Best schools in Australia (2025)
The top five of 9,755 schools in each category, with links to the full top 100. Rankings use the Success Index, built only from official ACARA data.
Australia has 9,755 schools in ACARA's 2025 data: 6,811 government (70%), 1,694 Catholic and 1,250 independent, together enrolling about 4,204,548 students. By level there are 6,229 primary schools, 1,515 secondary schools and 1,480 combined (K–12) schools.
The median ICSEA is 1006 (the national benchmark is 1000) and 1,486 schools, or 15%, have an ICSEA of 1100 or more, which marks a highly advantaged community. The average school has 12.6 students per full-time-equivalent teacher.
Best primary schools in Australia
Schools offering primary years (Primary and Combined schools).
Reddam House
Woollahra NSW · Independent combined
· ICSEA 1203
Ascham School
Edgecliff NSW · Independent combined · K-12
1,182 students · ICSEA 1217
Brunswick South Primary School
Brunswick East VIC · Government primary · Prep-6
317 students · ICSEA 1171
St Andrew's School
Walkerville SA · Independent primary · R-6
376 students · ICSEA 1191
Newlands Primary School
Preston VIC · Government primary · Prep-6
437 students · ICSEA 1146
Best high schools in Australia
Schools offering secondary years (Secondary and Combined schools).
Reddam House
Woollahra NSW · Independent combined
· ICSEA 1203
Ascham School
Edgecliff NSW · Independent combined · K-12
1,182 students · ICSEA 1217
Brisbane Girls Grammar School
Brisbane QLD · Independent high school · 7-12
1,558 students · ICSEA 1211
Lauriston Girls' School
Armadale VIC · Independent combined · Prep-12
935 students · ICSEA 1199
Presbyterian Ladies' College
Burwood VIC · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,530 students · ICSEA 1207
Best public schools in Australia
Government schools across all year levels.
Brunswick South Primary School
Brunswick East VIC · Government primary · Prep-6
317 students · ICSEA 1171
Newlands Primary School
Preston VIC · Government primary · Prep-6
437 students · ICSEA 1146
South Melbourne Primary School
Southbank VIC · Government primary · Prep-6
502 students · ICSEA 1144
Murrumbeena Primary School
Murrumbeena VIC · Government primary · Prep-6
555 students · ICSEA 1161
Preston South Primary School
Preston VIC · Government primary · Prep-6
397 students · ICSEA 1127
Best private schools in Australia
Independent and Catholic schools across all year levels.
Reddam House
Woollahra NSW · Independent combined
· ICSEA 1203
Ascham School
Edgecliff NSW · Independent combined · K-12
1,182 students · ICSEA 1217
St Andrew's School
Walkerville SA · Independent primary · R-6
376 students · ICSEA 1191
Annesley College
Wayville SA · Independent primary · R-6
292 students · ICSEA 1164
Brisbane Girls Grammar School
Brisbane QLD · Independent high school · 7-12
1,558 students · ICSEA 1211
Best catholic schools in Australia
Catholic systemic and independent Catholic schools.
St John's School
Footscray VIC · Catholic primary · Prep-6
227 students · ICSEA 1136
Our Holy Redeemer School
Surrey Hills VIC · Catholic primary · Prep-6
198 students · ICSEA 1180
St Kevin's College
Toorak VIC · Catholic combined · Prep-12
2,087 students · ICSEA 1192
Lisieux Catholic Primary School
Torquay VIC · Catholic primary · Prep-6
333 students · ICSEA 1106
St Francis Xavier Primary School
Montmorency VIC · Catholic primary · Prep-6
382 students · ICSEA 1122
Best independent schools in Australia
Independent (non-government, non-Catholic-system) schools.
Reddam House
Woollahra NSW · Independent combined
· ICSEA 1203
Ascham School
Edgecliff NSW · Independent combined · K-12
1,182 students · ICSEA 1217
St Andrew's School
Walkerville SA · Independent primary · R-6
376 students · ICSEA 1191
Annesley College
Wayville SA · Independent primary · R-6
292 students · ICSEA 1164
Brisbane Girls Grammar School
Brisbane QLD · Independent high school · 7-12
1,558 students · ICSEA 1211
Best public primary schools in Australia
Government schools offering primary years.
Brunswick South Primary School
Brunswick East VIC · Government primary · Prep-6
317 students · ICSEA 1171
Newlands Primary School
Preston VIC · Government primary · Prep-6
437 students · ICSEA 1146
South Melbourne Primary School
Southbank VIC · Government primary · Prep-6
502 students · ICSEA 1144
Murrumbeena Primary School
Murrumbeena VIC · Government primary · Prep-6
555 students · ICSEA 1161
Preston South Primary School
Preston VIC · Government primary · Prep-6
397 students · ICSEA 1127
Best public high schools in Australia
Government schools offering secondary years.
Port Melbourne Secondary College
Port Melbourne VIC · Government high school · 7-10
416 students · ICSEA 1101
Conservatorium High School
Sydney NSW · Government high school · 7-12
156 students · ICSEA 1194
Queensland Academy for Creative Industries
Kelvin Grove QLD · Government high school · 10-12
436 students · ICSEA 1128
Beaumaris Secondary College
Beaumaris VIC · Government high school · 7-12
893 students · ICSEA 1113
Centre for Higher Education Studies
South Yarra VIC · Government high school · 10-12
468 students · ICSEA 1079
Best private primary schools in Australia
Independent and Catholic schools offering primary years.
Reddam House
Woollahra NSW · Independent combined
· ICSEA 1203
Ascham School
Edgecliff NSW · Independent combined · K-12
1,182 students · ICSEA 1217
St Andrew's School
Walkerville SA · Independent primary · R-6
376 students · ICSEA 1191
Annesley College
Wayville SA · Independent primary · R-6
292 students · ICSEA 1164
Lauriston Girls' School
Armadale VIC · Independent combined · Prep-12
935 students · ICSEA 1199
Best private high schools in Australia
Independent and Catholic schools offering secondary years.
Reddam House
Woollahra NSW · Independent combined
· ICSEA 1203
Ascham School
Edgecliff NSW · Independent combined · K-12
1,182 students · ICSEA 1217
Brisbane Girls Grammar School
Brisbane QLD · Independent high school · 7-12
1,558 students · ICSEA 1211
Lauriston Girls' School
Armadale VIC · Independent combined · Prep-12
935 students · ICSEA 1199
Presbyterian Ladies' College
Burwood VIC · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,530 students · ICSEA 1207
Best girls' schools in Australia
Single-sex schools enrolling girls only (based on ACARA enrolment counts).
Ascham School
Edgecliff NSW · Independent combined · K-12
1,182 students · ICSEA 1217
Brisbane Girls Grammar School
Brisbane QLD · Independent high school · 7-12
1,558 students · ICSEA 1211
Lauriston Girls' School
Armadale VIC · Independent combined · Prep-12
935 students · ICSEA 1199
Ravenswood School for Girls
Gordon NSW · Independent combined · K-12
1,451 students · ICSEA 1185
Methodist Ladies' College
Claremont WA · Independent combined · PP-12
1,035 students · ICSEA 1190
Best boys' schools in Australia
Single-sex schools enrolling boys only (based on ACARA enrolment counts).
Mosman Church of England Preparatory School
Mosman NSW · Independent primary · K-6
221 students · ICSEA 1206
The Scots College
Bellevue Hill NSW · Independent combined · K-12
2,076 students · ICSEA 1162
Camberwell Grammar School
Canterbury VIC · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,346 students · ICSEA 1192
St Kevin's College
Toorak VIC · Catholic combined · Prep-12
2,087 students · ICSEA 1192
Newington College
Stanmore NSW · Independent combined · K-12
2,072 students · ICSEA 1182
Best K-12 schools in Australia
Combined schools offering both primary and secondary years, so a child can stay from Foundation to Year 12.
Reddam House
Woollahra NSW · Independent combined
· ICSEA 1203
Ascham School
Edgecliff NSW · Independent combined · K-12
1,182 students · ICSEA 1217
Lauriston Girls' School
Armadale VIC · Independent combined · Prep-12
935 students · ICSEA 1199
Presbyterian Ladies' College
Burwood VIC · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,530 students · ICSEA 1207
Fintona Girls' School
Balwyn VIC · Independent combined · Prep-12
533 students · ICSEA 1191
Best VCE schools by median study score in Australia
Victorian schools ranked by median VCE study score (VCAA Senior Secondary Completion and Achievement Information), for schools offering Year 12 with 30 or more VCE students. Study scores range from 0 to 50 with a state mean of 30.
Ballarat Clarendon College
Ballarat VIC · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,896 students · ICSEA 1172
MacRobertson Girls High School
Melbourne VIC · Government high school · 9-12
1,195 students · ICSEA 1186
Nossal High School
Berwick VIC · Government high school · 9-12
825 students · ICSEA 1155
Ruyton Girls' School
Kew VIC · Independent combined · Prep-12
854 students · ICSEA 1198
Melbourne Girls Grammar
South Yarra VIC · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,046 students · ICSEA 1181
Best schools with top ATAR students (WA) in Australia
Western Australian schools listed by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority for having students in the top 15% of a Year 12 ATAR course, ranked by the number of courses in which they appear.
Perth Modern School
Subiaco WA · Government high school · 7-12
1,472 students · ICSEA 1230
Rossmoyne Senior High School
Rossmoyne WA · Government high school · 7-12
2,824 students · ICSEA 1135
Christ Church Grammar School
Claremont WA · Independent combined · PP-12
1,697 students · ICSEA 1193
Methodist Ladies' College
Claremont WA · Independent combined · PP-12
1,035 students · ICSEA 1190
Shenton College
Shenton Park WA · Government high school · 7-12
2,757 students · ICSEA 1160
Best VCE schools by study scores of 40+ in Australia
Victorian schools ranked by the percentage of VCE study scores of 40 or above (the top ~9% of scores statewide), for schools offering Year 12 with 30 or more VCE students.
Ballarat Clarendon College
Ballarat VIC · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,896 students · ICSEA 1172
MacRobertson Girls High School
Melbourne VIC · Government high school · 9-12
1,195 students · ICSEA 1186
Nossal High School
Berwick VIC · Government high school · 9-12
825 students · ICSEA 1155
Ruyton Girls' School
Kew VIC · Independent combined · Prep-12
854 students · ICSEA 1198
Melbourne Girls Grammar
South Yarra VIC · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,046 students · ICSEA 1181
Best fastest-growing schools in Australia
Established schools (100+ students five years ago, 200+ today) whose enrolments have grown the most over the past five years, a strong signal of parent demand.
Iona College Geelong
Charlemont VIC · Catholic high school · 7-12
1,332 students · ICSEA 1078
Ripley Valley State Secondary College
South Ripley QLD · Government high school · 7-12
1,268 students · ICSEA 996
Elevation Secondary College
Craigieburn VIC · Government high school · 7-12
1,177 students · ICSEA 962
Inner Sydney High School
Surry Hills NSW · Government high school · 7-12
1,161 students · ICSEA 1104
Bob Hawke College
Subiaco WA · Government high school · 7-12
1,972 students · ICSEA 1129
Best schools with the best student–teacher ratio in Australia
Schools with 200+ students and the fewest full-time-equivalent students per full-time-equivalent teacher.
Mastery Schools Australia
Springfield Central QLD · Independent combined · 4-10
960 students · ICSEA 1005
Moree Secondary College
Moree NSW · Government high school · 7-12
369 students · ICSEA 771
Moruya High School
Moruya NSW · Government high school · 7-12
356 students · ICSEA 922
Condobolin High School
Condobolin NSW · Government high school · 7-12
205 students · ICSEA 834
Maningrida College
Maningrida NT · Government combined · T-12
584 students · ICSEA 601
Best largest schools in Australia
Schools with the highest total enrolments.
King's Christian College
Reedy Creek QLD · Independent combined · Prep-12
5,166 students · ICSEA 1074
Haileybury College
Keysborough VIC · Independent combined · Prep-12
4,880 students · ICSEA 1191
Open Access College
Marden SA · Government combined · U, R-12
4,028 students · ICSEA 1017
Marsden State High School
Waterford West QLD · Government high school · 7-12
3,857 students · ICSEA 943
Bacchus Marsh Grammar
Bacchus Marsh VIC · Independent combined · Prep-12
3,826 students · ICSEA 1115
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best school in Australia?
Reddam House in Woollahra is the highest-ranked high school in Australia on the 2025 Success Index (93.4/100). Reddam House in Woollahra is the highest-ranked primary school (93.4/100). Rankings summarise community advantage and momentum, so always visit a shortlist of schools before deciding.
How many schools are in Australia?
9,755 schools appear in ACARA's 2025 data for Australia, of which 6,811 are government schools.
How are schools in Australia ranked?
Each school receives a Success Index from five ACARA measures (ICSEA, top socio-educational quarter, students per teacher, enrolment growth relative to its council area, and ICSEA trend), as percentiles within its school type nationally. Special schools and schools with fewer than 80 students are not ranked. See the methodology page for weights and limitations.