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NewzSchools · Aotearoa New Zealand

Te Whirika Sara Cohen Specialist School

Dunedin · Otago Region

Specialist School · State · Co-Educational · Major urban area

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Te Whirika Sara Cohen Specialist School at a glance

Te Whirika Sara Cohen Specialist School is a co-educational specialist school school in Dunedin, within the Otago Region, operating in the state sector, with 81 students on roll, and an Equity Index of 498. The school has been open since 1926.

With 81 students on roll, Te Whirika Sara Cohen Specialist School is a small school — larger than about 22% of New Zealand schools.

The school's Equity Index is 498, which is close to the national average of 463. That means the roll faces a broadly typical level of socio-economic challenge compared with schools across Aotearoa.

82.1% of students identify as European, so the school has a strongly homogeneous roll. Students of Asian descent make up 7.7%.

On the isolation index the school scores 0.16 (low isolation) — this measures how far students travel and how accessible the school is, not how good it is.

Students by ethnicity

European 6482.1%
Pasifika 56.4%
Asian 67.7%
Middle Eastern / Latin American / African 22.6%
Other 11.3%
European 64 · 82.1%
Pasifika 5 · 6.4%
Asian 6 · 7.7%
Middle Eastern / Latin American / African 2 · 2.6%
Other 1 · 1.3%

Total roll recorded: 81 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

81Students on rollLarger than 22% of NZ schools · national median 215.5
498Equity IndexAbove national mean of 463
0.69Diversity scoreHigher = more mixed roll (max 1.95)
0.16Isolation indexlow isolation
344 · lowest need569 · highest need

School facts

  • School typeSpecialist School
  • Special characterDay Specialist
  • YearsSpecialist — all years
  • AuthorityState
  • GenderCo-Educational
  • SettingMajor urban area
  • Territorial authorityDunedin City
  • Education regionOtago, Southland
  • Regional councilOtago Region
  • Enrolment schemeNo — no enrolment scheme
  • BoardingDay school only
  • Language of instructionAll students taught in English/other setting
  • Cohort entryNo — individual entry
  • DonationsDonations should not be requested, unless for a school camp
  • Opened1926
  • Roll date2026 directory export
  • Statistical areaCaversham
  • WardArea Outside Ward
  • General electorateTaieri
  • Māori electorate—

Location

Otago Region
Dunedin 45.8988° S · 170.4828° E
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Nearby schools

St Bernadette's School (Forbury)Dunedin · Contributing 0.2 km Carisbrook SchoolDunedin · Full Primary 0.4 km Bathgate Park SchoolDunedin · Full Primary 0.8 km Queen's High SchoolDunedin · Secondary (Year 9-15) 0.9 km Kings High School (Dunedin)Dunedin · Secondary (Year 9-15) 1 km St Francis Xavier School (Mornington)Dunedin · Contributing 1.2 km

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About this data

School #3816 is drawn from the New Zealand Ministry of Education school directory export dated 1 September 2026, with roll and ethnicity figures recorded at the same snapshot. Equity Index, isolation index, enrolment scheme and boarding fields are as published by the Ministry. Qualification attainment statistics on this site come from Education Counts releases.

Figures are provided for information and comparison only. NewzSchools is an independent directory, is not affiliated with the Ministry of Education, and does not endorse or rank schools. Always confirm enrolment details, zone boundaries and fees directly with the school.

Corrections and updates: contact the directory.

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