Best schools in Townsville (2025)
The Townsville region. The top five of 112 schools in each category, with links to the full top 100. Rankings use the Success Index, built only from official ACARA data.
Townsville has 112 schools in ACARA's 2025 data: 72 government (64%), 24 Catholic and 16 independent, together enrolling about 43,756 students. By level there are 70 primary schools, 21 secondary schools and 16 combined (K–12) schools.
The median ICSEA is 930 (the national benchmark is 1000) and 3 schools, or 3%, have an ICSEA of 1100 or more, which marks a highly advantaged community. The average school has 11.8 students per full-time-equivalent teacher.
Best primary schools in Townsville
Schools offering primary years (Primary and Combined schools).
St Joseph's Catholic School, The Strand
North Ward · Catholic primary · Prep-6
355 students · ICSEA 1100
St Joseph's Catholic School
Mundingburra · Catholic primary · Prep-6
356 students · ICSEA 1078
Townsville Grammar School
North Ward · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,288 students · ICSEA 1116
The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James
Mundingburra · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,205 students · ICSEA 1100
Marian Catholic School
Currajong · Catholic primary · Prep-6
374 students · ICSEA 1042
Best high schools in Townsville
Schools offering secondary years (Secondary and Combined schools).
St Patrick's College Townsville
Townsville · Catholic high school · 7-12
663 students · ICSEA 1024
Townsville Grammar School
North Ward · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,288 students · ICSEA 1116
The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James
Mundingburra · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,205 students · ICSEA 1100
Ignatius Park College
Cranbrook · Catholic high school · 7-12
959 students · ICSEA 1018
Annandale Christian College
Annandale · Independent combined · Prep-12
687 students · ICSEA 1069
Best public schools in Townsville
Government schools across all year levels.
Belgian Gardens State School
Belgian Gardens · Government primary · Prep-6
595 students · ICSEA 1055
Magnetic Island State School
Nelly Bay · Government primary · Prep-6
123 students · ICSEA 1027
Hermit Park State School
Hyde Park · Government primary · Prep-6
630 students · ICSEA 1028
Annandale State School
Annandale · Government primary · Prep-6
722 students · ICSEA 1019
North Shore State School
Burdell · Government primary · Prep-6
672 students · ICSEA 988
Best private schools in Townsville
Independent and Catholic schools across all year levels.
St Joseph's Catholic School, The Strand
North Ward · Catholic primary · Prep-6
355 students · ICSEA 1100
St Patrick's College Townsville
Townsville · Catholic high school · 7-12
663 students · ICSEA 1024
St Joseph's Catholic School
Mundingburra · Catholic primary · Prep-6
356 students · ICSEA 1078
Townsville Grammar School
North Ward · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,288 students · ICSEA 1116
The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James
Mundingburra · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,205 students · ICSEA 1100
Best catholic schools in Townsville
Catholic systemic and independent Catholic schools.
St Joseph's Catholic School, The Strand
North Ward · Catholic primary · Prep-6
355 students · ICSEA 1100
St Patrick's College Townsville
Townsville · Catholic high school · 7-12
663 students · ICSEA 1024
St Joseph's Catholic School
Mundingburra · Catholic primary · Prep-6
356 students · ICSEA 1078
Marian Catholic School
Currajong · Catholic primary · Prep-6
374 students · ICSEA 1042
Ignatius Park College
Cranbrook · Catholic high school · 7-12
959 students · ICSEA 1018
Best independent schools in Townsville
Independent (non-government, non-Catholic-system) schools.
Townsville Grammar School
North Ward · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,288 students · ICSEA 1116
The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James
Mundingburra · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,205 students · ICSEA 1100
Annandale Christian College
Annandale · Independent combined · Prep-12
687 students · ICSEA 1069
Calvary Christian College
Mount Louisa · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,128 students · ICSEA 1020
Blackheath and Thornburgh College
Charters Towers · Independent combined · Prep-11
379 students · ICSEA 965
Best public primary schools in Townsville
Government schools offering primary years.
Belgian Gardens State School
Belgian Gardens · Government primary · Prep-6
595 students · ICSEA 1055
Magnetic Island State School
Nelly Bay · Government primary · Prep-6
123 students · ICSEA 1027
Hermit Park State School
Hyde Park · Government primary · Prep-6
630 students · ICSEA 1028
Annandale State School
Annandale · Government primary · Prep-6
722 students · ICSEA 1019
North Shore State School
Burdell · Government primary · Prep-6
672 students · ICSEA 988
Best public high schools in Townsville
Government schools offering secondary years.
Pimlico State High School
Gulliver · Government high school · 7-12
1,465 students · ICSEA 987
Ayr State High School
Ayr · Government high school · 7-12
497 students · ICSEA 925
William Ross State High School
Annandale · Government high school · 7-12
862 students · ICSEA 955
Ingham State High School
Ingham · Government high school · 7-12
422 students · ICSEA 923
Charters Towers School of Distance Education
Millchester · Government combined · Prep-12
2,395 students · ICSEA 948
Best private primary schools in Townsville
Independent and Catholic schools offering primary years.
St Joseph's Catholic School, The Strand
North Ward · Catholic primary · Prep-6
355 students · ICSEA 1100
St Joseph's Catholic School
Mundingburra · Catholic primary · Prep-6
356 students · ICSEA 1078
Townsville Grammar School
North Ward · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,288 students · ICSEA 1116
The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James
Mundingburra · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,205 students · ICSEA 1100
Marian Catholic School
Currajong · Catholic primary · Prep-6
374 students · ICSEA 1042
Best private high schools in Townsville
Independent and Catholic schools offering secondary years.
St Patrick's College Townsville
Townsville · Catholic high school · 7-12
663 students · ICSEA 1024
Townsville Grammar School
North Ward · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,288 students · ICSEA 1116
The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James
Mundingburra · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,205 students · ICSEA 1100
Ignatius Park College
Cranbrook · Catholic high school · 7-12
959 students · ICSEA 1018
Annandale Christian College
Annandale · Independent combined · Prep-12
687 students · ICSEA 1069
Best girls' schools in Townsville
Single-sex schools enrolling girls only (based on ACARA enrolment counts).
Best boys' schools in Townsville
Single-sex schools enrolling boys only (based on ACARA enrolment counts).
Best K-12 schools in Townsville
Combined schools offering both primary and secondary years, so a child can stay from Foundation to Year 12.
Townsville Grammar School
North Ward · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,288 students · ICSEA 1116
The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James
Mundingburra · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,205 students · ICSEA 1100
Annandale Christian College
Annandale · Independent combined · Prep-12
687 students · ICSEA 1069
Southern Cross Catholic College
Annandale · Catholic combined · Prep-12
1,479 students · ICSEA 1048
Calvary Christian College
Mount Louisa · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,128 students · ICSEA 1020
Best fastest-growing schools in Townsville
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.
Carinity Education - Shalom
Condon · Independent combined · Prep-12
237 students · ICSEA 688
St Benedict's Catholic School
Shaw · Catholic primary · Prep-6
613 students · ICSEA 1014
Burdekin Christian College
Ayr · Independent combined · Prep-12
380 students · ICSEA 949
Townsville Christian College
Vincent · Independent combined · Prep-12
442 students · ICSEA 871
Blackheath and Thornburgh College
Charters Towers · Independent combined · Prep-11
379 students · ICSEA 965
Best schools with the best student–teacher ratio in Townsville
Schools with 200+ students and the fewest full-time-equivalent students per full-time-equivalent teacher.
Burdekin Catholic High School
Ayr · Catholic high school · 7-12
293 students · ICSEA 989
Charters Towers State High School
Charters Towers City · Government high school · 7-12
303 students · ICSEA 879
Ingham State High School
Ingham · Government high school · 7-12
422 students · ICSEA 923
Blackheath and Thornburgh College
Charters Towers · Independent combined · Prep-11
379 students · ICSEA 965
Bwgcolman Community School
Palm Island · Government combined · Prep-12
315 students · ICSEA 675
Best largest schools in Townsville
Schools with the highest total enrolments.
Ryan Catholic College
Kirwan · Catholic combined · Prep-12
2,019 students · ICSEA 1020
Kirwan State High School
Kirwan · Government high school · 7-12
1,922 students · ICSEA 919
St Anthony's Catholic College
Deeragun · Catholic combined · Prep-12
1,485 students · ICSEA 992
Southern Cross Catholic College
Annandale · Catholic combined · Prep-12
1,479 students · ICSEA 1048
Pimlico State High School
Gulliver · Government high school · 7-12
1,465 students · ICSEA 987
Free academic assessment
Is your child on track?
Rankings tell you about a school community. A free Success Tutoring assessment tells you about your child: exactly where they are in English and Maths, where the gaps are, and a plan to close them. Small-group, Australian-curriculum tutoring with no lock-in contracts.
- 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 school in Townsville?
St Patrick's College Townsville in Townsville is the highest-ranked high school in Townsville on the 2025 Success Index (71.6/100). St Joseph's Catholic School, The Strand in North Ward is the highest-ranked primary school (73.1/100). Rankings summarise community advantage and momentum, so always visit a shortlist of schools before deciding.
How many schools are in Townsville?
112 schools appear in ACARA's 2025 data for Townsville, of which 72 are government schools.
How are schools in Townsville 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 Townsville ranking cover?
Townsville 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.