Best schools in Wollongong (2025)
Wollongong and the Illawarra. The top five of 120 schools in each category, with links to the full top 100. Rankings use the Success Index, built only from official ACARA data.
Wollongong has 120 schools in ACARA's 2025 data: 88 government (73%), 18 Catholic and 14 independent, together enrolling about 47,260 students. By level there are 82 primary schools, 22 secondary schools and 8 combined (K–12) schools.
The median ICSEA is 1034 (the national benchmark is 1000) and 14 schools, or 12%, have an ICSEA of 1100 or more, which marks a highly advantaged community. The average school has 14.1 students per full-time-equivalent teacher.
Best primary schools in Wollongong
Schools offering primary years (Primary and Combined schools).
The Illawarra Grammar School
Wollongong West · Independent combined · K-12
970 students · ICSEA 1159
St Michael's Catholic Primary School
Thirroul · Catholic primary · K-6
183 students · ICSEA 1130
Pleasant Heights Public School
Mount Pleasant · Government primary · K-6
241 students · ICSEA 1126
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Bulli · Catholic primary · K-6
412 students · ICSEA 1121
Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School
Kiama · Catholic primary · K-6
363 students · ICSEA 1104
Best high schools in Wollongong
Schools offering secondary years (Secondary and Combined schools).
The Illawarra Grammar School
Wollongong West · Independent combined · K-12
970 students · ICSEA 1159
St Mary Star of the Sea College
Wollongong · Independent high school · 7-12
1,128 students · ICSEA 1104
Smiths Hill High School
Wollongong · Government high school · 7-12
736 students · ICSEA 1186
Elonera Montessori School
Mount Ousley · Independent combined · K-12
187 students · ICSEA 1108
Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts
Fairy Meadow · Government high school · 7-12
1,169 students · ICSEA 1075
Best public schools in Wollongong
Government schools across all year levels.
Smiths Hill High School
Wollongong · Government high school · 7-12
736 students · ICSEA 1186
Pleasant Heights Public School
Mount Pleasant · Government primary · K-6
241 students · ICSEA 1126
Stanwell Park Public School
Stanwell Park · Government primary · K-6
150 students · ICSEA 1112
Austinmer Public School
Austinmer · Government primary · K-6
227 students · ICSEA 1132
Coledale Public School
Coledale · Government primary · K-6
135 students · ICSEA 1118
Best private schools in Wollongong
Independent and Catholic schools across all year levels.
The Illawarra Grammar School
Wollongong West · Independent combined · K-12
970 students · ICSEA 1159
St Michael's Catholic Primary School
Thirroul · Catholic primary · K-6
183 students · ICSEA 1130
St Mary Star of the Sea College
Wollongong · Independent high school · 7-12
1,128 students · ICSEA 1104
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Bulli · Catholic primary · K-6
412 students · ICSEA 1121
Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School
Kiama · Catholic primary · K-6
363 students · ICSEA 1104
Best catholic schools in Wollongong
Catholic systemic and independent Catholic schools.
St Michael's Catholic Primary School
Thirroul · Catholic primary · K-6
183 students · ICSEA 1130
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Bulli · Catholic primary · K-6
412 students · ICSEA 1121
Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School
Kiama · Catholic primary · K-6
363 students · ICSEA 1104
St Therese Catholic Primary School
Mangerton · Catholic primary · K-6
368 students · ICSEA 1090
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School
Helensburgh · Catholic primary · K-6
184 students · ICSEA 1071
Best independent schools in Wollongong
Independent (non-government, non-Catholic-system) schools.
The Illawarra Grammar School
Wollongong West · Independent combined · K-12
970 students · ICSEA 1159
St Mary Star of the Sea College
Wollongong · Independent high school · 7-12
1,128 students · ICSEA 1104
Elonera Montessori School
Mount Ousley · Independent combined · K-12
187 students · ICSEA 1108
Edmund Rice College
West Wollongong · Independent high school · 7-12
1,054 students · ICSEA 1083
Shellharbour Anglican College
Dunmore · Independent combined · K-12
981 students · ICSEA 1099
Best public primary schools in Wollongong
Government schools offering primary years.
Pleasant Heights Public School
Mount Pleasant · Government primary · K-6
241 students · ICSEA 1126
Stanwell Park Public School
Stanwell Park · Government primary · K-6
150 students · ICSEA 1112
Austinmer Public School
Austinmer · Government primary · K-6
227 students · ICSEA 1132
Coledale Public School
Coledale · Government primary · K-6
135 students · ICSEA 1118
Gerringong Public School
Gerringong · Government primary · K-6
378 students · ICSEA 1091
Best public high schools in Wollongong
Government schools offering secondary years.
Smiths Hill High School
Wollongong · Government high school · 7-12
736 students · ICSEA 1186
Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts
Fairy Meadow · Government high school · 7-12
1,169 students · ICSEA 1075
Bulli High School
Bulli · Government high school · 7-12
979 students · ICSEA 1058
Kiama High School
Kiama · Government high school · 7-12
761 students · ICSEA 1036
Figtree High School
Figtree · Government high school · 7-12
880 students · ICSEA 1013
Best private primary schools in Wollongong
Independent and Catholic schools offering primary years.
The Illawarra Grammar School
Wollongong West · Independent combined · K-12
970 students · ICSEA 1159
St Michael's Catholic Primary School
Thirroul · Catholic primary · K-6
183 students · ICSEA 1130
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Bulli · Catholic primary · K-6
412 students · ICSEA 1121
Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School
Kiama · Catholic primary · K-6
363 students · ICSEA 1104
St Therese Catholic Primary School
Mangerton · Catholic primary · K-6
368 students · ICSEA 1090
Best private high schools in Wollongong
Independent and Catholic schools offering secondary years.
The Illawarra Grammar School
Wollongong West · Independent combined · K-12
970 students · ICSEA 1159
St Mary Star of the Sea College
Wollongong · Independent high school · 7-12
1,128 students · ICSEA 1104
Elonera Montessori School
Mount Ousley · Independent combined · K-12
187 students · ICSEA 1108
Edmund Rice College
West Wollongong · Independent high school · 7-12
1,054 students · ICSEA 1083
Holy Spirit College
Bellambi · Catholic high school · 7-12
1,249 students · ICSEA 1069
Best girls' schools in Wollongong
Single-sex schools enrolling girls only (based on ACARA enrolment counts).
Best boys' schools in Wollongong
Single-sex schools enrolling boys only (based on ACARA enrolment counts).
Best K-12 schools in Wollongong
Combined schools offering both primary and secondary years, so a child can stay from Foundation to Year 12.
The Illawarra Grammar School
Wollongong West · Independent combined · K-12
970 students · ICSEA 1159
Elonera Montessori School
Mount Ousley · Independent combined · K-12
187 students · ICSEA 1108
Shellharbour Anglican College
Dunmore · Independent combined · K-12
981 students · ICSEA 1099
Illawarra Christian School
Cordeaux Heights · Independent combined · K-12
800 students · ICSEA 1091
Calderwood Christian School
Albion Park · Independent combined · K-12
504 students · ICSEA 1056
Best fastest-growing schools in Wollongong
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.
Calderwood Christian School
Albion Park · Independent combined · K-12
504 students · ICSEA 1056
Corrimal High School
Corrimal · Government high school · 7-12
569 students · ICSEA 940
Shellharbour Anglican College
Dunmore · Independent combined · K-12
981 students · ICSEA 1099
Windang Public School
Windang · Government primary · K-6
203 students · ICSEA 988
St Pius X Catholic Primary School
Unanderra · Catholic primary · K-6
371 students · ICSEA 1066
Best schools with the best student–teacher ratio in Wollongong
Schools with 200+ students and the fewest full-time-equivalent students per full-time-equivalent teacher.
Five Islands Secondary College
Port Kembla · Government high school · 9-12
293 students · ICSEA 983
Warrawong High School
Warrawong · Government high school · 7-12
591 students · ICSEA 905
Kanahooka High School
Kanahooka · Government high school · 7-12
581 students · ICSEA 912
Corrimal High School
Corrimal · Government high school · 7-12
569 students · ICSEA 940
The Illawarra Grammar School
Wollongong West · Independent combined · K-12
970 students · ICSEA 1159
Best largest schools in Wollongong
Schools with the highest total enrolments.
Holy Spirit College
Bellambi · Catholic high school · 7-12
1,249 students · ICSEA 1069
Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts
Fairy Meadow · Government high school · 7-12
1,169 students · ICSEA 1075
St Mary Star of the Sea College
Wollongong · Independent high school · 7-12
1,128 students · ICSEA 1104
Corpus Christi Catholic High School
Oak Flats · Catholic high school · 7-12
1,126 students · ICSEA 1045
Edmund Rice College
West Wollongong · Independent high school · 7-12
1,054 students · ICSEA 1083
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best school in Wollongong?
The Illawarra Grammar School in Wollongong West is the highest-ranked high school in Wollongong on the 2025 Success Index (80.3/100). The Illawarra Grammar School in Wollongong West is the highest-ranked primary school (80.3/100). Rankings summarise community advantage and momentum, so always visit a shortlist of schools before deciding.
How many schools are in Wollongong?
120 schools appear in ACARA's 2025 data for Wollongong, of which 88 are government schools.
How are schools in Wollongong 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 Wollongong ranking cover?
Wollongong 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.