Top 92 primary schools in Northern Territory (2025)

Schools offering primary years (Primary and Combined schools). Ranked by the Success Index from official ACARA data; 92 schools shown out of all eligible primary schools in Northern Territory.

#	School	Sector	Success Index	ICSEA	Students	Students : teacher
1	St Paul's Catholic Primary School Rapid Creek · Primary · T-6	Catholic	76.8 Top 10%	1077	221	11.9
2	Haileybury Rendall School Berrimah · Combined · T-12	Independent	75.0 Top 25%	1082	970	10.6
3	St Mary's Catholic Primary School Darwin · Primary · T-6	Catholic	71.3 Top 25%	1076	180	13.4
4	The Essington School Rapid Creek · Combined · T-12	Independent	71.1 Top 25%	1128	782	12.2
5	Alice Springs Steiner School Ross · Combined · T-9	Independent	68.5 Top 25%	1085	162	10.6
6	Larrakeyah Primary School Larrakeyah · Primary · T-6	Government	64.0 Top 50%	1086	480	17.9
7	Parap Primary School Parap · Primary · T-6	Government	63.0 Top 50%	1066	405	15.4
8	Nightcliff Primary School Nightcliff · Primary · T-6	Government	62.2 Top 50%	1063	478	16.4
9	Milkwood Steiner School Berrimah · Combined · T-8	Independent	61.0 Top 50%	1053	118	8.1
10	Ross Park Primary School Alice Springs · Primary · T-6	Government	61.0 Top 50%	1040	413	14.2
11	Leanyer Primary School Leanyer · Primary · T-6	Government	60.9 Top 50%	1024	538	14.8
12	Mother Teresa Catholic Primary School Zuccoli · Primary · T-6	Catholic	59.4 Top 50%	1027	379	15.7
13	Alawa Primary School Alawa · Primary · T-6	Government	57.9 Top 50%	1011	259	13.5
14	Stuart Park Primary School Stuart Park · Primary · T-6	Government	57.7 Top 50%	1054	492	15.1
15	Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School Wanguri · Primary · T-6	Catholic	57.0 Top 50%	1035	243	14.0
16	Nhulunbuy Christian College Nhulunbuy · Combined · T-10	Independent	56.5 Top 50%	1056	138	11.2
17	Living Waters Lutheran School Alice Springs · Primary · T-6	Independent	54.9 Top 50%	1029	131	14.9
18	Durack Primary School Durack · Primary · T-6	Government	52.7 Top 50%	1017	474	17.4
19	Nakara Primary School Nakara · Primary · T-6	Government	52.6 Top 50%	1051	409	16.2
20	Anula Primary School Anula · Primary · T-6	Government	52.5 Top 50%	1006	388	14.2
21	Wanguri Primary School Wanguri · Primary · T-6	Government	52.4 Top 50%	987	327	11.2
22	Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic College Alice Springs · Combined · T-12	Catholic	49.4 Top 50%	1028	823	13.0
23	Jingili Primary School Jingili · Primary · T-6	Government	48.4 Lower 50%	997	235	15.6
24	St Joseph's Catholic College Katherine · Combined · T-12	Catholic	47.5 Lower 50%	974	299	11.5
25	Zuccoli Primary School Zuccoli · Primary · T-6	Government	47.1 Lower 50%	989	537	13.4
26	Good Shepherd Lutheran College Howard Springs · Combined · T-12	Independent	46.8 Lower 50%	1025	1,117	12.4
27	Moil Primary School Moil · Primary · T-6	Government	45.6 Lower 50%	970	167	11.9
28	Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Woodroffe · Primary · T-6	Catholic	45.5 Lower 50%	983	165	12.1
29	St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School Humpty Doo · Primary · T-6	Catholic	43.9 Lower 50%	979	107	12.6
30	Sattler Christian College Freds Pass · Combined · T-10	Independent	39.6 Lower 50%	997	245	15.5
31	Araluen Christian College Alice Springs · Combined · T-10	Independent	39.4 Lower 50%	997	104	16.3
32	Casuarina Street Primary School Katherine East · Primary · T-6	Government	38.7 Lower 50%	991	295	17.6
33	Bakewell Primary School Bakewell · Primary · T-6	Government	37.4 Lower 50%	978	616	14.2
34	Holy Family Catholic Primary School Karama · Primary · T-6	Catholic	37.2 Lower 50%	968	248	16.1
35	Palmerston Christian College Marlow Lagoon · Combined · T-10	Independent	36.7 Lower 50%	1008	365	15.0
36	Braitling Primary School Braitling · Primary · T-6	Government	35.8 Lower 50%	911	218	12.7
37	Howard Springs Primary School Howard Springs · Primary · T-6	Government	35.1 Lower 50%	951	277	14.4
38	Humpty Doo Primary School Humpty Doo · Primary · T-6	Government	34.5 Lower 50%	924	362	13.0
39	Katherine School Of The Air Katherine · Combined · T-9	Government	34.1 Lower 50%	931	137	7.3
40	Millner Primary School Millner · Primary · T-6	Government	34.1 Lower 50%	911	171	13.3
41	Berry Springs Primary School Berry Springs · Primary · T-6	Government	33.3 Lower 50%	939	213	10.0
42	Nhulunbuy Primary School Nhulunbuy · Primary · T-6	Government	33.2 Lower 50%	946	349	13.2
43	Gunbalanya School Gunbalanya · Combined · T-12	Government	32.6 Lower 50%	668	231	9.2
44	Ludmilla Primary School Ludmilla · Primary · T-6	Government	32.5 Lower 50%	905	132	12.4
45	Bees Creek Primary School Freds Pass · Primary · T-6	Government	32.1 Lower 50%	976	283	15.5
46	Yipirinya School Alice Springs · Combined · T-10	Independent	32.0 Lower 50%	729	186	11.2
47	Rosebery Primary School Rosebery · Primary · T-6	Government	31.8 Lower 50%	964	349	16.1
48	Wagaman Primary School Wagaman · Primary · T-6	Government	31.7 Lower 50%	944	213	13.8
49	Larapinta Primary School Alice Springs · Primary · T-6	Government	29.8 Lower 50%	909	285	14.3
50	Ngukurr School Ngukurr · Combined · T-12	Government	29.5 Lower 50%	676	207	8.0
51	Bradshaw Primary School Gillen · Primary · T-6	Government	29.3 Lower 50%	918	381	12.9
52	Alyangula Area School Alyangula · Combined · T-11	Government	28.3 Lower 50%	888	203	10.2
53	Marrara Christian College Marrara · Combined · T-10	Independent	28.2 Lower 50%	962	289	12.8
54	Maningrida College Maningrida · Combined · T-12	Government	27.8 Lower 50%	601	584	6.3
55	Sadadeen Primary School Alice Springs · Primary · T-6	Government	27.8 Lower 50%	793	118	7.7
56	Borroloola School Borroloola · Combined · T-12	Government	27.7 Lower 50%	665	169	9.0
57	Girraween Primary School Girraween · Primary · T-6	Government	27.7 Lower 50%	978	312	15.9
58	Shepherdson College Galiwinku · Combined · T-12	Government	27.0 Lower 50%	664	458	8.8
59	Milingimbi School Milingimbi · Combined · T-12	Government	26.1 Lower 50%	645	236	9.3
60	Laynhapuy Homelands School Yirrkala · Combined · T-12	Government	25.9 Lower 50%	639	120	4.2
61	Katherine South Primary School Katherine South · Primary · T-6	Government	25.5 Lower 50%	907	180	14.7
62	Driver Primary School Driver · Primary · T-6	Government	25.1 Lower 50%	914	409	14.5
63	Gillen Primary School Gillen · Primary · T-6	Government	24.9 Lower 50%	807	230	13.2
64	Jabiru Area School Jabiru · Combined · T-12	Government	24.9 Lower 50%	778	149	10.7
65	Yirrkala School Yirrkala · Combined · T-12	Government	24.3 Lower 50%	624	132	6.6
66	Tennant Creek Primary School Tennant Creek · Primary · T-6	Government	24.1 Lower 50%	732	309	9.0
67	Murrupurtiyanuwu Catholic Primary School Wurrumiyanga · Primary · T-6	Catholic	23.4 Lower 50%	684	167	12.8
68	Kalkaringi School Kalkarindji · Combined · T-11	Government	23.2 Lower 50%	593	164	6.0
69	Manunda Terrace Primary School Karama · Primary · T-6	Government	23.2 Lower 50%	792	189	15.7
70	Wulagi Primary School Wulagi · Primary · T-6	Government	23.0 Lower 50%	890	144	11.3
71	Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School Santa Teresa · Combined · T-12	Catholic	22.4 Lower 50%	622	111	9.4
72	Batchelor Area School Batchelor · Combined · T-12	Government	22.1 Lower 50%	723	105	12.3
73	MacFarlane Primary School Katherine East · Primary · T-6	Government	21.5 Lower 50%	665	189	14.5
74	Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Thamarrurr Catholic College Wadeye · Combined · T-12	Catholic	21.5 Lower 50%	622	467	12.3
75	Lajamanu School Lajamanu · Combined · T-12	Government	21.2 Lower 50%	598	164	10.8
76	Nganmarriyanga School Nganmarriyanga · Combined · T-12	Government	20.8 Lower 50%	596	99	9.0
77	Gapuwiyak School Gapuwiyak · Combined · T-12	Government	19.7 Lower 50%	596	205	7.6
78	Ntaria School Hermannsburg · Combined · T-12	Government	19.6 Lower 50%	613	155	7.4
79	Karama Primary School Karama · Primary · T-6	Government	19.5 Lower 50%	769	173	12.8
80	Woodroffe Primary School Woodroffe · Primary · T-6	Government	19.5 Lower 50%	842	327	10.9
81	Barunga School Barunga · Combined · T-11	Government	19.4 Lower 50%	614	81	9.7
82	Minyerri School Miniyeri · Combined · T-11	Government	19.4 Lower 50%	653	134	13.3
83	Ramingining School Ramingining · Combined · T-12	Government	19.4 Lower 50%	660	263	14.1
84	Ampilatwatja School Ampilatwatja · Combined · T-12	Government	19.3 Lower 50%	616	92	15.3
85	Arlparra School Utopia · Combined · T-12	Government	19.2 Lower 50%	595	165	10.2
86	Numbulwar School Numbulwar · Combined · T-12	Government	19.0 Lower 50%	597	113	7.5
87	Yuendumu School Yuendumu · Combined · T-12	Government	19.0 Lower 50%	632	157	6.5
88	Wugularr School Beswick · Combined · T-12	Government	18.7 Lower 50%	585	138	17.2
89	Moulden Primary School Moulden · Primary · T-6	Government	18.1 Lower 50%	753	211	12.3
90	Clyde Fenton Primary School Katherine · Primary · T-6	Government	18.0 Lower 50%	693	114	10.6
91	Malak Primary School Malak · Primary · T-6	Government	16.6 Lower 50%	770	148	12.1
92	Gray Primary School Gray · Primary · T-6	Government	16.1 Lower 50%	808	283	14.7

There are 92 primary schools in Northern Territory eligible for this list; the top 92 are shown. St Paul's Catholic Primary School in Rapid Creek is ranked first with a Success Index of 76.8 and an ICSEA of 1077. 68 of the top 92 are government schools and 24 are Catholic or independent; the median ICSEA across the list is 916.

The top 10 primary schools in Northern Territory for 2025 are: 1. St Paul's Catholic Primary School (Rapid Creek); 2. Haileybury Rendall School (Berrimah); 3. St Mary's Catholic Primary School (Darwin); 4. The Essington School (Rapid Creek); 5. Alice Springs Steiner School (Ross); 6. Larrakeyah Primary School (Larrakeyah); 7. Parap Primary School (Parap); 8. Nightcliff Primary School (Nightcliff); 9. Milkwood Steiner School (Berrimah); 10. Ross Park Primary School (Alice Springs).

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best primary school in Northern Territory?

St Paul's Catholic Primary School in Rapid Creek ranks first among primary schools in Northern Territory with a Success Index of 76.8 out of 100 and an ICSEA of 1077.

How are primary schools in Northern Territory 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 primary schools in Northern Territory?

68 of the top 92 primary schools in Northern Territory are government schools; 24 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.