Sydney and New South Wales are home to some of the country's most prestigious and expensive schools. Often paying more than $50,000 per year, parents invest heavily in education. Here are the 15 most expensive secondary schools in NSW.
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Approx. Year 12 Fee (AUD) | Boarding Fee (AUD) | Founded | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kambala School | Rose Bay | Girls’ Day & Boarding | $51,703 | Up to $31,000 | 1887 | Academic excellence, performing arts, harbour setting |
| 2 | The Scots College | Bellevue Hill | Boys’ Day & Boarding | $51,258 | $34,660 | 1893 | Leadership, sport, and tradition |
| 3 | SCEGGS Darlinghurst | Darlinghurst | Girls’ Day | $49,036 | — | 1895 | Academic results and social awareness |
| 4 | Cranbrook School | Bellevue Hill | Boys’ Day & Boarding | $49,521 | $31,000 | 1918 | STEM and leadership |
| 5 | Sydney Grammar School | Darlinghurst | Boys’ Day | $49,209 | — | 1854 | Classical education and academic rigour |
| 6 | The King’s School | Parramatta | Boys’ Day & Boarding | $47,045 | $35,856 | 1831 | Heritage and sporting excellence |
| 7 | Ascham School | Edgecliff | Girls’ Day & Boarding | $46,350 | — | 1886 | Independent learning (Dalton Plan) |
| 8 | Shore | North Sydney | Boys’ Day & Boarding | $46,290 | $31,000 | 1889 | Character, service, and academic strength |
| 9 | Reddam House | Woollahra | Co-ed Day | $46,220 | — | 2001 | Modern curriculum and creative arts |
| 10 | Newington College | Stanmore | Boys’ Day & Boarding | $45,369 | — | 1863 | Academic diversity and global focus |
| 11 | Pymble Ladies’ College | Pymble | Girls’ Day & Boarding | $42,763 | — | 1916 | STEAM and leadership programs |
| 12 | Knox Grammar School | Wahroonga | Boys’ Day & Boarding | $42,330 | $31,130 | 1924 | Christian ethos and innovation |
| 13 | Abbotsleigh | Wahroonga | Girls’ Day & Boarding | $41,960 | $29,900 | 1885 | Academic excellence and wellbeing |
| 14 | St Catherine’s School | Waverley | Girls’ Day & Boarding | $41,400 | — | 1856 | Community focus and high HSC results |
| 15 | Loreto Kirribilli | Kirribilli | Girls’ Day | $35,160 | — | 1901 | Faith-based education and STEM innovation |
1. Kambala School – Rose Bay
Kambala School is nestled above Sydney Harbour. It's one of the city's most picturesque locations, for sure, but it's also the costliest tuition in New South Wales and one of the most expensive secondary schools in Australia. At around $51,703 per year, this girls' school has a lot to live up to to justify the tuition.
Founded in 1887, it blends heritage with modern teaching, strong academic results, an international perspective, and a focus on the performing arts. The school attracts both local and international students, with its boarding program costing an additional $30,000.
Small class sizes, extensive co-curricular options, and confident, globally minded graduates. Kambala boasts some of the finest private education in New South Wales. Tradition, location, and excellence.
2. The Scots College – Bellevue Hill
This is Sydney's most prestigious all-boys' school. The Scots College was established in 1893 and charges about $51,258 per year for Year 12 day tuition. The school combines academic rigour and leadership development with sporting excellence. The college's heritage building in Bellevue Hill overlooks the harbour. However, it also has modern facilities for everything from robotics to rugby. The boarding program is among the most comprehensive in New South Wales, with fees that rival those of Victoria's most expensive schools. Still, it adds an additional $34,000 to the fees for those from regional Australia.
Alumni of The Scots College have gone on to leadership roles in business, politics, and the arts, continuing the tradition of "gentleman scholars". Scots is often chosen for its character-building ethos where students are encouraged to think critically, act ethically, and lead with purpose. Another fine school.
3. SCEGGS Darlinghurst
SCEGGS Darlinhurst is one of Sydney's best independent girls' schools. It's known for academic excellence with social awareness. With tuition for Year 12 students around $49,036 in 2025, it's the region's third most-expensive school. Founded in 1895, SCEGGS has since then provided a broad liberal-arts education that encourages curiosity, creativity, and leadership. The school also gives students access to the cultural and professional life of Sydney, from museums to university partnerships. Graduates from SCEGGS often achieve top HSC scores and enter leading universities across Australia and abroad.
4. Cranbrook School – Bellevue Hill
Cranbrook School is located in one of Sydney's most exclusive suburbs. The annual Year 12 tuition fee is $49,521, making it one of the country's most expensive boys' schools and significantly above that of the most expensive schools in Queensland, which aren't cheap, either. Cranbrook was established in 1918 and combines Anglican traditions with modern academic standards and exceptional facilities. The newly redeveloped campus has state-of-the-art classrooms, arts spaces, and sports facilities. The school focuses on holistic development, encouraging students to excel academically while cultivating creativity and resilience. Boarding options are available for families across Australia at roughly $30,000 annually.
5. Sydney Grammar School – Darlinghurst
Sydney Grammar School is one of the country's best academic institutions for boys. Tuition is around $49,209 per year, and Grammar regularly ranks among the top-performing HSC schools in New South Wales. Sydney Grammar School was founded in 1854 and has since focused on scholarship, debate, and discipline to prepare students for both university and professional life. Facilities include music conservatories, science labs, and lecture halls. Classical education is still part of the school's ethos, with Latin and philosophy still being offered. With its reputation for rigorous study, it's a cornerstone of elite Sydney education.
6. The King’s School – Parramatta
The King's School, which was founded in 1831, is one of Australia's oldest boys' schools, nearly two decades older than Perth's oldest boys' school. With its annual tuition around $47,000 and its boarding options exceeding $80,000 in total, it offers a complete academic and residential experience. This school combines Anglican values, and its extensive Parramatta campus features sports fields, agricultural programs, and modern science facilities.
7. Ascham School – Edgecliff
Ashcam School in Edgecliff is one of Sydney's best girls' schools. It's known for its innovative Dalton Plan, which is a learning model that fosters independence and accountability. Ascham consistently delivers top HSC results and promotes balance and wellbeing. The school, established in 1886, combines academia with a supportive environment where every student is encouraged to pursue their interests in academics, sports, and the arts.
8. Shore (Sydney Church of England Grammar) – North Sydney
Shore is located on Sydney's lower North Shore. This school blends over a century of tradition with a modern outlook on education. Senior tuition is around $46,290, and Shore focuses on developing the whole student, combining intellect, character, and compassion. Facilities include technology labs, performing arts centres, and an extensive outdoor program. Here, students can develop values of humility, courage, and respect. Shore balances academic strength and moral purpose, which is why it's one of Sydney's most respected boys' institutions.
9. Reddam House – Woollahra
Reddam House is one of Sydney's most modern and progressive schools. It offers a co-education environment that encourages creativity and independent thought. Year 12 tuition is around $46,220. Its international curriculum supports diverse learning pathways, and there's a heavy focus on student wellbeing. The arts and design programs are central to the school's identity, resulting in consistently high HSC performance. The school has a reputation for excellence without elitism.
10. Newington College – Stanmore
Newington College in Stanmore offers a combination of heritage and modern thinking. The college was founded in 1863, and it offers both day and boarding options. It's known for its inclusive Uniting Church values and a commitment to intellectual and moral development. Its broad curriculum includes languages, design, and science.
11. Pymble Ladies’ College – Pymble
On 20 hectares of landscaped grounds, Pymble Ladies' College is one of the most expensive and impressive educational environments in Sydney. Founded in 1916, the institution is known for STEAM innovation, leadership programs, and excellent academic results. This North Shore institution is a benchmark for girls' education in NSW.
12. Knox Grammar School – Wahroonga
Knox Grammar School blends academic strength with a strong sense of community. It was founded in 1924 and has remained one of the top boys' schools on Sydney's North Shore. Knox offers a well-rounded education that focuses on both intellect and character.
13. Abbotsleigh – Wahroonga
Abbotsleigh is one of the most respected independent schools for girls in Sydney. The school's programs in robotics, languages, and the arts encourage innovation, and the community fosters kindness and self-confidence.
14. St Catherine’s School – Waverley
St Catherine's School is the oldest independent Anglican girls' school in Australia, founded nearly 40 years before SA's leading Anglican girls' schools. It's renowned for its enduring commitment to excellence, balancing high academic standards with pastoral care and spiritual values. It's one of NSW's most admired and respected schools thanks to its close-knit community, supportive teachers, and modern facilities.
15. Loreto Kirribilli – Kirribilli
Loreto Kirribilli offers value-based education in Sydney Harbour. Founded in 1901, it provides an environment for girls to lead with courage and compassion. It's one of the most sought-after Catholic schools in the city. Its programs in STEM, languages, and the arts often offer strong HSC results.
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