Best schools in Central Coast (2025)
The NSW Central Coast. The top five of 109 schools in each category, with links to the full top 100. Rankings use the Success Index, built only from official ACARA data.
Central Coast has 109 schools in ACARA's 2025 data: 77 government (71%), 14 Catholic and 18 independent, together enrolling about 52,810 students. By level there are 67 primary schools, 21 secondary schools and 11 combined (K–12) schools.
The median ICSEA is 1000 (the national benchmark is 1000) and 7 schools, or 6%, have an ICSEA of 1100 or more, which marks a highly advantaged community. The average school has 13.9 students per full-time-equivalent teacher.
Best primary schools in Central Coast
Schools offering primary years (Primary and Combined schools).
Central Coast Grammar School
Erina Heights · Independent combined · K-12
1,561 students · ICSEA 1155
Our Lady Star of The Sea Catholic Primary School
Terrigal · Catholic primary · K-6
605 students · ICSEA 1102
St Philip's Christian College - Gosford
Narara · Independent combined · K-12
694 students · ICSEA 1093
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School
East Gosford · Catholic primary · K-6
384 students · ICSEA 1090
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School
Kincumber · Catholic primary · K-6
285 students · ICSEA 1081
Best high schools in Central Coast
Schools offering secondary years (Secondary and Combined schools).
Central Coast Grammar School
Erina Heights · Independent combined · K-12
1,561 students · ICSEA 1155
Gosford High School
Gosford · Government high school · 7-12
1,067 students · ICSEA 1157
St Joseph's Catholic College
East Gosford · Catholic high school · 7-12
802 students · ICSEA 1075
St Philip's Christian College - Gosford
Narara · Independent combined · K-12
694 students · ICSEA 1093
Green Point Christian College
Green Point · Independent combined · K-12
1,175 students · ICSEA 1106
Best public schools in Central Coast
Government schools across all year levels.
Gosford High School
Gosford · Government high school · 7-12
1,067 students · ICSEA 1157
Pretty Beach Public School
Pretty Beach · Government primary · K-6
154 students · ICSEA 1102
Erina Heights Public School
Erina Heights · Government primary · K-6
254 students · ICSEA 1094
Terrigal Public School
Terrigal · Government primary · K-6
888 students · ICSEA 1078
Kincumber High School
Kincumber · Government high school · 7-12
1,002 students · ICSEA 1045
Best private schools in Central Coast
Independent and Catholic schools across all year levels.
Central Coast Grammar School
Erina Heights · Independent combined · K-12
1,561 students · ICSEA 1155
St Joseph's Catholic College
East Gosford · Catholic high school · 7-12
802 students · ICSEA 1075
Our Lady Star of The Sea Catholic Primary School
Terrigal · Catholic primary · K-6
605 students · ICSEA 1102
St Philip's Christian College - Gosford
Narara · Independent combined · K-12
694 students · ICSEA 1093
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School
East Gosford · Catholic primary · K-6
384 students · ICSEA 1090
Best catholic schools in Central Coast
Catholic systemic and independent Catholic schools.
St Joseph's Catholic College
East Gosford · Catholic high school · 7-12
802 students · ICSEA 1075
Our Lady Star of The Sea Catholic Primary School
Terrigal · Catholic primary · K-6
605 students · ICSEA 1102
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School
East Gosford · Catholic primary · K-6
384 students · ICSEA 1090
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School
Kincumber · Catholic primary · K-6
285 students · ICSEA 1081
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School
Wyoming · Catholic primary · K-6
443 students · ICSEA 1076
Best independent schools in Central Coast
Independent (non-government, non-Catholic-system) schools.
Central Coast Grammar School
Erina Heights · Independent combined · K-12
1,561 students · ICSEA 1155
St Philip's Christian College - Gosford
Narara · Independent combined · K-12
694 students · ICSEA 1093
Green Point Christian College
Green Point · Independent combined · K-12
1,175 students · ICSEA 1106
St Edward's Christian Brothers' College
East Gosford · Independent high school · 7-12
971 students · ICSEA 1068
Central Coast Adventist School
Erina · Independent combined · K-12
1,136 students · ICSEA 1112
Best public primary schools in Central Coast
Government schools offering primary years.
Pretty Beach Public School
Pretty Beach · Government primary · K-6
154 students · ICSEA 1102
Erina Heights Public School
Erina Heights · Government primary · K-6
254 students · ICSEA 1094
Terrigal Public School
Terrigal · Government primary · K-6
888 students · ICSEA 1078
Avoca Beach Public School
Avoca Beach · Government primary · K-6
455 students · ICSEA 1081
Holgate Public School
Holgate · Government primary · K-6
95 students · ICSEA 1047
Best public high schools in Central Coast
Government schools offering secondary years.
Gosford High School
Gosford · Government high school · 7-12
1,067 students · ICSEA 1157
Kincumber High School
Kincumber · Government high school · 7-12
1,002 students · ICSEA 1045
Henry Kendall High School
Gosford · Government high school · 7-12
789 students · ICSEA 1030
Terrigal High School
Terrigal · Government high school · 7-12
847 students · ICSEA 1044
Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College The Entrance Campus
Long Jetty · Government high school · 7-12
756 students · ICSEA 987
Best private primary schools in Central Coast
Independent and Catholic schools offering primary years.
Central Coast Grammar School
Erina Heights · Independent combined · K-12
1,561 students · ICSEA 1155
Our Lady Star of The Sea Catholic Primary School
Terrigal · Catholic primary · K-6
605 students · ICSEA 1102
St Philip's Christian College - Gosford
Narara · Independent combined · K-12
694 students · ICSEA 1093
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School
East Gosford · Catholic primary · K-6
384 students · ICSEA 1090
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School
Kincumber · Catholic primary · K-6
285 students · ICSEA 1081
Best private high schools in Central Coast
Independent and Catholic schools offering secondary years.
Central Coast Grammar School
Erina Heights · Independent combined · K-12
1,561 students · ICSEA 1155
St Joseph's Catholic College
East Gosford · Catholic high school · 7-12
802 students · ICSEA 1075
St Philip's Christian College - Gosford
Narara · Independent combined · K-12
694 students · ICSEA 1093
Green Point Christian College
Green Point · Independent combined · K-12
1,175 students · ICSEA 1106
St Peter's Catholic College
Tuggerah · Catholic high school · 7-12
1,078 students · ICSEA 1045
Best girls' schools in Central Coast
Single-sex schools enrolling girls only (based on ACARA enrolment counts).
Best boys' schools in Central Coast
Single-sex schools enrolling boys only (based on ACARA enrolment counts).
Best K-12 schools in Central Coast
Combined schools offering both primary and secondary years, so a child can stay from Foundation to Year 12.
Central Coast Grammar School
Erina Heights · Independent combined · K-12
1,561 students · ICSEA 1155
St Philip's Christian College - Gosford
Narara · Independent combined · K-12
694 students · ICSEA 1093
Green Point Christian College
Green Point · Independent combined · K-12
1,175 students · ICSEA 1106
Central Coast Adventist School
Erina · Independent combined · K-12
1,136 students · ICSEA 1112
Central Coast Steiner School
Fountaindale · Independent combined · K-11
330 students · ICSEA 1092
Best fastest-growing schools in Central Coast
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.
Central Coast Sports College
Kariong · Independent combined · K-12
990 students · ICSEA 1026
St Brigid's Catholic College
Lake Munmorah · Catholic high school · 7-12
651 students · ICSEA 1006
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School
Wyoming · Catholic primary · K-6
443 students · ICSEA 1076
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School
Shelly Beach · Catholic primary · K-6
606 students · ICSEA 1057
Chittaway Bay Public School
Chittaway Bay · Government primary · K-6
479 students · ICSEA 992
Best schools with the best student–teacher ratio in Central Coast
Schools with 200+ students and the fewest full-time-equivalent students per full-time-equivalent teacher.
Kariong Mountains High School
Kariong · Government high school · 7-12
420 students · ICSEA 968
Brisbane Water Secondary College Woy Woy Campus
Woy Woy · Government high school · 10-12
644 students · ICSEA 974
Northlakes High School
San Remo · Government high school · 7-12
789 students · ICSEA 917
Narara Valley High School
Narara · Government high school · 7-12
629 students · ICSEA 974
Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College The Entrance Campus
Long Jetty · Government high school · 7-12
756 students · ICSEA 987
Best largest schools in Central Coast
Schools with the highest total enrolments.
Central Coast Grammar School
Erina Heights · Independent combined · K-12
1,561 students · ICSEA 1155
MacKillop Catholic College
Woongarrah · Catholic combined · K-12
1,558 students · ICSEA 1042
Wadalba Community School
Wadalba · Government combined · K-12
1,414 students · ICSEA 941
Green Point Christian College
Green Point · Independent combined · K-12
1,175 students · ICSEA 1106
Central Coast Adventist School
Erina · Independent combined · K-12
1,136 students · ICSEA 1112
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best school in Central Coast?
Central Coast Grammar School in Erina Heights is the highest-ranked high school in Central Coast on the 2025 Success Index (77.3/100). Central Coast Grammar School in Erina Heights is the highest-ranked primary school (77.3/100). Rankings summarise community advantage and momentum, so always visit a shortlist of schools before deciding.
How many schools are in Central Coast?
109 schools appear in ACARA's 2025 data for Central Coast, of which 77 are government schools.
How are schools in Central Coast 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.
Which suburbs does the Central Coast ranking cover?
Central Coast is defined by Australian Bureau of Statistics SA4 regions, so it covers the greater metropolitan area rather than the city council alone. Every school page links to its suburb and council pages for finer comparisons.