Top 36 high schools in Newcastle (2025)
Schools offering secondary years (Secondary and Combined schools). Ranked by the Success Index from official ACARA data; 36 schools shown out of all eligible high schools in Newcastle.
- Primary Schools
- Public 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
- 188Newcastle Grammar SchoolThe Hill · Independent CombinedICSEA 1181 · 1,049 students
- 285St Francis Xavier's CollegeHamilton · Catholic SecondaryICSEA 1096 · 959 students
- 375Merewether High SchoolBroadmeadow · Government SecondaryICSEA 1206 · 1,080 students
- 474St Philip's Christian College - WaratahWaratah · Independent CombinedICSEA 1138 · 1,466 students
- 573St Mary's Catholic CollegeGateshead · Catholic SecondaryICSEA 1062 · 989 students
- 670Trinity Catholic CollegeAdamstown · Catholic SecondaryICSEA 1090 · 849 students
- 767Bishop Tyrrell Anglican CollegeFletcher · Independent CombinedICSEA 1085 · 860 students
- 867Kotara High SchoolAdamstown · Government SecondaryICSEA 1066 · 1,130 students
- 967Lambton High SchoolLambton · Government SecondaryICSEA 1057 · 1,176 students
- 1066Belmont Christian CollegeBelmont North · Independent CombinedICSEA 1091 · 907 students
- 1166San Clemente Catholic CollegeMayfield · Catholic SecondaryICSEA 1038 · 605 students
- 1262Warners Bay High SchoolWarners Bay · Government SecondaryICSEA 1056 · 1,161 students
- 1361Newcastle Waldorf SchoolGlendale · Independent CombinedICSEA 1072 · 237 students
- 1461Newcastle High SchoolHamilton · Government SecondaryICSEA 1027 · 1,072 students
- 1559Macquarie CollegeWallsend · Independent CombinedICSEA 1110 · 1,060 students
- 1659St Paul's Catholic CollegeBooragul · Catholic SecondaryICSEA 1026 · 636 students
- 1758Hunter School of Performing ArtsBroadmeadow · Government CombinedICSEA 1085 · 1,094 students
- 1857Hunter Christian SchoolMayfield · Independent CombinedICSEA 1061 · 337 students
- 1955Whitebridge High SchoolWhitebridge · Government SecondaryICSEA 1022 · 915 students
- 2052Cardiff High SchoolCardiff · Government SecondaryICSEA 986 · 778 students
- 2152Callaghan College Jesmond Senior CampusJesmond · Government SecondaryICSEA 980 · 659 students
- 2252Charlton Christian CollegeFassifern · Independent CombinedICSEA 1063 · 831 students
- 2348Avondale SchoolCooranbong · Independent CombinedICSEA 1055 · 977 students
- 2447Hunter Sports High SchoolGateshead · Government SecondaryICSEA 955 · 941 students
- 2546Brightwaters Christian CollegeBrightwaters · Independent CombinedICSEA 1001 · 106 students
- 2646Belmont High SchoolBelmont · Government SecondaryICSEA 973 · 812 students
- 2746Swansea High SchoolCaves Beach · Government SecondaryICSEA 972 · 710 students
- 2843Callaghan College Waratah CampusWaratah · Government SecondaryICSEA 957 · 848 students
- 2941Lake Macquarie High SchoolBooragul · Government SecondaryICSEA 925 · 435 students
- 3040Heritage College Lake MacquarieMorisset · Independent CombinedICSEA 1002 · 511 students
- 3138Toronto High SchoolToronto · Government SecondaryICSEA 961 · 952 students
- 3238Glendale Technology High SchoolGlendale · Government SecondaryICSEA 946 · 802 students
- 3335West Wallsend High SchoolWest Wallsend · Government SecondaryICSEA 940 · 632 students
- 3434Callaghan College Wallsend CampusWallsend · Government SecondaryICSEA 952 · 890 students
- 3530Morisset High SchoolMorisset · Government SecondaryICSEA 929 · 687 students
- 3625Francis Greenway High SchoolBeresfield · Government SecondaryICSEA 912 · 742 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index | ICSEA | Students | Students : teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newcastle Grammar School The Hill · Combined · K-12 | Independent | 87.8 Top 5% | 1181 | 1,049 | 10.7 |
| 2 | St Francis Xavier's College Hamilton · Secondary · 7-12 | Catholic | 84.6 Top 5% | 1096 | 959 | 10.5 |
| 3 | Merewether High School Broadmeadow · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 75.1 Top 25% | 1206 | 1,080 | 14.8 |
| 4 | St Philip's Christian College - Waratah Waratah · Combined · K-12 | Independent | 74.4 Top 25% | 1138 | 1,466 | 12.9 |
| 5 | St Mary's Catholic College Gateshead · Secondary · 7-12 | Catholic | 73.0 Top 25% | 1062 | 989 | 12.0 |
| 6 | Trinity Catholic College Adamstown · Secondary · 7-11 | Catholic | 69.6 Top 25% | 1090 | 849 | 11.6 |
| 7 | Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College Fletcher · Combined · K-12 | Independent | 67.4 Top 25% | 1085 | 860 | 13.0 |
| 8 | Kotara High School Adamstown · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 67.4 Top 25% | 1066 | 1,130 | 13.2 |
| 9 | Lambton High School Lambton · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 67.1 Top 25% | 1057 | 1,176 | 13.0 |
| 10 | Belmont Christian College Belmont North · Combined · K-12 | Independent | 65.8 Top 25% | 1091 | 907 | 12.9 |
| 11 | San Clemente Catholic College Mayfield · Secondary · 7-10 | Catholic | 65.5 Top 50% | 1038 | 605 | 11.3 |
| 12 | Warners Bay High School Warners Bay · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 62.1 Top 50% | 1056 | 1,161 | 14.0 |
| 13 | Newcastle Waldorf School Glendale · Combined · K-12 | Independent | 60.9 Top 50% | 1072 | 237 | 10.5 |
| 14 | Newcastle High School Hamilton · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 60.6 Top 50% | 1027 | 1,072 | 11.3 |
| 15 | Macquarie College Wallsend · Combined · K-12 | Independent | 59.3 Top 50% | 1110 | 1,060 | 14.3 |
| 16 | St Paul's Catholic College Booragul · Secondary · 7-12 | Catholic | 58.8 Top 50% | 1026 | 636 | 9.9 |
| 17 | Hunter School of Performing Arts Broadmeadow · Combined · K-12 | Government | 58.3 Top 50% | 1085 | 1,094 | 14.3 |
| 18 | Hunter Christian School Mayfield · Combined · K-12 | Independent | 57.2 Top 50% | 1061 | 337 | 12.4 |
| 19 | Whitebridge High School Whitebridge · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 54.9 Top 50% | 1022 | 915 | 12.5 |
| 20 | Cardiff High School Cardiff · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 52.2 Top 50% | 986 | 778 | 11.7 |
| 21 | Callaghan College Jesmond Senior Campus Jesmond · Secondary · 11-12 | Government | 52.1 Top 50% | 980 | 659 | 9.9 |
| 22 | Charlton Christian College Fassifern · Combined · K-12 | Independent | 51.7 Top 50% | 1063 | 831 | 15.1 |
| 23 | Avondale School Cooranbong · Combined · K-12 | Independent | 48.3 Top 50% | 1055 | 977 | 14.5 |
| 24 | Hunter Sports High School Gateshead · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 47.0 Lower 50% | 955 | 941 | 12.0 |
| 25 | Brightwaters Christian College Brightwaters · Combined · K-10 | Independent | 46.2 Lower 50% | 1001 | 106 | 10.2 |
| 26 | Belmont High School Belmont · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 45.9 Lower 50% | 973 | 812 | 11.9 |
| 27 | Swansea High School Caves Beach · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 45.9 Lower 50% | 972 | 710 | 11.2 |
| 28 | Callaghan College Waratah Campus Waratah · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 43.2 Lower 50% | 957 | 848 | 12.1 |
| 29 | Lake Macquarie High School Booragul · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 40.9 Lower 50% | 925 | 435 | 8.2 |
| 30 | Heritage College Lake Macquarie Morisset · Combined · K-12 | Independent | 40.4 Lower 50% | 1002 | 511 | 12.7 |
| 31 | Toronto High School Toronto · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 38.1 Lower 50% | 961 | 952 | 12.1 |
| 32 | Glendale Technology High School Glendale · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 38.0 Lower 50% | 946 | 802 | 11.4 |
| 33 | West Wallsend High School West Wallsend · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 35.0 Lower 50% | 940 | 632 | 10.8 |
| 34 | Callaghan College Wallsend Campus Wallsend · Secondary · 7-10 | Government | 33.9 Lower 50% | 952 | 890 | 11.7 |
| 35 | Morisset High School Morisset · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 29.9 Lower 50% | 929 | 687 | 10.3 |
| 36 | Francis Greenway High School Beresfield · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 25.0 Lower 50% | 912 | 742 | 11.0 |
There are 36 high schools in Newcastle eligible for this list; the top 36 are shown. Newcastle Grammar School in The Hill is ranked first with a Success Index of 87.8 and an ICSEA of 1181. 20 of the top 36 are government schools and 16 are Catholic or independent; the median ICSEA across the list is 1033.
The top 10 high schools in Newcastle for 2025 are: 1. Newcastle Grammar School (The Hill); 2. St Francis Xavier's College (Hamilton); 3. Merewether High School (Broadmeadow); 4. St Philip's Christian College - Waratah (Waratah); 5. St Mary's Catholic College (Gateshead); 6. Trinity Catholic College (Adamstown); 7. Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College (Fletcher); 8. Kotara High School (Adamstown); 9. Lambton High School (Lambton); 10. Belmont Christian College (Belmont North).
Download this table as CSV · free to reuse with attribution to ACARA and Success Tutoring
Free academic assessment
Aiming for a top secondary school?
Entry to high-demand schools, selective streams and scholarships rewards strong fundamentals. A free assessment shows where your child stands today and what to work on.
- Personalised learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum
- English & Maths from Kindergarten to Year 12
- Flexible memberships, no lock-in contracts
- Centres across NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA and ACT
Frequently asked questions
What is the best secondary school in Newcastle?
Newcastle Grammar School in The Hill ranks first among high schools in Newcastle with a Success Index of 87.8 out of 100 and an ICSEA of 1181.
How are high schools in Newcastle 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 high schools in Newcastle?
20 of the top 36 high schools in Newcastle are government schools; 16 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.