Best schools in Gold Coast (2025)
The Gold Coast region. The top five of 116 schools in each category, with links to the full top 100. Rankings use the Success Index, built only from official ACARA data.
Gold Coast has 116 schools in ACARA's 2025 data: 76 government (66%), 16 Catholic and 24 independent, together enrolling about 103,213 students. By level there are 64 primary schools, 21 secondary schools and 22 combined (K–12) schools.
The median ICSEA is 1036 (the national benchmark is 1000) and 10 schools, or 9%, have an ICSEA of 1100 or more, which marks a highly advantaged community. The average school has 13.4 students per full-time-equivalent teacher.
Best primary schools in Gold Coast
Schools offering primary years (Primary and Combined schools).
St Hilda's School
Southport · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,258 students · ICSEA 1135
Benowa State School
Benowa · Government primary · Prep-6
894 students · ICSEA 1089
The Southport School
Southport · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,621 students · ICSEA 1118
Somerset College
Mudgeeraba · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,612 students · ICSEA 1157
Broadbeach State School
Broadbeach · Government primary · Prep-6
1,204 students · ICSEA 1082
Best high schools in Gold Coast
Schools offering secondary years (Secondary and Combined schools).
Queensland Academy for Health Sciences
Southport · Government high school · 10-12
468 students · ICSEA 1109
St Hilda's School
Southport · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,258 students · ICSEA 1135
The Southport School
Southport · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,621 students · ICSEA 1118
Somerset College
Mudgeeraba · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,612 students · ICSEA 1157
All Saints Anglican School
Merrimac · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,828 students · ICSEA 1137
Best public schools in Gold Coast
Government schools across all year levels.
Queensland Academy for Health Sciences
Southport · Government high school · 10-12
468 students · ICSEA 1109
Benowa State School
Benowa · Government primary · Prep-6
894 students · ICSEA 1089
Broadbeach State School
Broadbeach · Government primary · Prep-6
1,204 students · ICSEA 1082
Tallebudgera State School
Tallebudgera · Government primary · Prep-6
751 students · ICSEA 1074
Currumbin Valley State School
Currumbin Valley · Government primary · Prep-6
136 students · ICSEA 1078
Best private schools in Gold Coast
Independent and Catholic schools across all year levels.
St Hilda's School
Southport · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,258 students · ICSEA 1135
The Southport School
Southport · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,621 students · ICSEA 1118
Somerset College
Mudgeeraba · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,612 students · ICSEA 1157
All Saints Anglican School
Merrimac · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,828 students · ICSEA 1137
A B Paterson College
Arundel · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,652 students · ICSEA 1123
Best catholic schools in Gold Coast
Catholic systemic and independent Catholic schools.
St Augustine's Parish Primary School
Currumbin Waters · Catholic primary · Prep-6
482 students · ICSEA 1086
Marymount College
Burleigh Waters · Catholic high school · 7-12
1,262 students · ICSEA 1073
St Francis Xavier School
Runaway Bay · Catholic primary · Prep-6
665 students · ICSEA 1076
Marymount Primary School
Burleigh Waters · Catholic primary · Prep-6
1,020 students · ICSEA 1085
St Vincent's Primary School
Clear Island Waters · Catholic primary · Prep-6
794 students · ICSEA 1091
Best independent schools in Gold Coast
Independent (non-government, non-Catholic-system) schools.
St Hilda's School
Southport · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,258 students · ICSEA 1135
The Southport School
Southport · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,621 students · ICSEA 1118
Somerset College
Mudgeeraba · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,612 students · ICSEA 1157
All Saints Anglican School
Merrimac · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,828 students · ICSEA 1137
A B Paterson College
Arundel · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,652 students · ICSEA 1123
Best public primary schools in Gold Coast
Government schools offering primary years.
Benowa State School
Benowa · Government primary · Prep-6
894 students · ICSEA 1089
Broadbeach State School
Broadbeach · Government primary · Prep-6
1,204 students · ICSEA 1082
Tallebudgera State School
Tallebudgera · Government primary · Prep-6
751 students · ICSEA 1074
Currumbin Valley State School
Currumbin Valley · Government primary · Prep-6
136 students · ICSEA 1078
Palm Beach State School
Palm Beach · Government primary · Prep-6
894 students · ICSEA 1059
Best public high schools in Gold Coast
Government schools offering secondary years.
Queensland Academy for Health Sciences
Southport · Government high school · 10-12
468 students · ICSEA 1109
Benowa State High School
Benowa · Government high school · 7-12
2,129 students · ICSEA 1064
Robina State High School
Robina · Government high school · 7-12
1,530 students · ICSEA 1026
Elanora State High School
Elanora · Government high school · 7-12
949 students · ICSEA 1023
Miami State High School
Miami · Government high school · 7-12
1,542 students · ICSEA 1032
Best private primary schools in Gold Coast
Independent and Catholic schools offering primary years.
St Hilda's School
Southport · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,258 students · ICSEA 1135
The Southport School
Southport · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,621 students · ICSEA 1118
Somerset College
Mudgeeraba · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,612 students · ICSEA 1157
All Saints Anglican School
Merrimac · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,828 students · ICSEA 1137
A B Paterson College
Arundel · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,652 students · ICSEA 1123
Best private high schools in Gold Coast
Independent and Catholic schools offering secondary years.
St Hilda's School
Southport · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,258 students · ICSEA 1135
The Southport School
Southport · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,621 students · ICSEA 1118
Somerset College
Mudgeeraba · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,612 students · ICSEA 1157
All Saints Anglican School
Merrimac · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,828 students · ICSEA 1137
A B Paterson College
Arundel · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,652 students · ICSEA 1123
Best girls' schools in Gold Coast
Single-sex schools enrolling girls only (based on ACARA enrolment counts).
Best boys' schools in Gold Coast
Single-sex schools enrolling boys only (based on ACARA enrolment counts).
Best K-12 schools in Gold Coast
Combined schools offering both primary and secondary years, so a child can stay from Foundation to Year 12.
St Hilda's School
Southport · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,258 students · ICSEA 1135
The Southport School
Southport · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,621 students · ICSEA 1118
Somerset College
Mudgeeraba · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,612 students · ICSEA 1157
All Saints Anglican School
Merrimac · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,828 students · ICSEA 1137
A B Paterson College
Arundel · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,652 students · ICSEA 1123
Best fastest-growing schools in Gold 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.
Foxwell State Secondary College
Coomera · Government high school · 7-12
1,123 students · ICSEA 997
St Joseph's College
Coomera · Catholic combined · Prep-12
1,299 students · ICSEA 1039
King's Christian College
Reedy Creek · Independent combined · Prep-12
5,166 students · ICSEA 1074
Hillcrest Christian College
Reedy Creek · Independent combined · Prep-12
2,055 students · ICSEA 1104
Coolangatta State School
Coolangatta · Government primary · Prep-6
285 students · ICSEA 989
Best schools with the best student–teacher ratio in Gold Coast
Schools with 200+ students and the fewest full-time-equivalent students per full-time-equivalent teacher.
Coomera State School
Coomera · Government primary · Prep-6
368 students · ICSEA 1004
Queensland Academy for Health Sciences
Southport · Government high school · 10-12
468 students · ICSEA 1109
Gold Coast Christian College
Reedy Creek · Independent combined · Prep-12
237 students · ICSEA 1066
The Southport School
Southport · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,621 students · ICSEA 1118
Merrimac State High School
Mermaid Waters · Government high school · 7-12
930 students · ICSEA 1029
Best largest schools in Gold Coast
Schools with the highest total enrolments.
King's Christian College
Reedy Creek · Independent combined · Prep-12
5,166 students · ICSEA 1074
Varsity College
Varsity Lakes · Government combined · Prep-12
3,304 students · ICSEA 1065
Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School
Palm Beach · Government high school · 7-12
2,819 students · ICSEA 1022
Southport State High School
Southport · Government high school · 7-12
2,231 students · ICSEA 1031
Pacific Pines State High School
Pacific Pines · Government high school · 7-12
2,193 students · ICSEA 1009
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best school in Gold Coast?
Queensland Academy for Health Sciences in Southport is the highest-ranked high school in Gold Coast on the 2025 Success Index (83.6/100). St Hilda's School in Southport is the highest-ranked primary school (73.9/100). Rankings summarise community advantage and momentum, so always visit a shortlist of schools before deciding.
How many schools are in Gold Coast?
116 schools appear in ACARA's 2025 data for Gold Coast, of which 76 are government schools.
How are schools in Gold 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 Gold Coast ranking cover?
Gold 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.