Best schools in Sydney (2025)
Greater Sydney, from the Northern Beaches and the Hills to the South West and the Blue Mountains. The top five of 1,476 schools in each category, with links to the full top 100. Rankings use the Success Index, built only from official ACARA data.
Sydney has 1,476 schools in ACARA's 2025 data: 955 government (65%), 275 Catholic and 246 independent, together enrolling about 779,972 students. By level there are 908 primary schools, 290 secondary schools and 168 combined (K–12) schools.
The median ICSEA is 1062 (the national benchmark is 1000) and 477 schools, or 33%, have an ICSEA of 1100 or more, which marks a highly advantaged community. The average school has 13.6 students per full-time-equivalent teacher.
Best primary schools in Sydney
Schools offering primary years (Primary and Combined schools).
Reddam House
Woollahra · Independent combined
· ICSEA 1203
Ascham School
Edgecliff · Independent combined · K-12
1,182 students · ICSEA 1217
Ravenswood School for Girls
Gordon · Independent combined · K-12
1,451 students · ICSEA 1185
Mosman Church of England Preparatory School
Mosman · Independent primary · K-6
221 students · ICSEA 1206
The Scots College
Bellevue Hill · Independent combined · K-12
2,076 students · ICSEA 1162
Best high schools in Sydney
Schools offering secondary years (Secondary and Combined schools).
Reddam House
Woollahra · Independent combined
· ICSEA 1203
Ascham School
Edgecliff · Independent combined · K-12
1,182 students · ICSEA 1217
Ravenswood School for Girls
Gordon · Independent combined · K-12
1,451 students · ICSEA 1185
The Scots College
Bellevue Hill · Independent combined · K-12
2,076 students · ICSEA 1162
St Andrew's Cathedral School
Sydney · Independent combined · K-12
1,436 students · ICSEA 1189
Best public schools in Sydney
Government schools across all year levels.
Conservatorium High School
Sydney · Government high school · 7-12
156 students · ICSEA 1194
Bradfield College
St Leonards · Government high school · 11-12
322 students · ICSEA 1108
Green Square Public School
Zetlands · Government primary · K-6
107 students · ICSEA 1122
Annandale Public School
Annandale · Government primary · P-6
363 students · ICSEA 1145
Australia Street Infants School
Newtown · Government primary · P-2
104 students · ICSEA 1143
Best private schools in Sydney
Independent and Catholic schools across all year levels.
Reddam House
Woollahra · Independent combined
· ICSEA 1203
Ascham School
Edgecliff · Independent combined · K-12
1,182 students · ICSEA 1217
Ravenswood School for Girls
Gordon · Independent combined · K-12
1,451 students · ICSEA 1185
Mosman Church of England Preparatory School
Mosman · Independent primary · K-6
221 students · ICSEA 1206
The Scots College
Bellevue Hill · Independent combined · K-12
2,076 students · ICSEA 1162
Best catholic schools in Sydney
Catholic systemic and independent Catholic schools.
St Brigid's Catholic Primary School
Coogee · Catholic primary · K-6
205 students · ICSEA 1159
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School
Clifton Gardens · Catholic primary · K-6
114 students · ICSEA 1188
Galilee Catholic Primary School
Bondi Beach · Catholic primary · K-6
88 students · ICSEA 1160
Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Primary School
Epping · Catholic primary · K-6
113 students · ICSEA 1170
St Brendan's Catholic Primary School
Annandale · Catholic primary · K-6
155 students · ICSEA 1166
Best independent schools in Sydney
Independent (non-government, non-Catholic-system) schools.
Reddam House
Woollahra · Independent combined
· ICSEA 1203
Ascham School
Edgecliff · Independent combined · K-12
1,182 students · ICSEA 1217
Ravenswood School for Girls
Gordon · Independent combined · K-12
1,451 students · ICSEA 1185
Mosman Church of England Preparatory School
Mosman · Independent primary · K-6
221 students · ICSEA 1206
The Scots College
Bellevue Hill · Independent combined · K-12
2,076 students · ICSEA 1162
Best public primary schools in Sydney
Government schools offering primary years.
Green Square Public School
Zetlands · Government primary · K-6
107 students · ICSEA 1122
Annandale Public School
Annandale · Government primary · P-6
363 students · ICSEA 1145
Australia Street Infants School
Newtown · Government primary · P-2
104 students · ICSEA 1143
Bellevue Hill Public School
Bellevue Hill · Government primary · K-6
573 students · ICSEA 1156
Greenwich Public School
Greenwich · Government primary · K-6
367 students · ICSEA 1175
Best public high schools in Sydney
Government schools offering secondary years.
Conservatorium High School
Sydney · Government high school · 7-12
156 students · ICSEA 1194
Bradfield College
St Leonards · Government high school · 11-12
322 students · ICSEA 1108
Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Senior Campus
Freshwater · Government high school · 11-12
647 students · ICSEA 1098
Cammeraygal High School
Crows Nest · Government high school · 7-12
905 students · ICSEA 1135
Chatswood High School
Chatswood · Government high school · 7-12
2,147 students · ICSEA 1137
Best private primary schools in Sydney
Independent and Catholic schools offering primary years.
Reddam House
Woollahra · Independent combined
· ICSEA 1203
Ascham School
Edgecliff · Independent combined · K-12
1,182 students · ICSEA 1217
Ravenswood School for Girls
Gordon · Independent combined · K-12
1,451 students · ICSEA 1185
Mosman Church of England Preparatory School
Mosman · Independent primary · K-6
221 students · ICSEA 1206
The Scots College
Bellevue Hill · Independent combined · K-12
2,076 students · ICSEA 1162
Best private high schools in Sydney
Independent and Catholic schools offering secondary years.
Reddam House
Woollahra · Independent combined
· ICSEA 1203
Ascham School
Edgecliff · Independent combined · K-12
1,182 students · ICSEA 1217
Ravenswood School for Girls
Gordon · Independent combined · K-12
1,451 students · ICSEA 1185
The Scots College
Bellevue Hill · Independent combined · K-12
2,076 students · ICSEA 1162
St Andrew's Cathedral School
Sydney · Independent combined · K-12
1,436 students · ICSEA 1189
Best girls' schools in Sydney
Single-sex schools enrolling girls only (based on ACARA enrolment counts).
Ascham School
Edgecliff · Independent combined · K-12
1,182 students · ICSEA 1217
Ravenswood School for Girls
Gordon · Independent combined · K-12
1,451 students · ICSEA 1185
St Vincent's College
Potts Point · Independent high school · 7-12
755 students · ICSEA 1145
Kambala
Rose Bay · Independent combined · K-12
986 students · ICSEA 1169
Monte Sant' Angelo Mercy College
North Sydney · Independent high school · 7-12
1,186 students · ICSEA 1179
Best boys' schools in Sydney
Single-sex schools enrolling boys only (based on ACARA enrolment counts).
Mosman Church of England Preparatory School
Mosman · Independent primary · K-6
221 students · ICSEA 1206
The Scots College
Bellevue Hill · Independent combined · K-12
2,076 students · ICSEA 1162
Newington College
Stanmore · Independent combined · K-12
2,072 students · ICSEA 1182
St Joseph's College
Hunters Hill · Independent high school · 7-12
1,100 students · ICSEA 1130
Cranbrook School
Bellevue Hill · Independent combined · K-12
1,693 students · ICSEA 1181
Best K-12 schools in Sydney
Combined schools offering both primary and secondary years, so a child can stay from Foundation to Year 12.
Reddam House
Woollahra · Independent combined
· ICSEA 1203
Ascham School
Edgecliff · Independent combined · K-12
1,182 students · ICSEA 1217
Ravenswood School for Girls
Gordon · Independent combined · K-12
1,451 students · ICSEA 1185
The Scots College
Bellevue Hill · Independent combined · K-12
2,076 students · ICSEA 1162
St Andrew's Cathedral School
Sydney · Independent combined · K-12
1,436 students · ICSEA 1189
Best fastest-growing schools in Sydney
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.
Inner Sydney High School
Surry Hills · Government high school · 7-12
1,161 students · ICSEA 1104
Santa Sophia Catholic College (Secondary)
Gables · Catholic high school · 7-12
999 students · ICSEA 1078
Oran Park High School
Oran Park · Government high school · 7-12
1,579 students · ICSEA 1002
St Vincent's College Ashfield
Ashfield · Catholic combined · K-12
1,092 students · ICSEA 1043
St Anthony of Padua Catholic College
Austral · Catholic combined · K-11
1,539 students · ICSEA 1037
Best schools with the best student–teacher ratio in Sydney
Schools with 200+ students and the fewest full-time-equivalent students per full-time-equivalent teacher.
Ascham School
Edgecliff · Independent combined · K-12
1,182 students · ICSEA 1217
Holroyd High School
Greystanes · Government high school · 6-12
547 students · ICSEA 919
Georges River College Hurstville Campus
Hurstville · Government high school · 7-10
267 students · ICSEA 1017
J J Cahill Memorial High School
Mascot · Government high school · 7-12
298 students · ICSEA 987
Mosman Church of England Preparatory School
Mosman · Independent primary · K-6
221 students · ICSEA 1206
Best largest schools in Sydney
Schools with the highest total enrolments.
Malek Fahd Islamic School
Greenacre · Independent combined · K-12
3,352 students · ICSEA 1063
Knox Grammar School
Wahroonga · Independent combined · K-12
3,345 students · ICSEA 1187
Barker College
Hornsby · Independent combined · K-12
2,856 students · ICSEA 1166
Amity College
Prestons · Independent combined · K-12
2,588 students · ICSEA 1096
Australian Christian College - Marsden Park
Riverstone · Independent combined · K-12
2,523 students · ICSEA 1101
Free academic assessment
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best school in Sydney?
Reddam House in Woollahra is the highest-ranked high school in Sydney on the 2025 Success Index (93.4/100). Reddam House in Woollahra is the highest-ranked primary school (93.4/100). Rankings summarise community advantage and momentum, so always visit a shortlist of schools before deciding.
How many schools are in Sydney?
1,476 schools appear in ACARA's 2025 data for Sydney, of which 955 are government schools.
How are schools in Sydney 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 Sydney ranking cover?
Sydney 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.