Top 32 private schools in Northern Territory (2025)
Independent and Catholic schools across all year levels. Ranked by the Success Index from official ACARA data; 32 schools shown out of all eligible private schools in Northern Territory.
- Primary Schools
- High Schools
- Public 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
- 177St Paul's Catholic Primary SchoolRapid Creek · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 1077 · 221 students
- 275Haileybury Rendall SchoolBerrimah · Independent CombinedICSEA 1082 · 970 students
- 371St Mary's Catholic Primary SchoolDarwin · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 1076 · 180 students
- 471The Essington SchoolRapid Creek · Independent CombinedICSEA 1128 · 782 students
- 569Alice Springs Steiner SchoolRoss · Independent CombinedICSEA 1085 · 162 students
- 661O'Loughlin Catholic CollegeKarama · Catholic SecondaryICSEA 1025 · 599 students
- 761St Philip's CollegeAlice Springs · Independent SecondaryICSEA 1031 · 502 students
- 861Milkwood Steiner SchoolBerrimah · Independent CombinedICSEA 1053 · 118 students
- 959Mother Teresa Catholic Primary SchoolZuccoli · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 1027 · 379 students
- 1059MacKillop Catholic CollegeJohnston · Catholic SecondaryICSEA 1001 · 795 students
- 1157Holy Spirit Catholic Primary SchoolWanguri · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 1035 · 243 students
- 1257Nhulunbuy Christian CollegeNhulunbuy · Independent CombinedICSEA 1056 · 138 students
- 1355Living Waters Lutheran SchoolAlice Springs · Independent PrimaryICSEA 1029 · 131 students
- 1454St John's Catholic CollegeThe Gardens · Catholic SecondaryICSEA 957 · 287 students
- 1550NT Christian CollegeMarrara · Independent SecondaryICSEA 987 · 93 students
- 1649Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic CollegeAlice Springs · Catholic CombinedICSEA 1028 · 823 students
- 1748St Joseph's Catholic CollegeKatherine · Catholic CombinedICSEA 974 · 299 students
- 1847Good Shepherd Lutheran CollegeHoward Springs · Independent CombinedICSEA 1025 · 1,117 students
- 1946Sacred Heart Catholic Primary SchoolWoodroffe · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 983 · 165 students
- 2044SEDA College NTFannie Bay · Independent SecondaryICSEA 980 · 150 students
- 2144St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary SchoolHumpty Doo · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 979 · 107 students
- 2240Sattler Christian CollegeFreds Pass · Independent CombinedICSEA 997 · 245 students
- 2339Araluen Christian CollegeAlice Springs · Independent CombinedICSEA 997 · 104 students
- 2437Holy Family Catholic Primary SchoolKarama · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 968 · 248 students
- 2537Palmerston Christian CollegeMarlow Lagoon · Independent CombinedICSEA 1008 · 365 students
- 2632Yipirinya SchoolAlice Springs · Independent CombinedICSEA 729 · 186 students
- 2728Marrara Christian CollegeMarrara · Independent CombinedICSEA 962 · 289 students
- 2824Yirara CollegeAlice Springs · Independent SecondaryICSEA 654 · 190 students
- 2923Murrupurtiyanuwu Catholic Primary SchoolWurrumiyanga · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 684 · 167 students
- 3023Xavier Catholic CollegeBathurst Island · Catholic SecondaryICSEA 636 · 92 students
- 3122Ltyentye Apurte Catholic SchoolSanta Teresa · Catholic CombinedICSEA 622 · 111 students
- 3222Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Thamarrurr Catholic CollegeWadeye · Catholic CombinedICSEA 622 · 467 students
| # | 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 | O'Loughlin Catholic College Karama · Secondary · 7-12 | Catholic | 61.4 Top 50% | 1025 | 599 | 12.0 |
| 7 | St Philip's College Alice Springs · Secondary · 7-12 | Independent | 61.3 Top 50% | 1031 | 502 | 10.5 |
| 8 | Milkwood Steiner School Berrimah · Combined · T-8 | Independent | 61.0 Top 50% | 1053 | 118 | 8.1 |
| 9 | Mother Teresa Catholic Primary School Zuccoli · Primary · T-6 | Catholic | 59.4 Top 50% | 1027 | 379 | 15.7 |
| 10 | MacKillop Catholic College Johnston · Secondary · 7-12 | Catholic | 59.1 Top 50% | 1001 | 795 | 10.4 |
| 11 | Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School Wanguri · Primary · T-6 | Catholic | 57.0 Top 50% | 1035 | 243 | 14.0 |
| 12 | Nhulunbuy Christian College Nhulunbuy · Combined · T-10 | Independent | 56.5 Top 50% | 1056 | 138 | 11.2 |
| 13 | Living Waters Lutheran School Alice Springs · Primary · T-6 | Independent | 54.9 Top 50% | 1029 | 131 | 14.9 |
| 14 | St John's Catholic College The Gardens · Secondary · 7-12 | Catholic | 54.3 Top 50% | 957 | 287 | 10.7 |
| 15 | NT Christian College Marrara · Secondary · 11-12 | Independent | 50.0 Lower 50% | 987 | 93 | 8.9 |
| 16 | Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic College Alice Springs · Combined · T-12 | Catholic | 49.4 Top 50% | 1028 | 823 | 13.0 |
| 17 | St Joseph's Catholic College Katherine · Combined · T-12 | Catholic | 47.5 Lower 50% | 974 | 299 | 11.5 |
| 18 | Good Shepherd Lutheran College Howard Springs · Combined · T-12 | Independent | 46.8 Lower 50% | 1025 | 1,117 | 12.4 |
| 19 | Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Woodroffe · Primary · T-6 | Catholic | 45.5 Lower 50% | 983 | 165 | 12.1 |
| 20 | SEDA College NT Fannie Bay · Secondary · 10-12 | Independent | 43.9 Lower 50% | 980 | 150 | 13.2 |
| 21 | St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School Humpty Doo · Primary · T-6 | Catholic | 43.9 Lower 50% | 979 | 107 | 12.6 |
| 22 | Sattler Christian College Freds Pass · Combined · T-10 | Independent | 39.6 Lower 50% | 997 | 245 | 15.5 |
| 23 | Araluen Christian College Alice Springs · Combined · T-10 | Independent | 39.4 Lower 50% | 997 | 104 | 16.3 |
| 24 | Holy Family Catholic Primary School Karama · Primary · T-6 | Catholic | 37.2 Lower 50% | 968 | 248 | 16.1 |
| 25 | Palmerston Christian College Marlow Lagoon · Combined · T-10 | Independent | 36.7 Lower 50% | 1008 | 365 | 15.0 |
| 26 | Yipirinya School Alice Springs · Combined · T-10 | Independent | 32.0 Lower 50% | 729 | 186 | 11.2 |
| 27 | Marrara Christian College Marrara · Combined · T-10 | Independent | 28.2 Lower 50% | 962 | 289 | 12.8 |
| 28 | Yirara College Alice Springs · Secondary · 7-12 | Independent | 24.3 Lower 50% | 654 | 190 | 10.8 |
| 29 | Murrupurtiyanuwu Catholic Primary School Wurrumiyanga · Primary · T-6 | Catholic | 23.4 Lower 50% | 684 | 167 | 12.8 |
| 30 | Xavier Catholic College Bathurst Island · Secondary · 7-12 | Catholic | 22.8 Lower 50% | 636 | 92 | 6.6 |
| 31 | Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School Santa Teresa · Combined · T-12 | Catholic | 22.4 Lower 50% | 622 | 111 | 9.4 |
| 32 | Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Thamarrurr Catholic College Wadeye · Combined · T-12 | Catholic | 21.5 Lower 50% | 622 | 467 | 12.3 |
There are 32 private schools in Northern Territory eligible for this list; the top 32 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. 0 of the top 32 are government schools and 32 are Catholic or independent; the median ICSEA across the list is 999.
The top 10 private 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. O'Loughlin Catholic College (Karama); 7. St Philip's College (Alice Springs); 8. Milkwood Steiner School (Berrimah); 9. Mother Teresa Catholic Primary School (Zuccoli); 10. MacKillop Catholic College (Johnston).
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best private school in Northern Territory?
St Paul's Catholic Primary School in Rapid Creek ranks first among private schools in Northern Territory with a Success Index of 76.8 out of 100 and an ICSEA of 1077.
How are private 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 private schools in Northern Territory?
0 of the top 32 private schools in Northern Territory are government schools; 32 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.