Southland has an excellent learning environment and education facilities ranging from early childhood, through primary and secondary school to tertiary education and a number of private learning institutions. Quality of education is fostered by favourable teacher to student ratios and high quality resources throughout the region.

Southland has 73 primary schools and 14 secondary schools offering a variety of educational choices. Some primary and secondary schools offer boarding hostels and there is a Hall of Residence offered by the tertiary provider, Southern Institute of Technology and the Otago University Outpost facility.