Deciding which high school to attend is an important decision for prospective students and their parents. There are many factors to consider when choosing a high school, such as the cost of tuition, campus culture, educational curriculum, and extra-curricular activities.
While they shouldn’t be the only factor you consider, you can look at exam scores to get a general idea of the quality of education you can expect from the school.
Read on to find out more about the schools in Canberra and how they rank!
Determining the Best Schools in Canberra
Typically, when a family considers their move to a new area, schools' rankings weigh heavily on their rental or buying decisions. It's not uncommon for movers to first investigate schools and then, look for housing once they've found the right schools for their needs/preferences. Australia's Right to Education laws make it clear that anyone living in a particular school zone has a right to education through that zone's school.
Private schools offer a way around these catchment policies; faith-based and independent schools make their own admissions policies. They may accept students from outside the school's zone if their rolls aren't yet filled.
We’ve been researching to find the best schools in each state, but in Canberra, we ran into a unique situation. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has schools, of course, but it’s unclear how many there are according to online sources. On the ACT government site, there are 22 listed public schools where students years 7-10 can attend. On AustralianSchoolsDirectory, there are 31 listed government schools and 18 non-government schools listed. On BetterEducation, there are 13 listed schools in all sectors.
Also, ATAR rankings and AST rankings are not readily available.
So, with the information available, creating a comprehensive list is a little tricky, but we have tried our best!
Rank School Sector Location Total Enrolments (2023) 1 Canberra Girls Grammar School Private Deakin 1102 2 Brindabella Christian College Private Lyneham 1100 3 Canberra Grammar School Private Red Hill 2118 4 Radford College Private Bruce 2019 5 Burgmann Anglican School Private Gungahlin 1661 6 Covenant Christian School Private Gordon 264 7 Trinity Christian School Private Wanniassa 1065 8 Marist College Canberra Private Pearce 1795 9 Emmaus Christian School Private Dickson 492 10 Merici College Private Braddon 821 1 Telopea Park School Public Barton 1596 2 Lyneham High School Public Lyneham 1069 3 Alfred Deakin High School Public Deakin 860 4 Narrabundah College Public Narrabundah 954 5 Canberra High School Public Macquarie 913 6 Hawker College Public Hawker 625 7 Gungahlin College Public Gungahlin 1113 8 Lake Tuggeranong College Public Greenway 560 9 University of Canberra Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra Public Belconnen 705
During this research, be sure to be aware of the relevant school holiday calendar so you can plan your year.
Best Public High Schools in Canberra
Government schools typically have a reputation for sub-par education and experience. While everyone’s experience at any institution can be negative, there are also plenty of government schools that offer a great experience both in and outside of the classroom. You’ll find this across the country, including at Brisbane high schools.
Canberra's top private schools reflect a socio-economic status background of 96. That's exactly the socio-economic status background for these public school students. This statistic reflects little difference between Canberra's government school students' economic advantages and those of private school students.
Check out the top schools in Canberra.
Telopea Park School
2023 NAPLAN Scores:
Year 7: Below Average
Year 9: Below Average
The Telopea Park School in Barton welcomed 1600 students in 2022. These learners followed various tracks to education excellence, starting with the Australian Curriculum. Some students may choose the International Baccalaureate program while others qualify for the Gifted and Talented track.
This school is remarkable for offering students an English-French Stream. This learning program allows students to pursue education credentials according to the French National Curriculum. Subjects include Humanities, Mathematics and Science, and French language studies, of course. They will further study three ACT-approved subjects.
Lyneham High School
2023 NAPLAN Scores:
Year 7: Below Average
Year 9: Below Average
It's no wonder that Telopea Park School claims the top spot on our short list of Canberra public schools but Lyneham High School isn't far behind. It earned a State Overall Score of 94, falling into the 15th Better Education percentile. Lyneham High maths scores are on par with the top private Canberra schools but English scores lag just a bit.
Alfred Deakin High School
2023 NAPLAN Scores:
Year 7: Below Average
Year 9: Below Average
Lyneham boasts a mid-range student body; of just over 1000 students. By contrast, Alfred Deakin High School posted the lowest numbers of any Canberra school, government or private. However, we note that Alfred Deakin's statistics are still higher than a few high schools in Adelaide that we reviewed.
Perhaps that rating is unfair, though. Alfred Deakin High School offers as expansive a curriculum as other schools on this list. Naturally, it includes the standard subjects like English, Maths and Sciences, but we found its Studies of Society and Environment program particularly engaging.
Besides the core curriculum, Deakin students may choose from a generous electives list. Courses range from Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) to Outdoor Education and Photographic Art. The Lifestyle Education classes - particularly the study units that involve cooking, are equally attention-grabbing.
Best Private High Schools in Canberra
Canberra private schools seem to have similar enrolment sizes and test score results compared to many of the public schools. Your choice can be determined by other factors, like location and distinct campus culture.
Canberra Girls Grammar School
2023 NAPLAN Scores:
Year 7: Close to Average
Year 9: Above Average
You'll find this K-12 girls' school in Deakin, with the Early Learning Centre and Junior School on Grey Street and the Senior school on Melbourne Ave. Altogether, the school has an average student body of 1470, with some students lodging at the on-campus boarding house.
The curriculum includes all the standard elements: maths, English, science and physical education. Starting in Year 10, students enter the school's Aspire program, a three-pronged development initiative that encompasses Career, Study Skills and Transition. That last is preparation for Year 11 and 12 learning.
This school is top-ranked across the ACT with English and Maths scores taking the top spot across Australia.
Brindabella Christian College
2023 NAPLAN Scores:
Year 7: Close to Average
Year 9: Close to Average
This co-educational school also offers a comprehensive K-12 learning program, which is based on a Christian curriculum. Its Senior school (Years 9 and 10) campus is in Lyneham. The college's student body comprises approximately 950 learners.
Brindabella makes an exciting course catalogue available. Students may follow a technical path with offerings such as Information Technology and Robotics and Mechatronics. Or they may prefer Visual Arts, Drama and Design and Technology. Naturally, the standard courses apply: English, Maths and Sciences.
Brindabella ranks in the third percentile on the Better Education scale. Overall, it scores 99 among the top schools in Australia.
Canberra Grammar School
2023 NAPLAN Scores:
Year 7: Below Average
Year 9: Below Average
Formerly a Primary-12 boys' school, Canberra Grammar opened its register to female students in 2016. Two years later, this school was fully co-educational. The Senior School is on Monaro Crescent in Red Hill, on a campus large enough to accommodate more than 2000 students.
Canberra Grammar School offers all the compulsory courses the other schools we've covered present, as well as Geography/History and Physical Education. Learners have an array of electives to choose from, including a generous selection of languages, Humanities subjects and technical courses.
This school ranks in the fifth percentile on the Better Schools scale. Compared to schools across Australia, it ranks at 98 with a strong showing in Maths scores and slightly weaker placement in English.
Radford College
2023 NAPLAN Scores:
Year 7: Below Average
Year 9: Below Average
You can find this Anglican day school in Bruce. Radford College is a Pre-K through Year 12 school, a member of the Round Square international network of schools. Like Canberra Grammar School - and the best high schools in Sydney, Radford welcomes just over 2000 students each school year.
Besides all the standard core courses, Radford learners must study Religious and Values Education (RaVE). Alongside their mandatory studies, students may choose from a list of enriching courses in languages, art and/or technology subjects. Unlike the schools covered so far, Radford offers courses in International Commerce; a fine selection for those who wish to master in Business at university.
Radford ties with Canberra Grammar in State Overall score and English results but comes in at 7% on the Better Education scale.
Like some of the best schools in Perth, some of the private schools in Canberra choose to keep their enrolment numbers low so students can have a better chance at a personalised experience in class and in extracurricular activities.
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
