Top 84 public schools in Canberra (2025)
Government schools across all year levels. Ranked by the Success Index from official ACARA data; 84 schools shown out of all eligible public schools in Canberra.
- Primary Schools
- High 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
- 188Mawson Primary SchoolMawson · Government PrimaryICSEA 1139 · 542 students
- 283Throsby SchoolThrosby · Government PrimaryICSEA 1096 · 316 students
- 383Hughes Primary SchoolHughes · Government PrimaryICSEA 1157 · 457 students
- 481Shirley Smith High SchoolKenny · Government SecondaryICSEA 1078 · 210 students
- 580Curtin Primary SchoolCurtin · Government PrimaryICSEA 1146 · 408 students
- 680Ainslie SchoolBraddon · Government PrimaryICSEA 1130 · 351 students
- 780Lyons Early Childhood SchoolLyons · Government PrimaryICSEA 1116 · 91 students
- 880Majura Primary SchoolWatson · Government PrimaryICSEA 1135 · 675 students
- 979Campbell High SchoolCampbell · Government SecondaryICSEA 1120 · 420 students
- 1079Red Hill Primary SchoolRed Hill · Government PrimaryICSEA 1133 · 720 students
- 1179Campbell Primary SchoolCampbell · Government PrimaryICSEA 1136 · 267 students
- 1278North Ainslie Primary SchoolAinslie · Government PrimaryICSEA 1145 · 527 students
- 1378Garran Primary SchoolGarran · Government PrimaryICSEA 1159 · 676 students
- 1478Turner SchoolTurner · Government PrimaryICSEA 1141 · 318 students
- 1578Forrest Primary SchoolForrest · Government PrimaryICSEA 1145 · 479 students
- 1678Lyneham Primary SchoolLyneham · Government PrimaryICSEA 1135 · 498 students
- 1776Hawker Primary SchoolHawker · Government PrimaryICSEA 1129 · 331 students
- 1876Margaret Hendry SchoolTaylor · Government PrimaryICSEA 1054 · 626 students
- 1976Narrabundah CollegeNarrabundah · Government SecondaryICSEA 1131 · 977 students
- 2076Yarralumla Primary SchoolYarralumla · Government PrimaryICSEA 1142 · 313 students
- 2176Dickson CollegeDickson · Government SecondaryICSEA 1101 · 899 students
- 2275Maribyrnong Primary SchoolKaleen · Government PrimaryICSEA 1100 · 483 students
- 2375Arawang Primary SchoolWaramanga · Government PrimaryICSEA 1113 · 469 students
- 2475Duffy Primary SchoolDuffy · Government PrimaryICSEA 1088 · 374 students
- 2575Franklin SchoolFranklin · Government PrimaryICSEA 1098 · 477 students
- 2675Belconnen High SchoolHawker · Government SecondaryICSEA 1066 · 636 students
- 2774Alfred Deakin High SchoolDeakin · Government SecondaryICSEA 1132 · 881 students
- 2874Hawker CollegeHawker · Government SecondaryICSEA 1073 · 605 students
- 2973Evelyn Scott SchoolDenman Prospect · Government CombinedICSEA 1107 · 717 students
- 3073Southern Cross Early Childhood SchoolScullin · Government PrimaryICSEA 1088 · 115 students
- 3173Aranda Primary SchoolAranda · Government PrimaryICSEA 1159 · 517 students
- 3273Aunty Agnes Shea High SchoolTaylor · Government SecondaryICSEA 1051 · 83 students
- 3373Melba Copland Secondary SchoolMelba · Government SecondaryICSEA 1041 · 953 students
- 3473Weetangera Primary SchoolWeetangera · Government PrimaryICSEA 1117 · 404 students
- 3573Charles Weston SchoolCoombs · Government PrimaryICSEA 1099 · 511 students
- 3673University of Canberra High School KaleenKaleen · Government SecondaryICSEA 1056 · 571 students
- 3773Mount Stromlo High SchoolWaramanga · Government SecondaryICSEA 1085 · 846 students
- 3871Ngunnawal Primary SchoolNgunnawal · Government PrimaryICSEA 1049 · 620 students
- 3971Monash Primary SchoolMonash · Government PrimaryICSEA 1063 · 414 students
- 4071Telopea Park SchoolBarton · Government CombinedICSEA 1153 · 1,586 students
- 4170Farrer Primary SchoolFarrer · Government PrimaryICSEA 1098 · 252 students
- 4270Lyneham High SchoolLyneham · Government SecondaryICSEA 1132 · 1,034 students
- 4369Giralang Primary SchoolGiralang · Government PrimaryICSEA 1070 · 268 students
- 4469University of Canberra Senior Secondary College Lake GinninderraBelconnen · Government SecondaryICSEA 1066 · 781 students
- 4568Canberra High SchoolMacquarie · Government SecondaryICSEA 1100 · 898 students
- 4668Evatt Primary SchoolEvatt · Government PrimaryICSEA 1047 · 281 students
- 4768The Canberra CollegePhillip · Government SecondaryICSEA 1087 · 1,174 students
- 4868Macgregor Primary SchoolMacgregor · Government PrimaryICSEA 1050 · 590 students
- 4968Melrose High SchoolPearce · Government SecondaryICSEA 1079 · 776 students
- 5068Chapman Primary SchoolChapman · Government PrimaryICSEA 1106 · 502 students
- 5167Palmerston District Primary SchoolPalmerston · Government PrimaryICSEA 1077 · 640 students
- 5267Torrens Primary SchoolTorrens · Government PrimaryICSEA 1079 · 394 students
- 5367Fadden Primary SchoolFadden · Government PrimaryICSEA 1076 · 229 students
- 5466Mount Rogers Primary SchoolMelba · Government PrimaryICSEA 1056 · 461 students
- 5566Macquarie Primary SchoolMacquarie · Government PrimaryICSEA 1070 · 291 students
- 5665Erindale CollegeWanniassa · Government SecondaryICSEA 1041 · 871 students
- 5765Wanniassa Hills Primary SchoolWanniassa · Government PrimaryICSEA 1061 · 340 students
- 5864Latham Primary SchoolLatham · Government PrimaryICSEA 1038 · 298 students
- 5963Gowrie Primary SchoolGowrie · Government PrimaryICSEA 1043 · 228 students
- 6062Miles Franklin Primary SchoolEvatt · Government PrimaryICSEA 1077 · 394 students
- 6162Kaleen Primary SchoolKaleen · Government PrimaryICSEA 1075 · 400 students
- 6261Gungahlin CollegeGungahlin · Government SecondaryICSEA 1061 · 1,070 students
- 6360Florey Primary SchoolFlorey · Government PrimaryICSEA 1042 · 397 students
- 6459Neville Bonner Primary SchoolBonner · Government PrimaryICSEA 1058 · 606 students
- 6559Taylor Primary SchoolKambah · Government PrimaryICSEA 1043 · 286 students
- 6658Lanyon High SchoolConder · Government SecondaryICSEA 1005 · 524 students
- 6757Bonython Primary SchoolBonython · Government PrimaryICSEA 1034 · 341 students
- 6856Gold Creek SchoolNicholls · Government CombinedICSEA 1052 · 1,261 students
- 6955Amaroo SchoolAmaroo · Government CombinedICSEA 1070 · 1,638 students
- 7054Fraser Primary SchoolFraser · Government PrimaryICSEA 1042 · 462 students
- 7154Gordon Primary SchoolGordon · Government PrimaryICSEA 1005 · 407 students
- 7253Lake Tuggeranong CollegeGreenway · Government SecondaryICSEA 1023 · 620 students
- 7352Charles Conder Primary SchoolConder · Government PrimaryICSEA 1002 · 431 students
- 7450Calwell Primary SchoolCalwell · Government PrimaryICSEA 1010 · 201 students
- 7547Gilmore Primary SchoolGilmore · Government PrimaryICSEA 981 · 113 students
- 7645Harrison SchoolHarrison · Government CombinedICSEA 1058 · 1,365 students
- 7745Wanniassa SchoolWanniassa · Government CombinedICSEA 991 · 538 students
- 7845Charnwood-Dunlop SchoolCharnwood · Government PrimaryICSEA 987 · 308 students
- 7942Kingsford Smith SchoolHolt · Government CombinedICSEA 991 · 742 students
- 8038Calwell High SchoolCalwell · Government SecondaryICSEA 972 · 371 students
- 8138Theodore Primary SchoolTheodore · Government PrimaryICSEA 974 · 206 students
- 8238Caroline Chisholm SchoolChisholm · Government CombinedICSEA 989 · 571 students
- 8337Richardson Primary SchoolRichardson · Government PrimaryICSEA 952 · 142 students
- 8436Namadgi SchoolKambah · Government CombinedICSEA 978 · 578 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index | ICSEA | Students | Students : teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mawson Primary School Mawson · Primary · K-6 | Government | 88.3 Top 5% | 1139 | 542 | 13.4 |
| 2 | Throsby School Throsby · Primary · K-6 | Government | 83.2 Top 5% | 1096 | 316 | 11.2 |
| 3 | Hughes Primary School Hughes · Primary · K-6 | Government | 82.8 Top 5% | 1157 | 457 | 16.5 |
| 4 | Shirley Smith High School Kenny · Secondary · 7-8 | Government | 81.0 Top 5% | 1078 | 210 | 10.3 |
| 5 | Curtin Primary School Curtin · Primary · K-6 | Government | 80.3 Top 5% | 1146 | 408 | 13.5 |
| 6 | Ainslie School Braddon · Primary · K-6 | Government | 80.1 Top 5% | 1130 | 351 | 13.0 |
| 7 | Lyons Early Childhood School Lyons · Primary · K-2 | Government | 79.7 Top 5% | 1116 | 91 | 7.8 |
| 8 | Majura Primary School Watson · Primary · K-6 | Government | 79.7 Top 5% | 1135 | 675 | 13.3 |
| 9 | Campbell High School Campbell · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 79.4 Top 10% | 1120 | 420 | 11.1 |
| 10 | Red Hill Primary School Red Hill · Primary · K-6 | Government | 79.3 Top 5% | 1133 | 720 | 13.9 |
| 11 | Campbell Primary School Campbell · Primary · K-6 | Government | 79.2 Top 5% | 1136 | 267 | 12.5 |
| 12 | North Ainslie Primary School Ainslie · Primary · K-6 | Government | 78.3 Top 10% | 1145 | 527 | 14.5 |
| 13 | Garran Primary School Garran · Primary · K-6 | Government | 78.2 Top 10% | 1159 | 676 | 18.4 |
| 14 | Turner School Turner · Primary · K-6 | Government | 78.1 Top 10% | 1141 | 318 | 11.8 |
| 15 | Forrest Primary School Forrest · Primary · K-6 | Government | 77.7 Top 10% | 1145 | 479 | 14.8 |
| 16 | Lyneham Primary School Lyneham · Primary · K-6 | Government | 77.6 Top 10% | 1135 | 498 | 17.6 |
| 17 | Hawker Primary School Hawker · Primary · K-6 | Government | 76.2 Top 10% | 1129 | 331 | 14.8 |
| 18 | Margaret Hendry School Taylor · Primary · K-6 | Government | 75.9 Top 10% | 1054 | 626 | 12.7 |
| 19 | Narrabundah College Narrabundah · Secondary · 11-12 | Government | 75.8 Top 25% | 1131 | 977 | 14.7 |
| 20 | Yarralumla Primary School Yarralumla · Primary · K-6 | Government | 75.8 Top 10% | 1142 | 313 | 15.0 |
| 21 | Dickson College Dickson · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 75.6 Top 25% | 1101 | 899 | 14.5 |
| 22 | Maribyrnong Primary School Kaleen · Primary · K-6 | Government | 75.3 Top 10% | 1100 | 483 | 14.0 |
| 23 | Arawang Primary School Waramanga · Primary · K-6 | Government | 75.2 Top 10% | 1113 | 469 | 14.5 |
| 24 | Duffy Primary School Duffy · Primary · K-6 | Government | 75.1 Top 10% | 1088 | 374 | 12.8 |
| 25 | Franklin School Franklin · Primary · K-6 | Government | 75.0 Top 10% | 1098 | 477 | 15.7 |
| 26 | Belconnen High School Hawker · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 74.9 Top 25% | 1066 | 636 | 11.9 |
| 27 | Alfred Deakin High School Deakin · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 73.9 Top 25% | 1132 | 881 | 13.6 |
| 28 | Hawker College Hawker · Secondary · 11-12 | Government | 73.8 Top 25% | 1073 | 605 | 13.3 |
| 29 | Evelyn Scott School Denman Prospect · Combined · K-10 | Government | 73.4 Top 25% | 1107 | 717 | 11.4 |
| 30 | Southern Cross Early Childhood School Scullin · Primary · K-2 | Government | 73.4 Top 25% | 1088 | 115 | 8.8 |
| 31 | Aranda Primary School Aranda · Primary · K-6 | Government | 73.2 Top 25% | 1159 | 517 | 15.6 |
| 32 | Aunty Agnes Shea High School Taylor · Secondary · 7 | Government | 73.1 Top 25% | 1051 | 83 | 6.7 |
| 33 | Melba Copland Secondary School Melba · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 73.1 Top 25% | 1041 | 953 | 11.2 |
| 34 | Weetangera Primary School Weetangera · Primary · K-6 | Government | 73.0 Top 25% | 1117 | 404 | 14.9 |
| 35 | Charles Weston School Coombs · Primary · K-6 | Government | 72.7 Top 25% | 1099 | 511 | 14.0 |
| 36 | University of Canberra High School Kaleen Kaleen · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 72.7 Top 25% | 1056 | 571 | 12.6 |
| 37 | Mount Stromlo High School Waramanga · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 72.6 Top 25% | 1085 | 846 | 13.7 |
| 38 | Ngunnawal Primary School Ngunnawal · Primary · K-6 | Government | 71.3 Top 25% | 1049 | 620 | 11.9 |
| 39 | Monash Primary School Monash · Primary · K-6 | Government | 70.9 Top 25% | 1063 | 414 | 13.2 |
| 40 | Telopea Park School Barton · Combined · K-10 | Government | 70.8 Top 25% | 1153 | 1,586 | 13.5 |
| 41 | Farrer Primary School Farrer · Primary · K-6 | Government | 70.3 Top 25% | 1098 | 252 | 12.4 |
| 42 | Lyneham High School Lyneham · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 69.9 Top 25% | 1132 | 1,034 | 13.5 |
| 43 | Giralang Primary School Giralang · Primary · K-6 | Government | 68.7 Top 25% | 1070 | 268 | 11.8 |
| 44 | University of Canberra Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra Belconnen · Secondary · 11-12 | Government | 68.5 Top 25% | 1066 | 781 | 14.4 |
| 45 | Canberra High School Macquarie · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 68.2 Top 25% | 1100 | 898 | 13.5 |
| 46 | Evatt Primary School Evatt · Primary · K-6 | Government | 68.1 Top 25% | 1047 | 281 | 13.0 |
| 47 | The Canberra College Phillip · Secondary · 11-12 | Government | 68.0 Top 25% | 1087 | 1,174 | 15.5 |
| 48 | Macgregor Primary School Macgregor · Primary · K-6 | Government | 67.8 Top 25% | 1050 | 590 | 14.4 |
| 49 | Melrose High School Pearce · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 67.6 Top 25% | 1079 | 776 | 13.6 |
| 50 | Chapman Primary School Chapman · Primary · K-6 | Government | 67.5 Top 25% | 1106 | 502 | 15.1 |
| 51 | Palmerston District Primary School Palmerston · Primary · K-6 | Government | 67.2 Top 25% | 1077 | 640 | 12.7 |
| 52 | Torrens Primary School Torrens · Primary · K-6 | Government | 66.7 Top 25% | 1079 | 394 | 12.0 |
| 53 | Fadden Primary School Fadden · Primary · K-6 | Government | 66.6 Top 25% | 1076 | 229 | 11.6 |
| 54 | Mount Rogers Primary School Melba · Primary · K-6 | Government | 66.3 Top 25% | 1056 | 461 | 13.6 |
| 55 | Macquarie Primary School Macquarie · Primary · K-6 | Government | 66.2 Top 25% | 1070 | 291 | 13.7 |
| 56 | Erindale College Wanniassa · Secondary · 10-12 | Government | 64.9 Top 50% | 1041 | 871 | 14.0 |
| 57 | Wanniassa Hills Primary School Wanniassa · Primary · K-6 | Government | 64.7 Top 50% | 1061 | 340 | 12.4 |
| 58 | Latham Primary School Latham · Primary · K-6 | Government | 63.7 Top 50% | 1038 | 298 | 9.1 |
| 59 | Gowrie Primary School Gowrie · Primary · K-6 | Government | 63.4 Top 50% | 1043 | 228 | 10.8 |
| 60 | Miles Franklin Primary School Evatt · Primary · K-6 | Government | 62.0 Top 50% | 1077 | 394 | 13.9 |
| 61 | Kaleen Primary School Kaleen · Primary · K-6 | Government | 61.7 Top 50% | 1075 | 400 | 13.7 |
| 62 | Gungahlin College Gungahlin · Secondary · 10-12 | Government | 61.2 Top 50% | 1061 | 1,070 | 13.4 |
| 63 | Florey Primary School Florey · Primary · K-6 | Government | 60.3 Top 50% | 1042 | 397 | 13.4 |
| 64 | Neville Bonner Primary School Bonner · Primary · K-6 | Government | 59.1 Top 50% | 1058 | 606 | 13.8 |
| 65 | Taylor Primary School Kambah · Primary · K-6 | Government | 59.1 Top 50% | 1043 | 286 | 13.1 |
| 66 | Lanyon High School Conder · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 57.5 Top 50% | 1005 | 524 | 12.7 |
| 67 | Bonython Primary School Bonython · Primary · K-6 | Government | 56.6 Top 50% | 1034 | 341 | 13.2 |
| 68 | Gold Creek School Nicholls · Combined · K-10 | Government | 56.3 Top 50% | 1052 | 1,261 | 13.0 |
| 69 | Amaroo School Amaroo · Combined · K-10 | Government | 54.6 Top 50% | 1070 | 1,638 | 13.0 |
| 70 | Fraser Primary School Fraser · Primary · K-6 | Government | 53.9 Top 50% | 1042 | 462 | 14.9 |
| 71 | Gordon Primary School Gordon · Primary · K-6 | Government | 53.7 Top 50% | 1005 | 407 | 11.5 |
| 72 | Lake Tuggeranong College Greenway · Secondary · 11-12 | Government | 52.7 Top 50% | 1023 | 620 | 12.0 |
| 73 | Charles Conder Primary School Conder · Primary · K-6 | Government | 52.3 Top 50% | 1002 | 431 | 13.2 |
| 74 | Calwell Primary School Calwell · Primary · K-6 | Government | 49.5 Top 50% | 1010 | 201 | 12.1 |
| 75 | Gilmore Primary School Gilmore · Primary · K-6 | Government | 47.1 Lower 50% | 981 | 113 | 8.6 |
| 76 | Harrison School Harrison · Combined · K-10 | Government | 45.4 Lower 50% | 1058 | 1,365 | 14.6 |
| 77 | Wanniassa School Wanniassa · Combined · K-10 | Government | 45.4 Lower 50% | 991 | 538 | 10.3 |
| 78 | Charnwood-Dunlop School Charnwood · Primary · K-6 | Government | 45.0 Lower 50% | 987 | 308 | 10.8 |
| 79 | Kingsford Smith School Holt · Combined · K-10 | Government | 41.9 Lower 50% | 991 | 742 | 9.2 |
| 80 | Calwell High School Calwell · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 38.3 Lower 50% | 972 | 371 | 12.0 |
| 81 | Theodore Primary School Theodore · Primary · K-6 | Government | 38.2 Lower 50% | 974 | 206 | 11.3 |
| 82 | Caroline Chisholm School Chisholm · Combined · K-10 | Government | 37.8 Lower 50% | 989 | 571 | 11.1 |
| 83 | Richardson Primary School Richardson · Primary · K-6 | Government | 37.3 Lower 50% | 952 | 142 | 9.4 |
| 84 | Namadgi School Kambah · Combined · K-10 | Government | 35.8 Lower 50% | 978 | 578 | 12.2 |
There are 84 public schools in Canberra eligible for this list; the top 84 are shown. Mawson Primary School in Mawson is ranked first with a Success Index of 88.3 and an ICSEA of 1139. 84 of the top 84 are government schools and 0 are Catholic or independent; the median ICSEA across the list is 1076.
The top 10 public schools in Canberra for 2025 are: 1. Mawson Primary School (Mawson); 2. Throsby School (Throsby); 3. Hughes Primary School (Hughes); 4. Shirley Smith High School (Kenny); 5. Curtin Primary School (Curtin); 6. Ainslie School (Braddon); 7. Lyons Early Childhood School (Lyons); 8. Majura Primary School (Watson); 9. Campbell High School (Campbell); 10. Red Hill Primary School (Red Hill).
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best public school in Canberra?
Mawson Primary School in Mawson ranks first among public schools in Canberra with a Success Index of 88.3 out of 100 and an ICSEA of 1139.
How are public schools in Canberra 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 public schools in Canberra?
84 of the top 84 public schools in Canberra are government schools; 0 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.