Top 100 Schools in Australia: State-by-State Guide

Overview / quick answer: Australia has no single official national school league table, and ATAR-related reporting is not directly comparable across states. This top 100 schools in Australia guide uses a state-balanced editorial methodology, with sector and senior credential shown for every school. School-level context is anchored to the latest My School release available at the time of checking and current state senior-result sources; selective entry is treated as context rather than hidden.

At a glance	Verified detail
Coverage	100 government, selective, Catholic and independent schools across all states and major territories
Latest school-level base	My School includes 2025 NAPLAN and 2025 profile/attendance updates at the checked date
Senior credentials	HSC, VCE, QCE, WACE, SACE, ACT Senior Secondary, TCE, NTCET and selected IB pathways
Critical caveat	ATAR distributions and subject scaling are state-based; this is not a single national ATAR table

Research checked: August 24, 2026. Primary evidence: ACARA My School; ACARA National Report on Schooling; NSW HSC merit lists; IB World School finder.

Top 100 schools in Australia: What This Ranking Means

This page is a research guide, not an official government endorsement and not a promise of admission or outcomes. “Top” means the schools performed strongly against the disclosed editorial criteria or appear in the identified source order. It does not mean that a one-place difference is educationally significant, that every school accepts the same applicants, or that the first school is the right choice for every child.

The table is designed for entity-level comparison: school name, location, sector or format, curriculum and boarding information are stated directly where the topic requires them. That structure helps families, search engines and AI answer systems distinguish schools with similar names without relying on vague prose.

How We Ranked the Top 100 schools in Australia

We balance senior outcomes, NAPLAN and progress context, program breadth, equity and access, and source recency. Selective and non-selective schools are labelled. The order is editorial because states publish different metrics and timelines; raw ATAR or band percentages are never treated as directly equivalent nationwide.

Methodology weights for top 100 schools in Australia

Scoring framework used for this guide

The weights below are the editorial framework used to balance unlike evidence without pretending that different national exam systems share one common score.

Factor	Weight	What we looked for
Senior outcomes	25%	Current state senior-certificate evidence without cross-state conversion
NAPLAN and progress context	20%	Multiyear literacy, numeracy and progress evidence in school context
Program breadth	20%	Depth of courses, pathways, activities and specialist provision
Equity and access	20%	Admissions context, student background and subgroup evidence
Source recency	15%	Currency, edition clarity and directness of the evidence

What the method does not do

It does not sell or reserve ranking positions.
It does not treat one exam average as a complete measure of school quality.
It does not assume selective and open-admissions schools have comparable intakes.
It does not reproduce an outdated table without naming the source edition and check date.
It does not replace current admissions, fee, safeguarding or programme verification.

Top 100 Schools in Australia: State-by-State Guide: Full Comparison Table

Use the filters visible in the columns before focusing on rank. Families should create a manageable shortlist and then verify every high-stakes detail with the school or relevant authority.

Rank	School	City / suburb	State / territory	Sector	Senior credential
1	James Ruse Agricultural High School	Carlingford	New South Wales	Government selective	HSC
2	North Sydney Boys High School	Crows Nest	New South Wales	Government selective	HSC
3	North Sydney Girls High School	Crows Nest	New South Wales	Government selective	HSC
4	Sydney Grammar School	Darlinghurst	New South Wales	Independent	HSC
5	Baulkham Hills High School	Baulkham Hills	New South Wales	Government selective	HSC
6	Hornsby Girls High School	Hornsby	New South Wales	Government selective	HSC
7	Sydney Boys High School	Moore Park	New South Wales	Government selective	HSC
8	Sydney Girls High School	Surry Hills	New South Wales	Government selective	HSC
9	Reddam House Sydney	Woollahra	New South Wales	Independent	HSC
10	Conservatorium High School	Sydney	New South Wales	Government selective / music	HSC
11	Normanhurst Boys High School	Normanhurst	New South Wales	Government selective	HSC
12	Fort Street High School	Petersham	New South Wales	Government selective	HSC
13	Penrith Selective High School	Penrith	New South Wales	Government selective	HSC
14	Girraween High School	Girraween	New South Wales	Government selective	HSC
15	Hurlstone Agricultural High School	Glenfield	New South Wales	Government selective	HSC
16	Caringbah High School	Caringbah	New South Wales	Government selective	HSC
17	St George Girls High School	Kogarah	New South Wales	Government selective	HSC
18	Merewether High School	Broadmeadow	New South Wales	Government selective	HSC
19	Gosford High School	Gosford	New South Wales	Government selective	HSC
20	Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly Campus	North Curl Curl	New South Wales	Government selective	HSC
21	Abbotsleigh	Wahroonga	New South Wales	Independent	HSC
22	Ascham School	Edgecliff	New South Wales	Independent	HSC
23	SCEGGS Darlinghurst	Darlinghurst	New South Wales	Independent	HSC
24	Pymble Ladies' College	Pymble	New South Wales	Independent	HSC
25	Knox Grammar School	Wahroonga	New South Wales	Independent	HSC
26	Barker College	Hornsby	New South Wales	Independent	HSC
27	Shore School	North Sydney	New South Wales	Independent	HSC
28	The King's School	Parramatta	New South Wales	Independent	HSC
29	Loreto Kirribilli	Kirribilli	New South Wales	Independent	HSC
30	Kambala	Rose Bay	New South Wales	Independent	HSC
31	Melbourne High School	South Yarra	Victoria	Government selective	VCE
32	The Mac.Robertson Girls' High School	Melbourne	Victoria	Government selective	VCE
33	Nossal High School	Berwick	Victoria	Government selective	VCE
34	Suzanne Cory High School	Werribee	Victoria	Government selective	VCE
35	John Monash Science School	Clayton	Victoria	Government selective	VCE
36	Presbyterian Ladies' College Melbourne	Burwood	Victoria	Independent	VCE / IB
37	Melbourne Grammar School	Melbourne	Victoria	Independent	VCE
38	Scotch College Melbourne	Hawthorn	Victoria	Independent	VCE
39	Haileybury	Keysborough	Victoria	Independent	VCE
40	Methodist Ladies' College	Kew	Victoria	Independent	VCE / IB
41	Caulfield Grammar School	Caulfield	Victoria	Independent	VCE
42	Wesley College	Melbourne	Victoria	Independent	VCE / IB
43	Trinity Grammar School, Kew	Kew	Victoria	Independent	VCE
44	Camberwell Grammar School	Canterbury	Victoria	Independent	VCE
45	Fintona Girls' School	Balwyn	Victoria	Independent	VCE
46	Huntingtower School	Mount Waverley	Victoria	Independent	VCE
47	Korowa Anglican Girls' School	Glen Iris	Victoria	Independent	VCE
48	Lauriston Girls' School	Armadale	Victoria	Independent	VCE / IB
49	Ruyton Girls' School	Kew	Victoria	Independent	VCE
50	St Kevin's College	Toorak	Victoria	Independent Catholic	VCE
51	Xavier College	Kew	Victoria	Independent Catholic	VCE
52	Ballarat Clarendon College	Ballarat	Victoria	Independent	VCE
53	Geelong Grammar School	Corio	Victoria	Independent	VCE / IB
54	Mount Scopus Memorial College	Burwood	Victoria	Independent	VCE
55	Bialik College	Hawthorn East	Victoria	Independent	VCE
56	Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology	Toowong	Queensland	Government selective	IB
57	Brisbane State High School	South Brisbane	Queensland	Government	QCE
58	Mansfield State High School	Mansfield	Queensland	Government	QCE
59	Indooroopilly State High School	Indooroopilly	Queensland	Government	QCE / IB
60	Kelvin Grove State College	Kelvin Grove	Queensland	Government	QCE
61	Brisbane Grammar School	Spring Hill	Queensland	Independent	QCE
62	Brisbane Girls Grammar School	Brisbane	Queensland	Independent	QCE
63	Somerville House	South Brisbane	Queensland	Independent	QCE
64	St Aidan's Anglican Girls' School	Corinda	Queensland	Independent	QCE
65	Anglican Church Grammar School	East Brisbane	Queensland	Independent	QCE
66	St Margaret's Anglican Girls School	Ascot	Queensland	Independent	QCE
67	All Hallows' School	Brisbane	Queensland	Independent Catholic	QCE
68	Queensland Academy for Creative Industries	Kelvin Grove	Queensland	Government selective	IB
69	Queensland Academy for Health Sciences	Southport	Queensland	Government selective	IB
70	The Southport School	Southport	Queensland	Independent	QCE
71	Perth Modern School	Subiaco	Western Australia	Government selective	WACE
72	Christ Church Grammar School	Claremont	Western Australia	Independent	WACE
73	St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls	Mosman Park	Western Australia	Independent	WACE
74	Methodist Ladies' College Perth	Claremont	Western Australia	Independent	WACE
75	Hale School	Wembley Downs	Western Australia	Independent	WACE
76	Penrhos College	Como	Western Australia	Independent	WACE
77	Presbyterian Ladies' College Perth	Peppermint Grove	Western Australia	Independent	WACE
78	Rossmoyne Senior High School	Rossmoyne	Western Australia	Government	WACE
79	Willetton Senior High School	Willetton	Western Australia	Government	WACE
80	Shenton College	Shenton Park	Western Australia	Government	WACE
81	John Curtin College of the Arts	Fremantle	Western Australia	Government selective / arts	WACE
82	Churchlands Senior High School	Churchlands	Western Australia	Government	WACE
83	Glenunga International High School	Glenunga	South Australia	Government	SACE / IB
84	Adelaide High School	Adelaide	South Australia	Government	SACE
85	Marryatville High School	Marryatville	South Australia	Government	SACE
86	Norwood International High School	Norwood	South Australia	Government	SACE / IB
87	St Peter's College	St Peters	South Australia	Independent	SACE / IB
88	Wilderness School	Medindie	South Australia	Independent	SACE
89	Pembroke School	Kensington Park	South Australia	Independent	SACE / IB
90	Prince Alfred College	Kent Town	South Australia	Independent	SACE / IB
91	St Peter's Girls' School	Stonyfell	South Australia	Independent	SACE
92	Scotch College Adelaide	Torrens Park	South Australia	Independent	SACE
93	Canberra Grammar School	Red Hill	Australian Capital Territory	Independent	ACT Senior Secondary / IB
94	Radford College	Bruce	Australian Capital Territory	Independent	ACT Senior Secondary
95	Narrabundah College	Narrabundah	Australian Capital Territory	Government	ACT Senior Secondary / IB
96	Lyneham High School	Lyneham	Australian Capital Territory	Government	ACT pathway
97	The Friends' School	North Hobart	Tasmania	Independent	TCE / IB
98	Taroona High School	Taroona	Tasmania	Government	TCE pathway
99	Darwin High School	The Gardens	Northern Territory	Government	NTCET
100	The Essington School	Rapid Creek	Northern Territory	Independent	NTCET

Where the Top 100 schools in Australia Are Located

Geographic distribution of schools in the top 100 schools in Australia guide

Country / province / state	Schools represented	Share of list
New South Wales	30	30%
Victoria	25	25%
Queensland	15	15%
Western Australia	12	12%
South Australia	10	10%
Australian Capital Territory	4	4%
Tasmania	2	2%
Northern Territory	2	2%

The distribution reflects the scope of this guide and the availability of current, comparable evidence. It is not a country, province or state quality score. Larger education markets and regions with established directories naturally contribute more entries.

Key Findings From the Top 100 schools in Australia

New South Wales and Victoria have the largest representation because their populations and public results ecosystems are larger. Each state section still includes government and non-government pathways.
Selective schools often dominate exam tables, but intake effects matter. My School's student-background and progress context can help families avoid confusing selection with school contribution.
IB and state credentials are both valid routes. Subject availability, scaling, prerequisites and university destination matter more than the label alone.

NAPLAN, ATAR and State School Performance in Australia

NAPLAN measures selected literacy and numeracy domains in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. It is not a senior certificate and is not designed to be a complete school-quality score. My School is most useful when families compare similar schools, student-background context and several years rather than one cohort.

ATAR is a tertiary-admissions rank derived through state and territory systems; schools publish it inconsistently. HSC Band 6, VCE study scores, QCE outcomes, WACE achievement and other senior measures have different definitions. This guide therefore labels each senior credential and does not convert them into one national percentage.

Selective, government, Catholic and independent schools

Selective entry, catchment, fees and school mission shape the student intake. A high selective-school average cannot be read as proof that the same school would create the same result for any randomly assigned student. Compare admissions access, value-added context, curriculum, support and travel alongside outcomes.

How to Choose From the Top 100 schools in Australia

For government schools, verify catchment, selective-test, audition and out-of-area rules with the relevant department.
Use My School to compare similar schools and multiyear patterns rather than one NAPLAN cohort or a newspaper snapshot.
Check senior subjects, completion, co-curricular access, wellbeing, learning support, travel time and total private-school costs.
For Year 10–12 moves, obtain a subject and credential transition review before enrolment.

A five-step family decision process

Set non-negotiables: eligible grade, location, curriculum, language, day or boarding, support and maximum all-in cost.
Check access: catchment, passport, test, interview, prerequisite, visa and deadline rules.
Verify evidence: use official or accreditor sources and record the date, cohort and definition behind every statistic.
Test daily fit: model travel, timetable, workload, residence life, extracurricular access and student support.
Compare offers: evaluate the written place, conditions, total cost, aid, refund terms and transition plan—not the ranking number alone.

FAQs About the Top 100 schools in Australia

What is the number one school in Australia?

There is no official national number one. James Ruse often leads NSW HSC tables, while other states use different credentials and measures.

Are Australian school rankings official?

My School is an official information platform, but it does not publish one overall best-schools rank. Publisher tables choose their own formulas.

Can ATAR results be compared across states?

Only cautiously. States use different senior certificates, subjects, scaling systems and publication practices.

Does NAPLAN show which school is best?

No. NAPLAN is one literacy-and-numeracy signal and should be read with student-background, progress, attendance, senior outcomes and school context.

Are selective schools included?

Yes, and they are clearly labelled because competitive entry affects average results and comparison with comprehensive schools.

Does the list include public and private schools?

Yes. It includes government, selective government, Catholic and independent schools.

What senior credentials do Australian schools offer?

Each state or territory has its own certificate; selected schools also offer the IB Diploma.

How should parents use this top 100?

Filter by state, sector, admissions access, senior subjects, commute and student needs, then verify current evidence with the school and official sources.

Sources, Updates and Corrections

ACARA My School — checked August 24, 2026.
ACARA National Report on Schooling — checked August 24, 2026.
NSW HSC merit lists — checked August 24, 2026.
IB World School finder — checked August 24, 2026.

School programmes, fees, admissions rules and source rankings can change after publication. Before publishing an update, the editor should re-open every primary source, replace superseded editions, check school-name or status changes and record a new fact-check date. Readers should be invited to submit a correction with a primary-source link; substantive changes should be logged at the bottom of the live page.

Editorial disclosure: No school paid for inclusion or position. Generated visual scenes are illustrative and do not depict a named institution. The ranking contains editorial judgment wherever an official common table does not exist.

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Saahil

Saahil is an education researcher and content creator specializing in university rankings, admissions strategies, and student tools. He is dedicated to helping students make informed academic decisions.