Best schools in South Australia (2025)
The top five of 715 schools in each category, with links to the full top 100. Rankings use the Success Index, built only from official ACARA data.
South Australia has 715 schools in ACARA's 2025 data: 508 government (71%), 101 Catholic and 106 independent, together enrolling about 287,325 students. By level there are 437 primary schools, 85 secondary schools and 166 combined (K–12) schools.
The median ICSEA is 999 (the national benchmark is 1000) and 77 schools, or 11%, have an ICSEA of 1100 or more, which marks a highly advantaged community. The average school has 12.8 students per full-time-equivalent teacher.
Best primary schools in South Australia
Schools offering primary years (Primary and Combined schools).
St Andrew's School
Walkerville · Independent primary · R-6
376 students · ICSEA 1191
Annesley College
Wayville · Independent primary · R-6
292 students · ICSEA 1164
Pulteney Grammar School
Adelaide · Independent combined · R-12
839 students · ICSEA 1170
St Peter's Collegiate Girls' School
Stonyfell · Independent combined · R-12
873 students · ICSEA 1180
St Peter's College
St Peters · Independent combined · R-12
1,585 students · ICSEA 1164
Best high schools in South Australia
Schools offering secondary years (Secondary and Combined schools).
Pulteney Grammar School
Adelaide · Independent combined · R-12
839 students · ICSEA 1170
St Peter's Collegiate Girls' School
Stonyfell · Independent combined · R-12
873 students · ICSEA 1180
St Peter's College
St Peters · Independent combined · R-12
1,585 students · ICSEA 1164
Wilderness School
Medindie · Independent combined · R-12
856 students · ICSEA 1176
Immanuel College
Novar Gardens · Independent high school · 7-12
1,184 students · ICSEA 1117
Best public schools in South Australia
Government schools across all year levels.
Australian Science and Mathematics School
Bedford Park · Government high school · 10-12
419 students · ICSEA 1101
Glenunga International High School
Glenunga · Government high school · 7-12
2,340 students · ICSEA 1153
Unley Primary School
Unley · Government primary · R-6
470 students · ICSEA 1154
Goodwood Primary School
Goodwood · Government primary · R-6
408 students · ICSEA 1147
Norwood Primary School
Norwood · Government primary · R-6
361 students · ICSEA 1148
Best private schools in South Australia
Independent and Catholic schools across all year levels.
St Andrew's School
Walkerville · Independent primary · R-6
376 students · ICSEA 1191
Annesley College
Wayville · Independent primary · R-6
292 students · ICSEA 1164
Pulteney Grammar School
Adelaide · Independent combined · R-12
839 students · ICSEA 1170
St Peter's Collegiate Girls' School
Stonyfell · Independent combined · R-12
873 students · ICSEA 1180
St Peter's College
St Peters · Independent combined · R-12
1,585 students · ICSEA 1164
Best catholic schools in South Australia
Catholic systemic and independent Catholic schools.
Saint Ignatius' College
Athelstone · Catholic combined · R-12
1,421 students · ICSEA 1151
St Pius X School
Windsor Gardens · Catholic primary · R-6
552 students · ICSEA 1108
St Catherine's School
Stirling · Catholic primary · R-6
185 students · ICSEA 1133
Rosary School
Prospect · Catholic primary · R-6
484 students · ICSEA 1101
St Joseph's School
Kingswood · Catholic primary · R-6
256 students · ICSEA 1135
Best independent schools in South Australia
Independent (non-government, non-Catholic-system) schools.
St Andrew's School
Walkerville · Independent primary · R-6
376 students · ICSEA 1191
Annesley College
Wayville · Independent primary · R-6
292 students · ICSEA 1164
Pulteney Grammar School
Adelaide · Independent combined · R-12
839 students · ICSEA 1170
St Peter's Collegiate Girls' School
Stonyfell · Independent combined · R-12
873 students · ICSEA 1180
St Peter's College
St Peters · Independent combined · R-12
1,585 students · ICSEA 1164
Best public primary schools in South Australia
Government schools offering primary years.
Unley Primary School
Unley · Government primary · R-6
470 students · ICSEA 1154
Goodwood Primary School
Goodwood · Government primary · R-6
408 students · ICSEA 1147
Norwood Primary School
Norwood · Government primary · R-6
361 students · ICSEA 1148
Linden Park Primary School
Linden Park · Government primary · R-6
981 students · ICSEA 1160
Clapham Primary School
Clapham · Government primary · U, R-6
243 students · ICSEA 1098
Best public high schools in South Australia
Government schools offering secondary years.
Australian Science and Mathematics School
Bedford Park · Government high school · 10-12
419 students · ICSEA 1101
Glenunga International High School
Glenunga · Government high school · 7-12
2,340 students · ICSEA 1153
Marryatville High School
Marryatville · Government high school · 7-12
1,759 students · ICSEA 1120
Adelaide Botanic High School
Adelaide · Government high school · 7-12
1,258 students · ICSEA 1103
Norwood International High School
Magill · Government high school · 7-12
1,667 students · ICSEA 1090
Best private primary schools in South Australia
Independent and Catholic schools offering primary years.
St Andrew's School
Walkerville · Independent primary · R-6
376 students · ICSEA 1191
Annesley College
Wayville · Independent primary · R-6
292 students · ICSEA 1164
Pulteney Grammar School
Adelaide · Independent combined · R-12
839 students · ICSEA 1170
St Peter's Collegiate Girls' School
Stonyfell · Independent combined · R-12
873 students · ICSEA 1180
St Peter's College
St Peters · Independent combined · R-12
1,585 students · ICSEA 1164
Best private high schools in South Australia
Independent and Catholic schools offering secondary years.
Pulteney Grammar School
Adelaide · Independent combined · R-12
839 students · ICSEA 1170
St Peter's Collegiate Girls' School
Stonyfell · Independent combined · R-12
873 students · ICSEA 1180
St Peter's College
St Peters · Independent combined · R-12
1,585 students · ICSEA 1164
Wilderness School
Medindie · Independent combined · R-12
856 students · ICSEA 1176
Immanuel College
Novar Gardens · Independent high school · 7-12
1,184 students · ICSEA 1117
Best girls' schools in South Australia
Single-sex schools enrolling girls only (based on ACARA enrolment counts).
St Peter's Collegiate Girls' School
Stonyfell · Independent combined · R-12
873 students · ICSEA 1180
Wilderness School
Medindie · Independent combined · R-12
856 students · ICSEA 1176
Walford Anglican School for Girls
Hyde Park · Independent combined · R-12
400 students · ICSEA 1162
Seymour College
Glen Osmond · Independent combined · R-12
715 students · ICSEA 1150
Mary MacKillop College
Kensington · Catholic high school · 7-12
291 students · ICSEA 1077
Best boys' schools in South Australia
Single-sex schools enrolling boys only (based on ACARA enrolment counts).
St Peter's College
St Peters · Independent combined · R-12
1,585 students · ICSEA 1164
Prince Alfred College
Kent Town · Independent combined · R-12
1,127 students · ICSEA 1143
Christian Brothers College
Adelaide · Catholic combined · R-12
990 students · ICSEA 1074
Rostrevor College
Woodforde · Catholic combined · R-12
985 students · ICSEA 1064
Blackfriars Priory School
Prospect · Catholic combined · R-12
786 students · ICSEA 1037
Best K-12 schools in South Australia
Combined schools offering both primary and secondary years, so a child can stay from Foundation to Year 12.
Pulteney Grammar School
Adelaide · Independent combined · R-12
839 students · ICSEA 1170
St Peter's Collegiate Girls' School
Stonyfell · Independent combined · R-12
873 students · ICSEA 1180
St Peter's College
St Peters · Independent combined · R-12
1,585 students · ICSEA 1164
Wilderness School
Medindie · Independent combined · R-12
856 students · ICSEA 1176
Dara School
Morphettville · Independent combined · R-10
93 students · ICSEA 1176
Best fastest-growing schools in South Australia
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.
Xavier College
Gawler Belt · Catholic combined · R-12
2,532 students · ICSEA 1001
Adelaide Botanic High School
Adelaide · Government high school · 7-12
1,258 students · ICSEA 1103
IQRA College
O'Halloran Hill · Independent combined · R-12
734 students · ICSEA 1067
Mount Carmel College
Rosewater · Catholic combined · R-12
1,204 students · ICSEA 1008
Playford College
Elizabeth · Independent combined · R-12
670 students · ICSEA 940
Best schools with the best student–teacher ratio in South Australia
Schools with 200+ students and the fewest full-time-equivalent students per full-time-equivalent teacher.
Adelaide Secondary School of English
West Croydon · Government high school · U
487 students · ICSEA 961
St George College
Mile End · Independent combined · R-12
350 students · ICSEA 1046
Christie Downs Primary School
Christie Downs · Government primary · U, R-6
205 students · ICSEA 925
Prince Alfred College
Kent Town · Independent combined · R-12
1,127 students · ICSEA 1143
Pulteney Grammar School
Adelaide · Independent combined · R-12
839 students · ICSEA 1170
Best largest schools in South Australia
Schools with the highest total enrolments.
Open Access College
Marden · Government combined · U, R-12
4,028 students · ICSEA 1017
Nazareth Catholic College
Flinders Park · Catholic combined · R-12
2,576 students · ICSEA 1049
Xavier College
Gawler Belt · Catholic combined · R-12
2,532 students · ICSEA 1001
Glenunga International High School
Glenunga · Government high school · 7-12
2,340 students · ICSEA 1153
Cardijn College
Noarlunga Downs · Catholic combined · R-12
2,247 students · ICSEA 1019
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best school in South Australia?
Pulteney Grammar School in Adelaide is the highest-ranked high school in South Australia on the 2025 Success Index (86.7/100). St Andrew's School in Walkerville 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 South Australia?
715 schools appear in ACARA's 2025 data for South Australia, of which 508 are government schools.
How are schools in South Australia 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.