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Best schools in Melbourne (2025)

Greater Melbourne, including the inner suburbs, the growth corridors and the Mornington Peninsula. The top five of 1,425 schools in each category, with links to the full top 100. Rankings use the Success Index, built only from official ACARA data.

Melbourne has 1,425 schools in ACARA's 2025 data: 940 government (66%), 311 Catholic and 174 independent, together enrolling about 816,029 students. By level there are 934 primary schools, 244 secondary schools and 157 combined (K–12) schools.

The median ICSEA is 1057 (the national benchmark is 1000) and 425 schools, or 30%, have an ICSEA of 1100 or more, which marks a highly advantaged community. The average school has 12.4 students per full-time-equivalent teacher.

Best primary schools in Melbourne

Schools offering primary years (Primary and Combined schools).

1
92.3

Brunswick South Primary School

Brunswick East · Government primary · Prep-6

317 students · ICSEA 1171

2
92.2

Newlands Primary School

Preston · Government primary · Prep-6

437 students · ICSEA 1146

3
91.2

South Melbourne Primary School

Southbank · Government primary · Prep-6

502 students · ICSEA 1144

4
90.2

Lauriston Girls' School

Armadale · Independent combined · Prep-12

935 students · ICSEA 1199

5
90.1

Presbyterian Ladies' College

Burwood · Independent combined · Prep-12

1,530 students · ICSEA 1207

Top 100 primary schools in Melbourne →

Best high schools in Melbourne

Schools offering secondary years (Secondary and Combined schools).

1
90.2

Lauriston Girls' School

Armadale · Independent combined · Prep-12

935 students · ICSEA 1199

2
90.1

Presbyterian Ladies' College

Burwood · Independent combined · Prep-12

1,530 students · ICSEA 1207

3
90.0

Fintona Girls' School

Balwyn · Independent combined · Prep-12

533 students · ICSEA 1191

4
89.3

St Michael's Grammar School

St Kilda · Independent combined · Prep-12

1,143 students · ICSEA 1180

5
89.2

Huntingtower School

Mount Waverley · Independent combined · Prep-12

785 students · ICSEA 1201

Top 100 high schools in Melbourne →

Best public schools in Melbourne

Government schools across all year levels.

1
92.3

Brunswick South Primary School

Brunswick East · Government primary · Prep-6

317 students · ICSEA 1171

2
92.2

Newlands Primary School

Preston · Government primary · Prep-6

437 students · ICSEA 1146

3
91.2

South Melbourne Primary School

Southbank · Government primary · Prep-6

502 students · ICSEA 1144

4
88.8

Murrumbeena Primary School

Murrumbeena · Government primary · Prep-6

555 students · ICSEA 1161

5
88.7

Preston South Primary School

Preston · Government primary · Prep-6

397 students · ICSEA 1127

Top 100 public schools in Melbourne →

Best private schools in Melbourne

Independent and Catholic schools across all year levels.

1
90.2

Lauriston Girls' School

Armadale · Independent combined · Prep-12

935 students · ICSEA 1199

2
90.1

Presbyterian Ladies' College

Burwood · Independent combined · Prep-12

1,530 students · ICSEA 1207

3
90.0

Fintona Girls' School

Balwyn · Independent combined · Prep-12

533 students · ICSEA 1191

4
89.3

St Michael's Grammar School

St Kilda · Independent combined · Prep-12

1,143 students · ICSEA 1180

5
89.2

Huntingtower School

Mount Waverley · Independent combined · Prep-12

785 students · ICSEA 1201

Top 100 private schools in Melbourne →

Best catholic schools in Melbourne

Catholic systemic and independent Catholic schools.

1
88.9

St John's School

Footscray · Catholic primary · Prep-6

227 students · ICSEA 1136

2
88.3

Our Holy Redeemer School

Surrey Hills · Catholic primary · Prep-6

198 students · ICSEA 1180

3
87.1

St Kevin's College

Toorak · Catholic combined · Prep-12

2,087 students · ICSEA 1192

4
86.4

St Francis Xavier Primary School

Montmorency · Catholic primary · Prep-6

382 students · ICSEA 1122

5
85.5

St Mary's School

Malvern East · Catholic primary · Prep-6

192 students · ICSEA 1158

Top 100 catholic schools in Melbourne →

Best independent schools in Melbourne

Independent (non-government, non-Catholic-system) schools.

1
90.2

Lauriston Girls' School

Armadale · Independent combined · Prep-12

935 students · ICSEA 1199

2
90.1

Presbyterian Ladies' College

Burwood · Independent combined · Prep-12

1,530 students · ICSEA 1207

3
90.0

Fintona Girls' School

Balwyn · Independent combined · Prep-12

533 students · ICSEA 1191

4
89.3

St Michael's Grammar School

St Kilda · Independent combined · Prep-12

1,143 students · ICSEA 1180

5
89.2

Huntingtower School

Mount Waverley · Independent combined · Prep-12

785 students · ICSEA 1201

Top 100 independent schools in Melbourne →

Best public primary schools in Melbourne

Government schools offering primary years.

1
92.3

Brunswick South Primary School

Brunswick East · Government primary · Prep-6

317 students · ICSEA 1171

2
92.2

Newlands Primary School

Preston · Government primary · Prep-6

437 students · ICSEA 1146

3
91.2

South Melbourne Primary School

Southbank · Government primary · Prep-6

502 students · ICSEA 1144

4
88.8

Murrumbeena Primary School

Murrumbeena · Government primary · Prep-6

555 students · ICSEA 1161

5
88.7

Preston South Primary School

Preston · Government primary · Prep-6

397 students · ICSEA 1127

Top 100 public primary schools in Melbourne →

Best public high schools in Melbourne

Government schools offering secondary years.

1
87.3

Port Melbourne Secondary College

Port Melbourne · Government high school · 7-10

416 students · ICSEA 1101

2
85.7

Beaumaris Secondary College

Beaumaris · Government high school · 7-12

893 students · ICSEA 1113

3
85.7

Centre for Higher Education Studies

South Yarra · Government high school · 10-12

468 students · ICSEA 1079

4
85.4

Sandringham College

Sandringham · Government high school · 7-12

1,079 students · ICSEA 1106

5
84.8

Balwyn High School

Balwyn North · Government high school · 7-12

2,260 students · ICSEA 1141

Top 100 public high schools in Melbourne →

Best private primary schools in Melbourne

Independent and Catholic schools offering primary years.

1
90.2

Lauriston Girls' School

Armadale · Independent combined · Prep-12

935 students · ICSEA 1199

2
90.1

Presbyterian Ladies' College

Burwood · Independent combined · Prep-12

1,530 students · ICSEA 1207

3
90.0

Fintona Girls' School

Balwyn · Independent combined · Prep-12

533 students · ICSEA 1191

4
89.3

St Michael's Grammar School

St Kilda · Independent combined · Prep-12

1,143 students · ICSEA 1180

5
89.2

Huntingtower School

Mount Waverley · Independent combined · Prep-12

785 students · ICSEA 1201

Top 100 private primary schools in Melbourne →

Best private high schools in Melbourne

Independent and Catholic schools offering secondary years.

1
90.2

Lauriston Girls' School

Armadale · Independent combined · Prep-12

935 students · ICSEA 1199

2
90.1

Presbyterian Ladies' College

Burwood · Independent combined · Prep-12

1,530 students · ICSEA 1207

3
90.0

Fintona Girls' School

Balwyn · Independent combined · Prep-12

533 students · ICSEA 1191

4
89.3

St Michael's Grammar School

St Kilda · Independent combined · Prep-12

1,143 students · ICSEA 1180

5
89.2

Huntingtower School

Mount Waverley · Independent combined · Prep-12

785 students · ICSEA 1201

Top 100 private high schools in Melbourne →

Best girls' schools in Melbourne

Single-sex schools enrolling girls only (based on ACARA enrolment counts).

1
90.2

Lauriston Girls' School

Armadale · Independent combined · Prep-12

935 students · ICSEA 1199

2
89.1

Melbourne Girls Grammar

South Yarra · Independent combined · Prep-12

1,046 students · ICSEA 1181

3
88.9

St Catherine's School

Toorak · Independent combined · Prep-12

685 students · ICSEA 1175

4
85.7

Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School

Ivanhoe · Independent combined · Prep-12

850 students · ICSEA 1181

5
83.8

Korowa Anglican Girls' School

Glen Iris · Independent combined · Prep-12

774 students · ICSEA 1183

Top 100 girls' schools in Melbourne →

Best boys' schools in Melbourne

Single-sex schools enrolling boys only (based on ACARA enrolment counts).

1
88.1

Camberwell Grammar School

Canterbury · Independent combined · Prep-12

1,346 students · ICSEA 1192

2
87.1

St Kevin's College

Toorak · Catholic combined · Prep-12

2,087 students · ICSEA 1192

3
84.1

Scotch College

Hawthorn · Independent combined · Prep-12

1,957 students · ICSEA 1188

4
83.6

Melbourne High School

South Yarra · Government high school · 9-12

1,402 students · ICSEA 1195

5
83.5

Whitefriars College

Donvale · Catholic high school · 7-12

1,055 students · ICSEA 1112

Top 100 boys' schools in Melbourne →

Best K-12 schools in Melbourne

Combined schools offering both primary and secondary years, so a child can stay from Foundation to Year 12.

1
90.2

Lauriston Girls' School

Armadale · Independent combined · Prep-12

935 students · ICSEA 1199

2
90.1

Presbyterian Ladies' College

Burwood · Independent combined · Prep-12

1,530 students · ICSEA 1207

3
90.0

Fintona Girls' School

Balwyn · Independent combined · Prep-12

533 students · ICSEA 1191

4
89.3

St Michael's Grammar School

St Kilda · Independent combined · Prep-12

1,143 students · ICSEA 1180

5
89.2

Huntingtower School

Mount Waverley · Independent combined · Prep-12

785 students · ICSEA 1201

Top 100 K-12 schools in Melbourne →

Best VCE schools by median study score in Melbourne

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.

1
83.6

MacRobertson Girls High School

Melbourne · Government high school · 9-12

1,195 students · ICSEA 1186

2
77.7

Nossal High School

Berwick · Government high school · 9-12

825 students · ICSEA 1155

3
86.3

Ruyton Girls' School

Kew · Independent combined · Prep-12

854 students · ICSEA 1198

4
89.1

Melbourne Girls Grammar

South Yarra · Independent combined · Prep-12

1,046 students · ICSEA 1181

5
83.6

Melbourne High School

South Yarra · Government high school · 9-12

1,402 students · ICSEA 1195

Top 100 VCE schools by median study score in Melbourne →

Best VCE schools by study scores of 40+ in Melbourne

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.

1
83.6

MacRobertson Girls High School

Melbourne · Government high school · 9-12

1,195 students · ICSEA 1186

2
77.7

Nossal High School

Berwick · Government high school · 9-12

825 students · ICSEA 1155

3
86.3

Ruyton Girls' School

Kew · Independent combined · Prep-12

854 students · ICSEA 1198

4
89.1

Melbourne Girls Grammar

South Yarra · Independent combined · Prep-12

1,046 students · ICSEA 1181

5
83.6

Melbourne High School

South Yarra · Government high school · 9-12

1,402 students · ICSEA 1195

Top 100 VCE schools by study scores of 40+ in Melbourne →

Best fastest-growing schools in Melbourne

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.

1
36.6

Elevation Secondary College

Craigieburn · Government high school · 7-12

1,177 students · ICSEA 962

2
65.2

Riverwalk Primary School

Werribee · Government primary · Prep-6

917 students · ICSEA 1050

3
62.9

Grayling Primary School

Clyde North · Government primary · Prep-6

695 students · ICSEA 1042

4
81.8

Preston High School

Preston · Government high school · 7-12

1,275 students · ICSEA 1104

5
76.6

Homestead Senior Secondary College

Point Cook · Government high school · 10-12

531 students · ICSEA 1070

Top 100 fastest-growing schools in Melbourne →

Best schools with the best student–teacher ratio in Melbourne

Schools with 200+ students and the fewest full-time-equivalent students per full-time-equivalent teacher.

1
80.0

Preshil, The Margaret Lyttle Memorial School

Kew · Independent combined · Prep-12

200 students · ICSEA 1154

2
74.9

Woodleigh School

Langwarrin South · Independent combined · Prep-12

897 students · ICSEA 1116

3
90.2

Lauriston Girls' School

Armadale · Independent combined · Prep-12

935 students · ICSEA 1199

4
71.1

Genazzano FCJ College

Kew · Catholic combined · Prep-12

680 students · ICSEA 1127

5
90.1

Presbyterian Ladies' College

Burwood · Independent combined · Prep-12

1,530 students · ICSEA 1207

Top 100 schools with the best student–teacher ratio in Melbourne →

Best largest schools in Melbourne

Schools with the highest total enrolments.

1
83.7

Haileybury College

Keysborough · Independent combined · Prep-12

4,880 students · ICSEA 1191

2
74.1

Bacchus Marsh Grammar

Bacchus Marsh · Independent combined · Prep-12

3,826 students · ICSEA 1115

3
87.8

Caulfield Grammar School

St Kilda East · Independent combined · Prep-12

3,555 students · ICSEA 1157

4
68.9

Alamanda K-9 College

Point Cook · Government combined · Prep-9

3,335 students · ICSEA 1141

5
66.0

Sirius College

Broadmeadows · Independent combined · Prep-12

3,284 students · ICSEA 1088

Top 100 largest schools in Melbourne →

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best school in Melbourne?

Lauriston Girls' School in Armadale is the highest-ranked high school in Melbourne on the 2025 Success Index (90.2/100). Brunswick South Primary School in Brunswick East is the highest-ranked primary school (92.3/100). Rankings summarise community advantage and momentum, so always visit a shortlist of schools before deciding.

How many schools are in Melbourne?

1,425 schools appear in ACARA's 2025 data for Melbourne, of which 940 are government schools.

How are schools in Melbourne 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 Melbourne ranking cover?

Melbourne 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.