VisitBest research guide • Checked 2026-10-01

Top 100 Secondary Schools in Australia: Three-State Comparison Guide

34 NSW government, 33 Victorian and 33 Queensland non-state school records. Three states only; no performance ranking.

This guide covers 100 secondary or combined schools from official sources in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. The sample contains 34 NSW government schools, 33 Victorian schools and 33 Queensland non-state schools. It is a geographically structured directory guide. It does not rank NAPLAN, ATAR or teaching quality, and it does not represent every Australian state and territory. The sector and source remain visible so families can make the next check with the correct education authority.

Illustration for 100 Secondary Schools in Australia: Three-State Comparison Guide; fictional setting — AI-generated editorial illustration; not a photograph of a listed institution or company.

The complete 100-entry table

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100 of 100 entries shown

No.	Institution and source	Location	Type / status	Recorded information
1	Kotara High School Listed website	Adamstown, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Coed
2	Albion Park High School Listed website	Albion Park, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Coed
3	Albury High School Listed website	Albury, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Coed
4	Alexandria Park Community School Listed website	Alexandria, NSW	Government Central/Community School	Kindergarten to Year 12; Coed
5	The Forest High School Listed website	Allambie Heights, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Coed
6	Alstonville High School Listed website	Alstonville, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Coed
7	Thomas Reddall High School Listed website	Ambarvale, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Coed
8	Ardlethan Central School Listed website	Ardlethan, NSW	Government Central/Community School	Kindergarten to Year 12; Coed
9	Ariah Park Central School Listed website	Ariah Park, NSW	Government Central/Community School	Kindergarten to Year 12; Coed
10	Armidale Secondary College Listed website	Armidale, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Coed
11	Ashcroft High School Listed website	Ashcroft, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Coed
12	Ashfield Boys High School Listed website	Ashfield, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Boys
13	Ashford Central School Listed website	Ashford, NSW	Government Central/Community School	Kindergarten to Year 12; Coed
14	Asquith High School Listed website	Asquith, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Coed
15	Auburn Girls High School Listed website	Auburn, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Girls
16	Barrenjoey High School Listed website	Avalon, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Coed
17	Ballina Coast High School Listed website	BALLINA, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Coed
18	Barraba Central School Listed website	BARRABA, NSW	Government Central/Community School	Kindergarten to Year 12; Coed
19	Belmont High School Listed website	BELMONT, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Coed
20	Evans High School Listed website	BLACKTOWN, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Coed
21	Bowraville Central School Listed website	BOWRAVILLE, NSW	Government Central/Community School	Kindergarten to Year 12; Coed
22	Brewarrina Central School Listed website	BREWARRINA, NSW	Government Central/Community School	Kindergarten to Year 12; Coed
23	Bundarra Central School Listed website	BUNDARRA, NSW	Government Central/Community School	Kindergarten to Year 12; Coed
24	Northern Beaches Secondary College Balgowlah Boys Campus Listed website	Balgowlah, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Boys
25	Balranald Central School Listed website	Balranald, NSW	Government Central/Community School	Kindergarten to Year 12; Coed
26	Bankstown Girls High School Listed website	Bankstown, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Girls
27	Banora Point High School Listed website	Banora Point, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Coed
28	Baradine Central School Listed website	Baradine, NSW	Government Central/Community School	Kindergarten to Year 12; Coed
29	Lucas Heights Community School Listed website	Barden Ridge, NSW	Government Central/Community School	Kindergarten to Year 12; Coed
30	Barellan Central School Listed website	Barellan, NSW	Government Central/Community School	Kindergarten to Year 12; Coed
31	Barham High School Listed website	Barham, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Coed
32	Warilla High School Listed website	Barrack Heights, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Coed
33	Bass High School Listed website	Bass Hill, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Coed
34	Batemans Bay High School Listed website	Batehaven, NSW	Government Secondary School	Year 7 to Year 12; Coed
35	Sophia Mundi Steiner School	ABBOTSFORD, VIC	Independent Pri/Sec	Open school; Victorian government directory
36	Ave Maria College	ABERFELDIE, VIC	Catholic Secondary	Open school; Victorian government directory
37	Alphington Grammar School	ALPHINGTON, VIC	Independent Pri/Sec	Open school; Victorian government directory
38	Emmanuel College	ALTONA NORTH, VIC	Catholic Secondary	Open school; Victorian government directory
39	Mount St Joseph Girls' College	ALTONA, VIC	Catholic Secondary	Open school; Victorian government directory
40	Marian College	ARARAT, VIC	Catholic Secondary	Open school; Victorian government directory
41	Lauriston Girls' School	ARMADALE, VIC	Independent Pri/Sec	Open school; Victorian government directory
42	Geelong Lutheran College	ARMSTRONG CREEK, VIC	Independent Pri/Sec	Open school; Victorian government directory
43	Yarrabing Secondary College	Aintree, VIC	Government Secondary	Open school; Victorian government directory
44	Albert Park College	Albert Park, VIC	Government Secondary	Open school; Victorian government directory
45	Alexandra Secondary College	Alexandra, VIC	Government Secondary	Open school; Victorian government directory
46	Altona College	Altona, VIC	Government Pri/Sec	Open school; Victorian government directory
47	Apollo Bay P-12 College	Apollo Bay, VIC	Government Pri/Sec	Open school; Victorian government directory
48	Ararat Secondary College	Ararat, VIC	Government Secondary	Open school; Victorian government directory
49	Oberon High School	Armstrong Creek, VIC	Government Secondary	Open school; Victorian government directory
50	Ashwood High School	Ashwood, VIC	Government Secondary	Open school; Victorian government directory
51	Bacchus Marsh Grammar	BACCHUS MARSH, VIC	Independent Pri/Sec	Open school; Victorian government directory
52	Bairnsdale Christian College	BAIRNSDALE, VIC	Independent Pri/Sec	Open school; Victorian government directory
53	Ballarat Clarendon College	BALLARAT, VIC	Independent Pri/Sec	Open school; Victorian government directory
54	Fintona Girls' School	BALWYN, VIC	Independent Pri/Sec	Open school; Victorian government directory
55	Cornish College	BANGHOLME, VIC	Independent Pri/Sec	Open school; Victorian government directory
56	St Francis Xavier College	BEACONSFIELD, VIC	Catholic Secondary	Open school; Victorian government directory
57	Belgrave Heights Christian School	BELGRAVE HEIGHTS, VIC	Independent Pri/Sec	Open school; Victorian government directory
58	Mater Christi College	BELGRAVE, VIC	Catholic Secondary	Open school; Victorian government directory
59	Covenant College	BELL POST HILL, VIC	Independent Pri/Sec	Open school; Victorian government directory
60	Australian Christian College Victoria	BENALLA, VIC	Independent Pri/Sec	Open school; Victorian government directory
61	Catherine McAuley College	BENDIGO, VIC	Catholic Secondary	Open school; Victorian government directory
62	Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College	BENTLEIGH, VIC	Catholic Secondary	Open school; Victorian government directory
63	St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar	BERWICK, VIC	Independent Pri/Sec	Open school; Victorian government directory
64	Urban College	BORONIA, VIC	Independent Secondary	Open school; Victorian government directory
65	Kingswood College	BOX HILL, VIC	Independent Pri/Sec	Open school; Victorian government directory
66	Caroline Chisholm Catholic College	BRAYBROOK, VIC	Catholic Secondary	Open school; Victorian government directory
67	St Leonard's College	BRIGHTON EAST, VIC	Independent Pri/Sec	Open school; Victorian government directory
68	St Teresa's College	Abergowrie, QLD	Non-state Secondary	Accredited year levels: Year 7 to Year 12
69	Aboriginal & Islander Independent Community School	Acacia Ridge, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Preparatory Year to Year 12
70	Discovery Christian College	Agnes Water, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Preparatory Year to Year 12
71	Good Shepherd Christian School	Albany Creek, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Preparatory Year to Year 12
72	Annandale Christian College	Annandale, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Preparatory Year to Year 12
73	Our Lady's College	Annerley, QLD	Non-state Secondary	Accredited year levels: Year 7 to Year 12
74	A B Paterson College	Arundel, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Preparatory Year to Year 12
75	St Margaret's Anglican Girls School	Ascot, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Preparatory Year to Year 12
76	Marist College Ashgrove	Ashgrove, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Year 5 to Year 12
77	Aquinas College	Ashmore, QLD	Non-state Secondary	Accredited year levels: Year 7 to Year 12
78	Jubilee Christian College	Atherton, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Preparatory Year to Year 12
79	St Augustine's College	Augustine Heights, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Preparatory Year to Year 12
80	Burdekin Catholic High School	Ayr, QLD	Non-state Secondary	Accredited year levels: Year 7 to Year 12
81	St Paul's School	Bald Hills, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Preparatory Year to Year 12
82	Birali Steiner School	Beachmere, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Preparatory Year to Year 10
83	Carlisle Adventist College	Beaconsfield, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Preparatory Year to Year 12
84	McAuley College	Beaudesert, QLD	Non-state Secondary	Accredited year levels: Year 7 to Year 12
85	Trinity College	Beenleigh, QLD	Non-state Secondary	Accredited year levels: Year 7 to Year 12
86	Glasshouse Christian College	Beerwah, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Preparatory Year to Year 12
87	Notre Dame College	Bells Creek, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Preparatory Year to Year 12
88	Kingsley College	Berserker, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Preparatory Year to Year 12
89	Redeemer Lutheran College, Biloela	Biloela, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Preparatory Year to Year 12
90	Good Samaritan Catholic College	Bli Bli, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Preparatory Year to Year 12
91	St Joseph's Nudgee College	Boondall, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Year 5 to Year 12
92	St John Fisher College	Bracken Ridge, QLD	Non-state Secondary	Accredited year levels: Year 7 to Year 12
93	Genesis Christian College	Bray Park, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Preparatory Year to Year 12
94	Freshwater Christian College	Brinsmead, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Preparatory Year to Year 12
95	All Hallows' School	Brisbane, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Year 5 to Year 12
96	Indie School, Logan	Browns Plains, QLD	Non-state Secondary	Accredited year levels: Year 9 to Year 12
97	Immanuel Lutheran College	Buderim, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Preparatory Year to Year 12
98	Impact Community ACADEMY	Bundaberg East, QLD	Non-state Secondary	Accredited year levels: Year 10 to Year 12
99	Bundaberg Christian College	Bundaberg, QLD	Non-state Primary and secondary	Accredited year levels: Preparatory Year to Year 12
100	Marymount College	Burleigh Waters, QLD	Non-state Secondary	Accredited year levels: Year 7 to Year 12

List numbers are navigation identifiers except where the stated research/completion ordering or published NIRF rank is explained. Download the complete CSV.

Sources and selection method

34 NSW government secondary/central schools + 33 Victorian open secondary/combined + 33 Queensland open non-state host-centre secondary schools; geographic round-robin.

Three states only. Sector coverage differs. No NAPLAN, ATAR or ICSEA ranking.

Source: NSW Department of Education; Victoria school locations 2025; Queensland NSSAB register. Source records checked 2026-10-01. Current admissions, courses and fees require the institution’s own current evidence. Each row links to its source.

Compare the state and sector first

Enrolment conditions differ by state, sector, catchment and programme. A government-school directory record does not guarantee admission from any address. Independent and Catholic schools can use their own published admission processes. Check the exact campus and year levels. Queensland’s non-state register distinguishes host centres and other sites, so the sample uses open host-centre records with secondary education.

Understand the senior-secondary pathway

Ask which state certificate and subject pathways the school offers. Students need the current course list, prerequisites and timetable constraints. A strong general reputation does not prove that a particular senior subject will run. Vocational and tertiary pathways need separate comparisons. ATAR is not the same measure as the quality of support received by every pupil, and it is not used to order this guide.

Use results with their limitations

The source directory may publish demographic or contextual fields; this article does not turn them into performance scores. NAPLAN, school-level results and senior outcomes answer different questions and need the correct cohort and year. Small cohorts can produce volatile percentages. Compare like measures from authorized current sources, then examine provision and student needs. A directory row is a starting point, not a complete evaluation.

Check access and support

Families should ask about learning support, language provision, disability adjustments and wellbeing processes at the intended campus. International enrolment requires its own eligibility and provider checks. A school’s listed year levels do not establish that every specialist programme accepts new students in the intended year. Save the relevant authority and campus policy instead of relying on an unsourced admission promise.

Make the cost and journey sustainable

Compare the full fee schedule for the applicant category, with transport, uniforms, devices, camps and activities. Visit at a realistic time of day to assess the journey. Ask about orientation, homework expectations and communication with families. A move between states can affect subject continuity, so request a transfer discussion before committing. A feasible pathway and reliable support matter more than a manufactured national rank.

Coverage counts and four decision checks for 100 Secondary Schools in Australia: Three-State Comparison Guide — Counts reflect this article’s actual selection; they do not measure quality.

Decision checklist

Choose the state and sector
Confirm the senior pathway
Check catchment or admission rules
Ask about support provision
Include transport and activity costs

Shortlist worksheet

For three feasible options, record the exact programme or year group, current eligibility, full cost, support provision, travel and the official evidence date. Leave a missing answer unresolved instead of estimating it.

Handwritten-style editorial checklist: Choose the state and sector; Confirm the senior pathway; Check catchment or admission rules; Ask about support provision; Include transport and activity costs — Handwritten-style editorial notes; not a scanned notebook or evidence of a campus or site visit.

Questions before you decide

Are all Australian jurisdictions covered?

No. The sample covers NSW, Victoria and Queensland only.

Is the list ranked by ATAR or NAPLAN?

No. It uses official directory records and a stated sample method.

Are all schools government schools?

No. Sector coverage differs by source and is shown in the table.

Does an open register record guarantee enrolment?

No. Catchment, programme and applicant rules still apply.

Does the guide use ICSEA to rank quality?

No. Contextual fields are not used as school-quality scores.

Browse all education guides

Compiled by VisitBest from the stated public sources. Current course, admission, service and price details should be obtained from the relevant provider. Send corrections with the exact record and a supporting source.