Top private schools in Melbourne, 2026

Bialik College is one of Hawthorn East's most established jewish co-educational school. Founded 1942. ICSEA 1213 (well above the national average of 1,000). Progressive Jewish + Zionist values. Tuition: $35,480/year (Year 12, 2026).

Best for: Academic high-achievers in a top-percentile peer cohort

St Catherine's School sits among Toorak's top anglican girls schools. Founded 1896. ICSEA 1212 (well above the national average of 1,000). Strong VCE outcomes. Tuition: $37,920/year (Year 12, 2026).

Boarding: $31,800/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: Regional, interstate or international families needing boarding

Presbyterian Ladies' College, in Burwood, is a long-standing presbyterian girls (co-ed elc only) school. Founded 1875. ICSEA 1210 (well above the national average of 1,000). Highest ICSEA in Victoria (1,210). Tuition: $40,000/year (Year 12, 2026).

Boarding: $36,788/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: Academic families wanting an IB Diploma pathway

Ruyton Girls' School (Kew) is recognised as a leading independent (non-denominational) girls school. Founded 1878. ICSEA 1207 (well above the national average of 1,000). Non-denominational secular ethos. Tuition: $33,420/year (Year 12, 2026).

Best for: Families seeking an established single-sex girls education

Huntingtower School is one of Mount Waverley's most established independent co-ed school. Founded 1927. ICSEA 1201 (well above the national average of 1,000). ICSEA of 1201 places it in roughly the 99th percentile nationally - one of the highest of any Victorian school and the highest of these four; serves a strongly advantaged community.. Tuition: $19,095/year (Year 12, 2026).

Best for: Academic high-achievers in a top-percentile peer cohort

Note: Fee year 2026. Year 12 fee 19095 (per annum, as at January 2026) and ICSEA 1201 both cited - verified. Tuition excludes books, stationery, uniform, devices, optional trips and some extracurriculars. Year 7 fee (15555) sourced from

Mount Scopus Memorial College sits among Burwood's top jewish co-educational schools. Founded 1949. ICSEA 1198 (well above the national average of 1,000). Largest Jewish school in Australia (~1,800 students). Tuition: $33,820/year (Year 12, 2026).

Best for: Co-educational families looking for a broad, balanced curriculum

Lauriston Girls' School, in Armadale, is a long-standing independent (non-denominational christian) girls (co-ed kindergarten only) school. Founded 1901. ICSEA 1197 (well above the national average of 1,000). Compulsory Year 9 residential at Howqua rural campus. Tuition: $46,800/year (Year 12, 2026).

Best for: Sport-focused families, especially rowing and water-sports

Note: Year 12 figure is net of $3,952 government funding (gross $50,752). Year 9 Howqua adds $34,800 residential charge.

Scotch College (Hawthorn) is recognised as a leading presbyterian boys school. Founded 1851. ICSEA 1193 (well above the national average of 1,000). Australia's oldest secondary school (est. 1851). Tuition: $47,877/year (Year 12, 2026).

Best for: Sport-focused families, especially rowing and water-sports

Note: Boarding fee not extracted from current PDF; older 2024 boarding rate was $24,657.

Fintona Girls' School is one of Balwyn's most established independent girls school. Founded 1896. ICSEA 1191 (well above the national average of 1,000). ICSEA 1191 (around the 99th percentile nationally) makes Fintona one of the most socio-educationally advantaged schools in Australia. Tuition: $41,590/year (Year 12, 2026).

Best for: Academic families wanting an IB Diploma pathway

Note: Fee year 2026. Year 12 annual tuition $41,590 and Year 7 $37,430 verified directly from the official 2026 fees page (domestic students). International Year 12 tuition is $59,270. ICSEA 1191 confirmed via gdp.com.au / aggregators s

Korowa Anglican Girls' School sits among Glen Iris's top anglican girls schools. Founded 1890. ICSEA 1187 (well above the national average of 1,000). Strong VCE academic outcomes. Tuition: $32,420/year (Year 12, 2026).

Best for: Families seeking an established single-sex girls education

Camberwell Grammar School, in Canterbury, is a long-standing anglican boys school. Founded 1886. ICSEA 1185 (well above the national average of 1,000). Strong VCE academic results (median 34, 20% scoring 40+). Tuition: $44,366/year (Year 12, 2026).

Best for: Music-strong students and families

Note: Camberwell's official 2026 PDF is gated; figures sourced from Good Schools Guide listing of school data.

Trinity Grammar School (Kew) is recognised as a leading anglican boys school. Founded 1902. ICSEA 1184 (well above the national average of 1,000). Coordinate Program with Ruyton Girls' School for shared VCE classes (since 1993). Tuition: $44,984/year (Year 12, 2026).

Best for: Academic families wanting an IB Diploma pathway

Note: Boarding ceased end of 2022; now day school only.

Methodist Ladies' College is one of Kew's most established uniting church girls school. Founded 1882. ICSEA 1183 (well above the national average of 1,000). First school in the world to introduce 1:1 laptops (1990). Tuition: $43,785/year (Year 12, 2026).

Boarding: $39,765/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: Academic families wanting an IB Diploma pathway

Carey Baptist Grammar School sits among Kew's top baptist co-educational schools. Founded 1923. ICSEA 1182 (well above the national average of 1,000). IB Diploma offered alongside VCE in Years 11-12 (since 1997). Tuition: $42,660/year (Year 12, 2026).

Best for: Academic families wanting an IB Diploma pathway

Melbourne Grammar School, in South Yarra, is a long-standing anglican boys (co-ed prep-year 6) school. Founded 1858. ICSEA 1180 (well above the national average of 1,000). 28-time Head of the River rowing champions. Tuition: $46,230/year (Year 12, 2026).

Boarding: $36,200/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: Sport-focused families, especially rowing and water-sports

King David School (Armadale) is recognised as a leading jewish co-educational school. Founded 1978. ICSEA 1180 (well above the national average of 1,000). Progressive Jewish + Zionist values. Tuition: $33,480/year (Year 12, 2026).

Best for: Co-educational families looking for a broad, balanced curriculum

Sacré Cœur is one of Glen Iris's most established catholic girls school. Founded 1888. ICSEA 1178 (well above the national average of 1,000). ICSEA 1178 puts Sacré Cœur among the most advantaged girls' schools in Victoria; it was the top-performing Catholic school in Victoria for VCE in 2022. Tuition: $35,445/year (Year 12, 2026).

Best for: Families seeking an established single-sex girls education

Note: Fee year 2025 (official fees page still publishes 2025 rates as at June 2026; 2026 schedule not yet posted publicly). ICSEA 1178 confirmed (Cluey/Good Schools, from ACARA MySchool). Fees verified directly from the official fees pa

Haileybury sits among Keysborough (also Brighton, Berwick, Melbourne CBD)'s top independent (uniting church heritage) co-educational (parallel-gender model) schools. Founded 1892. ICSEA 1177 (well above the national average of 1,000). Largest independent school in Australia (4,600+ students). Tuition: $41,685/year (Year 12, 2026).

Best for: Co-educational families looking for a broad, balanced curriculum

Note: Boarding offered only at Haileybury Rendall (Darwin); Melbourne campuses are day-only.

Camberwell Girls Grammar School, in Canterbury, is a long-standing anglican girls school. Founded 1920. ICSEA 1177 (well above the national average of 1,000). Sister to Camberwell Grammar (boys). Tuition: $29,680/year (Year 12, 2026).

Best for: Families seeking an established single-sex girls education

Wesley College (Melbourne (St Kilda Road, Glen Waverley, Elsternwick)) is recognised as a leading uniting church co-educational school. Founded 1866. ICSEA 1169 (well above the national average of 1,000). Only Victorian school offering IB from early childhood through Year 12. Tuition: $45,206/year (Year 12, 2026).

Best for: Academic families wanting an IB Diploma pathway

Note: Boarding offered at Glen Waverley campus only.

St Michael's Grammar School is one of St Kilda's most established independent (non-denominational) co-educational school. Founded 1895. ICSEA 1169 (well above the national average of 1,000). Inner-city co-ed model. Tuition: $31,820/year (Year 12, 2026).

Best for: Co-educational families looking for a broad, balanced curriculum

Loreto Mandeville Hall sits among Toorak's top catholic (loreto sisters / ibvm) girls schools. Founded 1924. ICSEA 1168 (well above the national average of 1,000). Top-ranked Catholic girls' school by VCE (ranked 7th statewide in 2023). Tuition: $39,810/year (Year 12, 2026).

Best for: Sport-focused families, especially rowing and water-sports

Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar, in Canterbury, is a long-standing baptist girls school. Founded 1924. ICSEA 1167 (well above the national average of 1,000). Baptist Christian girls school. Tuition: $26,420/year (Year 12, 2026).

Best for: Families seeking an established single-sex girls education

Firbank Grammar School (Brighton) is recognised as a leading anglican girls school. Founded 1909. ICSEA 1164 (well above the national average of 1,000). Highest ICSEA of the four at 1164, placing it among the most socio-educationally advantaged schools in Australia. Tuition: $41,804/year (Year 12, 2026).

Boarding: $36,366/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: Academic families wanting an IB Diploma pathway

Note: Fee year 2026. Figures from the official Firbank 'Schedule of Fees 2026: Local Students' PDF: Year 12 tuition $41,804 (+ $1,246 payroll-tax recovery surcharge; Year 12s also pay an additional $1,160 events charge), Year 7 $38,072,

St Leonard's College is one of Brighton East's most established independent (non-denominational) co-educational school. Founded 1914. ICSEA 1163 (well above the national average of 1,000). IB Diploma alongside VCE. Tuition: $31,820/year (Year 12, 2026).

Best for: Academic families wanting an IB Diploma pathway