European at 68.1%, with a meaningful Asian community at 15.8% — a mixed but clearly led roll.

On the isolation index the school scores 0.06 (very low isolation) — this measures how far students travel and how accessible the school is, not how good it is.

Students by ethnicity

European 73868.1%

Pasifika 726.6%

Asian 17115.8%

Middle Eastern / Latin American / African 333.0%

Other 111.0%

International 585.4%

European 738 · 68.1%

Pasifika 72 · 6.6%

Asian 171 · 15.8%

Middle Eastern / Latin American / African 33 · 3.0%

Other 11 · 1.0%

International 58 · 5.4%

Total roll recorded: 1,009 students. Percentages are calculated from the 2026 roll census and may not sum to exactly 100% because of rounding and students who decline to state an ethnicity.

Roll in context

1,009Students on rollLarger than 95% of NZ schools · national median 215.5

441Equity IndexBelow national mean of 463

1.04Diversity scoreHigher = more mixed roll (max 1.95)

0.06Isolation indexvery low isolation

344 · lowest need569 · highest need

School facts

School typeSecondary (Year 9-15)
YearsYears 9–15
AuthorityState
GenderBoys School
SettingLarge urban area
Territorial authorityNelson City
Education regionNelson, Marlborough, West Coast
Regional councilNelson Region
Enrolment schemeNo — no enrolment scheme
BoardingBoarding available
Language of instructionAll students taught in English/other setting
Cohort entryNo — individual entry
DonationsDonations should not be requested, unless for a school camp
Opened1858
Roll date2026 directory export
Statistical areaGrampians
WardCentral General Ward
General electorateNelson
Māori electorate—

Te reo Māori programme

25Taught predominantly in te reo Māori3.00% of the roll

62Learning te reo in English mediumLevels 3–5 immersion recorded separately

This school reports 87 students learning te reo Māori across immersion and English-medium programmes, according to the kura language statistics.

Location

Nelson Region

Nelson 41.2856° S · 173.2756° E

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Nearby schools

Nelson College (Prep Dept)Nelson · Intermediate 0 km Hampden Street SchoolNelson · Contributing 0.2 km Te Puna Wānanga o Te Wairepo – Victory Primary SchoolNelson · Contributing 0.6 km Nelson IntermediateNelson · Intermediate 0.8 km Nelson College For Girls Prep SchoolNelson · Intermediate 0.9 km Nelson College For GirlsNelson · Secondary (Year 9-15) 0.9 km