Top 50 high schools in Australian Capital Territory (2025)
Schools offering secondary years (Secondary and Combined schools). Ranked by the Success Index from official ACARA data; 50 schools shown out of all eligible high schools in Australian Capital Territory.
- Primary Schools
- Public Schools
- Private Schools
- Catholic Schools
- Independent Schools
- Public Primary Schools
- Public High Schools
- Private Primary Schools
- Private High Schools
- Girls' Schools
- Boys' Schools
- K-12 Schools
- VCE Schools by Median Study Score
- Schools with Top ATAR Students (WA)
- VCE Schools by Study Scores of 40+
- Fastest-Growing Schools
- Schools With the Best Student–Teacher Ratio
- Largest Schools
- 186Merici CollegeBraddon · Catholic SecondaryICSEA 1138 · 992 students
- 285Blue Gum Community SchoolHackett · Independent CombinedICSEA 1164 · 167 students
- 384Daramalan CollegeDickson · Independent SecondaryICSEA 1127 · 1,498 students
- 481Shirley Smith High SchoolKenny · Government SecondaryICSEA 1078 · 210 students
- 581Canberra Girls Grammar SchoolDeakin · Independent CombinedICSEA 1177 · 1,203 students
- 680Radford CollegeBruce · Independent CombinedICSEA 1203 · 2,091 students
- 779Campbell High SchoolCampbell · Government SecondaryICSEA 1120 · 420 students
- 878Burgmann Anglican SchoolGungahlin · Independent CombinedICSEA 1165 · 1,755 students
- 978Canberra Grammar SchoolRed Hill · Independent CombinedICSEA 1187 · 2,116 students
- 1076Brindabella Christian CollegeLyneham · Independent CombinedICSEA 1154 · 929 students
- 1176Narrabundah CollegeNarrabundah · Government SecondaryICSEA 1131 · 977 students
- 1276Dickson CollegeDickson · Government SecondaryICSEA 1101 · 899 students
- 1375Belconnen High SchoolHawker · Government SecondaryICSEA 1066 · 636 students
- 1475St John Paul II CollegeNicholls · Catholic SecondaryICSEA 1089 · 880 students
- 1574Alfred Deakin High SchoolDeakin · Government SecondaryICSEA 1132 · 881 students
- 1674Marist College CanberraPearce · Independent CombinedICSEA 1142 · 1,852 students
- 1774Hawker CollegeHawker · Government SecondaryICSEA 1073 · 605 students
- 1873Evelyn Scott SchoolDenman Prospect · Government CombinedICSEA 1107 · 717 students
- 1973Aunty Agnes Shea High SchoolTaylor · Government SecondaryICSEA 1051 · 83 students
- 2073Melba Copland Secondary SchoolMelba · Government SecondaryICSEA 1041 · 953 students
- 2173University of Canberra High School KaleenKaleen · Government SecondaryICSEA 1056 · 571 students
- 2273Mount Stromlo High SchoolWaramanga · Government SecondaryICSEA 1085 · 846 students
- 2372St Francis Xavier CollegeFlorey · Catholic SecondaryICSEA 1070 · 1,323 students
- 2472Trinity Christian SchoolWanniassa · Independent CombinedICSEA 1150 · 1,073 students
- 2571Orana Steiner SchoolWeston · Independent CombinedICSEA 1136 · 413 students
- 2671Telopea Park SchoolBarton · Government CombinedICSEA 1153 · 1,586 students
- 2770Lyneham High SchoolLyneham · Government SecondaryICSEA 1132 · 1,034 students
- 2869Covenant Christian SchoolGordon · Independent CombinedICSEA 1090 · 320 students
- 2969University of Canberra Senior Secondary College Lake GinninderraBelconnen · Government SecondaryICSEA 1066 · 781 students
- 3068Canberra High SchoolMacquarie · Government SecondaryICSEA 1100 · 898 students
- 3168Emmaus Christian SchoolDickson · Independent CombinedICSEA 1138 · 590 students
- 3268The Canberra CollegePhillip · Government SecondaryICSEA 1087 · 1,174 students
- 3368St Mary MacKillop CollegeIsabella Plains · Catholic SecondaryICSEA 1068 · 2,088 students
- 3468Melrose High SchoolPearce · Government SecondaryICSEA 1079 · 776 students
- 3566St Clare's CollegeGriffith · Catholic SecondaryICSEA 1087 · 887 students
- 3666St Edmund's College CanberraGriffith · Independent CombinedICSEA 1080 · 935 students
- 3765Erindale CollegeWanniassa · Government SecondaryICSEA 1041 · 871 students
- 3862Taqwa SchoolMoncrieff · Independent CombinedICSEA 1099 · 407 students
- 3961Gungahlin CollegeGungahlin · Government SecondaryICSEA 1061 · 1,070 students
- 4060Islamic School of CanberraWeston · Independent CombinedICSEA 1073 · 455 students
- 4158Lanyon High SchoolConder · Government SecondaryICSEA 1005 · 524 students
- 4256Gold Creek SchoolNicholls · Government CombinedICSEA 1052 · 1,261 students
- 4355Amaroo SchoolAmaroo · Government CombinedICSEA 1070 · 1,638 students
- 4453Lake Tuggeranong CollegeGreenway · Government SecondaryICSEA 1023 · 620 students
- 4545Harrison SchoolHarrison · Government CombinedICSEA 1058 · 1,365 students
- 4645Wanniassa SchoolWanniassa · Government CombinedICSEA 991 · 538 students
- 4742Kingsford Smith SchoolHolt · Government CombinedICSEA 991 · 742 students
- 4838Calwell High SchoolCalwell · Government SecondaryICSEA 972 · 371 students
- 4938Caroline Chisholm SchoolChisholm · Government CombinedICSEA 989 · 571 students
- 5036Namadgi SchoolKambah · Government CombinedICSEA 978 · 578 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index | ICSEA | Students | Students : teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merici College Braddon · Secondary · 7-12 | Catholic | 85.8 Top 5% | 1138 | 992 | 13.1 |
| 2 | Blue Gum Community School Hackett · Combined · K-10 | Independent | 84.9 Top 5% | 1164 | 167 | 8.2 |
| 3 | Daramalan College Dickson · Secondary · 7-12 | Independent | 83.8 Top 5% | 1127 | 1,498 | 11.4 |
| 4 | Shirley Smith High School Kenny · Secondary · 7-8 | Government | 81.0 Top 5% | 1078 | 210 | 10.3 |
| 5 | Canberra Girls Grammar School Deakin · Combined · K-12 | Independent | 80.8 Top 10% | 1177 | 1,203 | 10.7 |
| 6 | Radford College Bruce · Combined · K-12 | Independent | 80.2 Top 10% | 1203 | 2,091 | 13.1 |
| 7 | Campbell High School Campbell · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 79.4 Top 10% | 1120 | 420 | 11.1 |
| 8 | Burgmann Anglican School Gungahlin · Combined · K-12 | Independent | 77.7 Top 10% | 1165 | 1,755 | 13.3 |
| 9 | Canberra Grammar School Red Hill · Combined · K-12 | Independent | 77.5 Top 25% | 1187 | 2,116 | 12.0 |
| 10 | Brindabella Christian College Lyneham · Combined · K-12 | Independent | 76.2 Top 25% | 1154 | 929 | 13.4 |
| 11 | Narrabundah College Narrabundah · Secondary · 11-12 | Government | 75.8 Top 25% | 1131 | 977 | 14.7 |
| 12 | Dickson College Dickson · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 75.6 Top 25% | 1101 | 899 | 14.5 |
| 13 | Belconnen High School Hawker · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 74.9 Top 25% | 1066 | 636 | 11.9 |
| 14 | St John Paul II College Nicholls · Secondary · 7-12 | Catholic | 74.9 Top 25% | 1089 | 880 | 11.7 |
| 15 | Alfred Deakin High School Deakin · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 73.9 Top 25% | 1132 | 881 | 13.6 |
| 16 | Marist College Canberra Pearce · Combined · 4-12 | Independent | 73.9 Top 25% | 1142 | 1,852 | 13.4 |
| 17 | Hawker College Hawker · Secondary · 11-12 | Government | 73.8 Top 25% | 1073 | 605 | 13.3 |
| 18 | Evelyn Scott School Denman Prospect · Combined · K-10 | Government | 73.4 Top 25% | 1107 | 717 | 11.4 |
| 19 | Aunty Agnes Shea High School Taylor · Secondary · 7 | Government | 73.1 Top 25% | 1051 | 83 | 6.7 |
| 20 | Melba Copland Secondary School Melba · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 73.1 Top 25% | 1041 | 953 | 11.2 |
| 21 | University of Canberra High School Kaleen Kaleen · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 72.7 Top 25% | 1056 | 571 | 12.6 |
| 22 | Mount Stromlo High School Waramanga · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 72.6 Top 25% | 1085 | 846 | 13.7 |
| 23 | St Francis Xavier College Florey · Secondary · 7-12 | Catholic | 72.3 Top 25% | 1070 | 1,323 | 11.4 |
| 24 | Trinity Christian School Wanniassa · Combined · K-12 | Independent | 72.1 Top 25% | 1150 | 1,073 | 13.7 |
| 25 | Orana Steiner School Weston · Combined · K-12 | Independent | 71.3 Top 25% | 1136 | 413 | 9.9 |
| 26 | Telopea Park School Barton · Combined · K-10 | Government | 70.8 Top 25% | 1153 | 1,586 | 13.5 |
| 27 | Lyneham High School Lyneham · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 69.9 Top 25% | 1132 | 1,034 | 13.5 |
| 28 | Covenant Christian School Gordon · Combined · K-10 | Independent | 68.9 Top 25% | 1090 | 320 | 12.9 |
| 29 | University of Canberra Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra Belconnen · Secondary · 11-12 | Government | 68.5 Top 25% | 1066 | 781 | 14.4 |
| 30 | Canberra High School Macquarie · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 68.2 Top 25% | 1100 | 898 | 13.5 |
| 31 | Emmaus Christian School Dickson · Combined · K-10 | Independent | 68.0 Top 25% | 1138 | 590 | 19.1 |
| 32 | The Canberra College Phillip · Secondary · 11-12 | Government | 68.0 Top 25% | 1087 | 1,174 | 15.5 |
| 33 | St Mary MacKillop College Isabella Plains · Secondary · 7-12 | Catholic | 67.7 Top 25% | 1068 | 2,088 | 13.8 |
| 34 | Melrose High School Pearce · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 67.6 Top 25% | 1079 | 776 | 13.6 |
| 35 | St Clare's College Griffith · Secondary · 7-12 | Catholic | 66.3 Top 50% | 1087 | 887 | 13.8 |
| 36 | St Edmund's College Canberra Griffith · Combined · 4-12 | Independent | 65.8 Top 25% | 1080 | 935 | 13.1 |
| 37 | Erindale College Wanniassa · Secondary · 10-12 | Government | 64.9 Top 50% | 1041 | 871 | 14.0 |
| 38 | Taqwa School Moncrieff · Combined · K-10 | Independent | 61.6 Top 50% | 1099 | 407 | 15.5 |
| 39 | Gungahlin College Gungahlin · Secondary · 10-12 | Government | 61.2 Top 50% | 1061 | 1,070 | 13.4 |
| 40 | Islamic School of Canberra Weston · Combined · K-11 | Independent | 59.7 Top 50% | 1073 | 455 | 14.8 |
| 41 | Lanyon High School Conder · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 57.5 Top 50% | 1005 | 524 | 12.7 |
| 42 | Gold Creek School Nicholls · Combined · K-10 | Government | 56.3 Top 50% | 1052 | 1,261 | 13.0 |
| 43 | Amaroo School Amaroo · Combined · K-10 | Government | 54.6 Top 50% | 1070 | 1,638 | 13.0 |
| 44 | Lake Tuggeranong College Greenway · Secondary · 11-12 | Government | 52.7 Top 50% | 1023 | 620 | 12.0 |
| 45 | Harrison School Harrison · Combined · K-10 | Government | 45.4 Lower 50% | 1058 | 1,365 | 14.6 |
| 46 | Wanniassa School Wanniassa · Combined · K-10 | Government | 45.4 Lower 50% | 991 | 538 | 10.3 |
| 47 | Kingsford Smith School Holt · Combined · K-10 | Government | 41.9 Lower 50% | 991 | 742 | 9.2 |
| 48 | Calwell High School Calwell · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 38.3 Lower 50% | 972 | 371 | 12.0 |
| 49 | Caroline Chisholm School Chisholm · Combined · K-10 | Government | 37.8 Lower 50% | 989 | 571 | 11.1 |
| 50 | Namadgi School Kambah · Combined · K-10 | Government | 35.8 Lower 50% | 978 | 578 | 12.2 |
There are 50 high schools in Australian Capital Territory eligible for this list; the top 50 are shown. Merici College in Braddon is ranked first with a Success Index of 85.8 and an ICSEA of 1138. 30 of the top 50 are government schools and 20 are Catholic or independent; the median ICSEA across the list is 1086.
The top 10 high schools in Australian Capital Territory for 2025 are: 1. Merici College (Braddon); 2. Blue Gum Community School (Hackett); 3. Daramalan College (Dickson); 4. Shirley Smith High School (Kenny); 5. Canberra Girls Grammar School (Deakin); 6. Radford College (Bruce); 7. Campbell High School (Campbell); 8. Burgmann Anglican School (Gungahlin); 9. Canberra Grammar School (Red Hill); 10. Brindabella Christian College (Lyneham).
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best secondary school in Australian Capital Territory?
Merici College in Braddon ranks first among high schools in Australian Capital Territory with a Success Index of 85.8 out of 100 and an ICSEA of 1138.
How are high schools in Australian Capital Territory ranked?
Each school's Success Index combines five factors from ACARA's 2025 school profile data: ICSEA (50%), share of students in the top socio-educational quarter (15%), students per teacher (15%), five-year enrolment growth (10%) and five-year ICSEA trend (10%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type nationally. Schools with fewer than 80 students are excluded.
How many public schools are in the top 100 high schools in Australian Capital Territory?
30 of the top 50 high schools in Australian Capital Territory are government schools; 20 are Catholic or independent.
Do these rankings include NAPLAN or ATAR results?
Not yet. ACARA does not publish school-level NAPLAN results in bulk, and ATAR results are released by state authorities in different formats. The Success Index uses the measures ACARA publishes for every school so that all schools are compared on identical data. Where a school publishes its own results we link to its website.