Best schools in Newcastle (2025)
Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. The top five of 167 schools in each category, with links to the full top 100. Rankings use the Success Index, built only from official ACARA data.
Newcastle has 167 schools in ACARA's 2025 data: 119 government (71%), 30 Catholic and 18 independent, together enrolling about 59,889 students. By level there are 113 primary schools, 25 secondary schools and 13 combined (K–12) schools.
The median ICSEA is 1017 (the national benchmark is 1000) and 21 schools, or 13%, 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 Newcastle
Schools offering primary years (Primary and Combined schools).
Newcastle Grammar School
The Hill · Independent combined · K-12
1,049 students · ICSEA 1181
Islington Public School
Islington · Government primary · K-6
159 students · ICSEA 1090
Hamilton South Public School
Merewether · Government primary · K-6
362 students · ICSEA 1139
Holy Family Primary School
Merewether Beach · Catholic primary · K-6
198 students · ICSEA 1132
St Philip's Christian College - Waratah
Waratah · Independent combined · K-12
1,466 students · ICSEA 1138
Best high schools in Newcastle
Schools offering secondary years (Secondary and Combined schools).
Newcastle Grammar School
The Hill · Independent combined · K-12
1,049 students · ICSEA 1181
St Francis Xavier's College
Hamilton · Catholic high school · 7-12
959 students · ICSEA 1096
Merewether High School
Broadmeadow · Government high school · 7-12
1,080 students · ICSEA 1206
St Philip's Christian College - Waratah
Waratah · Independent combined · K-12
1,466 students · ICSEA 1138
St Mary's Catholic College
Gateshead · Catholic high school · 7-12
989 students · ICSEA 1062
Best public schools in Newcastle
Government schools across all year levels.
Islington Public School
Islington · Government primary · K-6
159 students · ICSEA 1090
Merewether High School
Broadmeadow · Government high school · 7-12
1,080 students · ICSEA 1206
Hamilton South Public School
Merewether · Government primary · K-6
362 students · ICSEA 1139
Tighes Hill Public School
Tighes Hill · Government primary · K-6
358 students · ICSEA 1104
Adamstown Public School
Adamstown · Government primary · K-6
439 students · ICSEA 1078
Best private schools in Newcastle
Independent and Catholic schools across all year levels.
Newcastle Grammar School
The Hill · Independent combined · K-12
1,049 students · ICSEA 1181
St Francis Xavier's College
Hamilton · Catholic high school · 7-12
959 students · ICSEA 1096
Holy Family Primary School
Merewether Beach · Catholic primary · K-6
198 students · ICSEA 1132
St Philip's Christian College - Waratah
Waratah · Independent combined · K-12
1,466 students · ICSEA 1138
St Mary's Catholic College
Gateshead · Catholic high school · 7-12
989 students · ICSEA 1062
Best catholic schools in Newcastle
Catholic systemic and independent Catholic schools.
St Francis Xavier's College
Hamilton · Catholic high school · 7-12
959 students · ICSEA 1096
Holy Family Primary School
Merewether Beach · Catholic primary · K-6
198 students · ICSEA 1132
St Mary's Catholic College
Gateshead · Catholic high school · 7-12
989 students · ICSEA 1062
St Kevin's Primary School
Cardiff · Catholic primary · K-6
130 students · ICSEA 1071
St Patrick's Primary School
Wallsend · Catholic primary · K-6
323 students · ICSEA 1076
Best independent schools in Newcastle
Independent (non-government, non-Catholic-system) schools.
Newcastle Grammar School
The Hill · Independent combined · K-12
1,049 students · ICSEA 1181
St Philip's Christian College - Waratah
Waratah · Independent combined · K-12
1,466 students · ICSEA 1138
Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College
Fletcher · Independent combined · K-12
860 students · ICSEA 1085
Belmont Christian College
Belmont North · Independent combined · K-12
907 students · ICSEA 1091
Newcastle Waldorf School
Glendale · Independent combined · K-12
237 students · ICSEA 1072
Best public primary schools in Newcastle
Government schools offering primary years.
Islington Public School
Islington · Government primary · K-6
159 students · ICSEA 1090
Hamilton South Public School
Merewether · Government primary · K-6
362 students · ICSEA 1139
Tighes Hill Public School
Tighes Hill · Government primary · K-6
358 students · ICSEA 1104
Adamstown Public School
Adamstown · Government primary · K-6
439 students · ICSEA 1078
Hamilton Public School
Hamilton · Government primary · K-6
306 students · ICSEA 1106
Best public high schools in Newcastle
Government schools offering secondary years.
Merewether High School
Broadmeadow · Government high school · 7-12
1,080 students · ICSEA 1206
Kotara High School
Adamstown · Government high school · 7-12
1,130 students · ICSEA 1066
Lambton High School
Lambton · Government high school · 7-12
1,176 students · ICSEA 1057
Warners Bay High School
Warners Bay · Government high school · 7-12
1,161 students · ICSEA 1056
Newcastle High School
Hamilton · Government high school · 7-12
1,072 students · ICSEA 1027
Best private primary schools in Newcastle
Independent and Catholic schools offering primary years.
Newcastle Grammar School
The Hill · Independent combined · K-12
1,049 students · ICSEA 1181
Holy Family Primary School
Merewether Beach · Catholic primary · K-6
198 students · ICSEA 1132
St Philip's Christian College - Waratah
Waratah · Independent combined · K-12
1,466 students · ICSEA 1138
St Kevin's Primary School
Cardiff · Catholic primary · K-6
130 students · ICSEA 1071
St Patrick's Primary School
Wallsend · Catholic primary · K-6
323 students · ICSEA 1076
Best private high schools in Newcastle
Independent and Catholic schools offering secondary years.
Newcastle Grammar School
The Hill · Independent combined · K-12
1,049 students · ICSEA 1181
St Francis Xavier's College
Hamilton · Catholic high school · 7-12
959 students · ICSEA 1096
St Philip's Christian College - Waratah
Waratah · Independent combined · K-12
1,466 students · ICSEA 1138
St Mary's Catholic College
Gateshead · Catholic high school · 7-12
989 students · ICSEA 1062
Trinity Catholic College
Adamstown · Catholic high school · 7-11
849 students · ICSEA 1090
Best K-12 schools in Newcastle
Combined schools offering both primary and secondary years, so a child can stay from Foundation to Year 12.
Newcastle Grammar School
The Hill · Independent combined · K-12
1,049 students · ICSEA 1181
St Philip's Christian College - Waratah
Waratah · Independent combined · K-12
1,466 students · ICSEA 1138
Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College
Fletcher · Independent combined · K-12
860 students · ICSEA 1085
Belmont Christian College
Belmont North · Independent combined · K-12
907 students · ICSEA 1091
Newcastle Waldorf School
Glendale · Independent combined · K-12
237 students · ICSEA 1072
Best fastest-growing schools in Newcastle
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.
Heritage College Lake Macquarie
Morisset · Independent combined · K-12
511 students · ICSEA 1002
Speers Point Public School
Speers Point · Government primary · K-6
256 students · ICSEA 1000
St Joseph's Primary School
Charlestown · Catholic primary · K-6
361 students · ICSEA 1102
Belmont Christian College
Belmont North · Independent combined · K-12
907 students · ICSEA 1091
Adamstown Public School
Adamstown · Government primary · K-6
439 students · ICSEA 1078
Best schools with the best student–teacher ratio in Newcastle
Schools with 200+ students and the fewest full-time-equivalent students per full-time-equivalent teacher.
Lake Macquarie High School
Booragul · Government high school · 7-12
435 students · ICSEA 925
St Paul's Catholic College
Booragul · Catholic high school · 7-12
636 students · ICSEA 1026
Callaghan College Jesmond Senior Campus
Jesmond · Government high school · 11-12
659 students · ICSEA 980
Woodberry Public School
Woodberry · Government primary · K-6
221 students · ICSEA 817
Shortland Public School
Shortland · Government primary · K-6
271 students · ICSEA 926
Best largest schools in Newcastle
Schools with the highest total enrolments.
St Philip's Christian College - Waratah
Waratah · Independent combined · K-12
1,466 students · ICSEA 1138
Lambton High School
Lambton · Government high school · 7-12
1,176 students · ICSEA 1057
Warners Bay High School
Warners Bay · Government high school · 7-12
1,161 students · ICSEA 1056
Kotara High School
Adamstown · Government high school · 7-12
1,130 students · ICSEA 1066
Hunter School of Performing Arts
Broadmeadow · Government combined · K-12
1,094 students · ICSEA 1085
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best school in Newcastle?
Newcastle Grammar School in The Hill is the highest-ranked high school in Newcastle on the 2025 Success Index (87.8/100). Newcastle Grammar School in The Hill is the highest-ranked primary school (87.8/100). Rankings summarise community advantage and momentum, so always visit a shortlist of schools before deciding.
How many schools are in Newcastle?
167 schools appear in ACARA's 2025 data for Newcastle, of which 119 are government schools.
How are schools in Newcastle 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 Newcastle ranking cover?
Newcastle 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.