ACT · ACT BSSS pathway · 13 schools
Private schools in Australian Capital Territory
Canberra's independent sector is small but high-performing — Canberra Grammar, Canberra Girls Grammar, Radford, Burgmann Anglican, St Edmund's, Daramalan. Year 12 results use the ACT BSSS (Board of Senior Secondary Studies) system, which converts to ATAR.
Schools tracked
13
Boarding
2
15% offer boarding
Median Y12 fee
$15,004
Range $7,623 – $50,270
Senior credential
ACT BSSS
Year 12 qualification
Australian Capital Territory private school sector — what to know
Canberra Grammar leads ACT independents academically with median ATAR consistently above 92. The ACT's small size means most graduates head interstate for university — high cross-state flow to USYD, UMelb + ANU dominates.
The ACT BSSS system uses a continuous-assessment model, with the ATAR derived from scaled course scores. Several ACT independents (Canberra Grammar, Radford) also offer IB Diploma.
Authoritative source: Association of Independent Schools ACT (AIS ACT).
Sector breakdown — Australian Capital Territory
Catholic
7
schools
Anglican
4
schools
Christian
2
schools
All 13 Australian Capital Territory private schools, ranked by ICSEA
| # | School | Suburb | Sector | Gender | ICSEA | Y12 fee | Boarding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canberra Grammar School | Red Hill | Anglican | co-educational | 1194 | $45k | Yes |
| 2 | Radford College | Bruce | Anglican | co-educational | 1184 | $26k | — |
| 3 | Burgmann Anglican School | Forde | Anglican | co-educational | 1158 | $17k | — |
| 4 | Canberra Girls Grammar School | Deakin | Anglican | girls (co-ed ELC-Year 3) | 1155 | $50k | Yes |
| 5 | Brindabella Christian College | Lyneham | Christian | co-ed | 1140 | $14k | — |
| 6 | Marist College Canberra | Pearce | Catholic | boys | 1132 | $15k | — |
| 7 | Daramalan College | Dickson | Catholic | co-educational | 1106 | $15k | — |
| 8 | Merici College | Braddon | Catholic | girls | 1101 | $8k | — |
| 9 | Trinity Christian School Canberra | Wanniassa | Christian | co-educational | 1095 | $15k | — |
| 10 | St Clare's College | Griffith | Catholic | girls | 1087 | $8k | — |
| 11 | St Francis Xavier College | Florey | Catholic | co-ed | 1070 | $8k | — |
| 12 | St Edmund's College Canberra | Griffith | Catholic | boys | 1067 | $11k | — |
| 13 | St Mary MacKillop College | Isabella Plains | Catholic | co-ed | 1059 | $8k | — |