Top Suburbs with Best Schools in VIC 2025

Key Findings

Victoria's 2025 VCE results reveal a clear hierarchy among the state's best-performing schools, with selective-entry government schools and elite independent colleges occupying the top positions. Our analysis of AU Guide's VIC school rankings identifies the 20 highest-scoring schools and the suburbs they call home, giving families a data-driven view of where academic excellence meets liveability.

Three selective-entry schools — MacRobertson Girls High School (99.3), Haileybury College (97.0), and Nossal High School (96.4) — claim three of the top four spots. The inner east dominates geographically: 7 of the 20 schools sit in the Kew-Canterbury-Burwood corridor. Meanwhile, outer-suburban families benefit from strong results at Haileybury College in Keysborough and Nossal High School in Berwick, both in suburbs where median house prices sit at $900K — well under the Melbourne-wide median of approximately $1.05M.

Median study scores across the top 20 range from 34 to 37 (the VCE state median is 30), and the percentage of students scoring 40+ ranges from 20.9% to 34.7%. All data in this report is sourced from the 2025 VCE results published by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA), with property and demographic data from ABS Census 2021 and Domain.

Data Overview

The table below ranks Victoria's top 20 schools by AU Guide's VCE scoring method, which combines median study score percentile and 40+ percentage percentile into a single composite score out of 100.

Source: 2025 VCE results (VCAA), AU Guide composite scoring. See scoring method for details.

In-Depth Analysis

Selective Schools: Exceptional Results, Competitive Entry

Four selective-entry government schools appear in the top 20. MacRobertson Girls High School leads the state with a median study score of 37 and 34.7% of students scoring 40+. Located in the Melbourne CBD, it draws students from across metropolitan Melbourne. Nossal High School in Berwick matches MacRobertson's median score of 37, with 32.4% scoring 40+. Melbourne High School (boys only, South Yarra) achieves a median of 36 with 29.9% at 40+, while John Monash Science School in Clayton — the state's only specialist science school — posts a median of 35 with 22.0% at 40+.

These schools are tuition-free but highly competitive. Entry is based on the selective-entry exam taken in Year 8 (for Year 9 entry), except John Monash which admits at Year 10. For families willing to invest in exam preparation, selective schools offer top-tier academics without private school fees.

Independent Schools: The Inner-East Powerhouses

Independent schools account for 14 of the top 20 positions. The geographic concentration is notable: Kew hosts three (Methodist Ladies' College, Ruyton Girls' School, and Trinity Grammar School Kew), Burwood hosts two (Mount Scopus Memorial College and Presbyterian Ladies' College), and South Yarra hosts two (Melbourne High School — selective, and Melbourne Girls Grammar — independent).

Haileybury College in Keysborough stands out as the largest school on the list with 4,849 students, yet maintains a median study score of 36 and 31.2% scoring 40+ — a remarkable achievement at that scale. Huntingtower School in Mount Waverley is the smallest independent school on the list (752 students) and achieves similar results: median 36, 27.7% at 40+.

Fintona Girls' School in Balwyn, with just 503 students, is the smallest school in the top 20 overall. Its median study score of 35 and 26.8% at 40+ demonstrate that boutique schools can match much larger institutions.

Catholic Schools: Two Toorak Institutions

Two Catholic schools make the top 20, both located in Toorak. Loreto Mandeville Hall (girls, 1,229 students) scores 94.5 with a median of 36 and 24.7% at 40+. St Kevin's College (boys, 2,116 students) also scores 94.5 with a median of 35 and 23.6% at 40+. Both sit in one of Melbourne's most prestigious suburbs, where the median house price is $3.4M.

Gender Profile

Girls' schools are strongly represented, holding 7 of the top 20 spots (MacRobertson, Presbyterian Ladies' College, Camberwell Girls Grammar, Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Ruyton Girls' School, and Fintona Girls' School). Boys-only schools hold 4 places (Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne High School, St Kevin's College, and Trinity Grammar School Kew). The remaining 9 are co-educational.

Regional Comparison

The 13 suburbs hosting top-20 schools vary dramatically in property prices, safety, and demographics. The table below compares key metrics.

Source: Domain property data 2025, Victoria Police crime statistics (Sep 2025), ABS Census 2021. VIC average crime rate: 6,810 per 100K.

The data reveals a clear pattern: the highest-ranked schools tend to cluster in suburbs with the highest property prices and lowest crime rates. However, exceptions exist — Keysborough ($900K) and Berwick ($900K) demonstrate that world-class schooling is accessible outside Melbourne's expensive inner suburbs. The gap between the premium tier ($2.7M+) and affordable tier ($900K) represents a potential saving of over $1.8M for families who are willing to trade proximity to the CBD for school quality alone.

Property Price Tiers

Premium tier ($2.7M+): Canterbury ($4.2M), Toorak ($3.4M), Balwyn ($3.1M), and Kew ($2.7M) sit well above Melbourne's median house price of approximately $1.05M. These suburbs offer established tree-lined streets, heritage homes, and proximity to multiple top schools. Canterbury and Toorak both have train stations; Kew and Balwyn rely on buses and trams.

Mid-range tier ($1.2M-$1.6M): South Yarra ($1.6M), Burwood ($1.6M), Mount Waverley ($1.6M), Wheelers Hill ($1.5M), and Clayton ($1.2M) provide access to top schools at closer to the Melbourne median. Mount Waverley and Wheelers Hill are particularly popular with families seeking a balance of school quality and value — both have strong Chinese communities (26.7% and 24.8% respectively) and crime rates well below the VIC average of 6,810 per 100K.

Affordable tier (under $1.2M): Ringwood ($1.1M), Keysborough ($900K), and Berwick ($900K) are the most affordable suburbs on this list. Keysborough is home to Haileybury College, which holds two spots in the top 20 (ranks 3 and 11). Berwick hosts Nossal High School, the 4th-ranked school statewide. These suburbs represent strong value for families prioritising school quality over inner-city proximity.

Safety Comparison

Against the VIC average crime rate of 6,810 per 100K population, the safest suburbs with top-20 schools are Canterbury (2,885 — 58% below average), Wheelers Hill (2,978 — 56% below average), and Balwyn (4,661 — 32% below average). South Yarra (12,206) and Clayton (10,407) sit above the state average, reflecting their mixed commercial and residential character. Melbourne CBD's rate of 33,958 is distorted by its massive daytime population influx and should not be compared directly with residential suburbs.

What This Means for Families

For Families Seeking the Best Academics Regardless of Cost

The inner east remains the clear choice. Living in Kew provides access to three top-20 schools — Methodist Ladies' College (#12), Ruyton Girls' School (#14), and Trinity Grammar School Kew (#19) — within a single suburb. Neighbouring Canterbury adds Camberwell Girls Grammar (#10), and Burwood offers Mount Scopus Memorial College (#6) and Presbyterian Ladies' College (#7). This corridor gives families the widest choice of elite schools within a short commute.

For families with multiple children at different schooling stages, the inner-east corridor also offers Preparatory-to-Year-12 continuity at many schools, reducing the disruption of school transitions. The combination of high median study scores (all ranging from 95.1 to 99.3 on the AU Guide scale) and established co-curricular programmes — including sports, arts, and STEM pathways — makes this region the benchmark for academic family living in Victoria. Property prices in the $2.7M–$4.2M range reflect not just the schools, but the cumulative demand from generations of education-focused families who have settled in these suburbs.

For Budget-Conscious Families

The selective school pathway offers access to top-tier academics at no tuition cost. Nossal High School (#4, Berwick) and MacRobertson Girls High School (#1, Melbourne) are government schools. Families in outer suburbs like Berwick ($900K median house) and Keysborough ($900K) can access top-20 school quality at prices well below Melbourne's median. Even for private schooling, Haileybury College in Keysborough offers exceptional results in one of the most affordable suburbs on this list.

For Families Valuing Safety

Canterbury and Wheelers Hill offer the best combination of school access and low crime. Canterbury (crime rate 2,885) is home to Camberwell Girls Grammar and sits in the heart of the inner-east school corridor, while Wheelers Hill (crime rate 2,978) offers Caulfield Grammar School at a lower price point of $1.5M.

For Chinese-Australian Families

Several suburbs with top schools have substantial Chinese communities. Balwyn leads at 34.4% Chinese population, followed by Melbourne CBD (30.5%), Mount Waverley (26.7%), Burwood (25.0%), Wheelers Hill (24.8%), and Clayton (24.6%). These suburbs provide cultural amenities, language services, and community networks alongside quality education. Explore more suburbs on AU Guide's VIC suburb directory.

Practical Considerations When Choosing a Suburb

Beyond house prices and school rankings, families should account for several practical factors. First, school zoning: most government schools (including selective schools) have defined catchment areas or separate application processes, meaning residing in a suburb does not guarantee enrolment at its top-ranked school. Selective schools such as MacRobertson Girls High School and Nossal High School require a statewide entrance exam regardless of address.

Second, commute time matters for daily life. Suburbs with train stations — Canterbury, Toorak, South Yarra, Mount Waverley, Clayton, Ringwood, Berwick — provide more reliable CBD access compared to bus-dependent suburbs like Kew, Balwyn, Wheelers Hill, and Keysborough. Families with school-aged children and working parents should factor in pickup and drop-off logistics, particularly for schools without direct public transport links. The AU Guide suburb directory provides transport data for each suburb to assist with this planning.

FAQ

What is the best school in Victoria in 2025?

Based on 2025 VCE results, MacRobertson Girls High School tops AU Guide's rankings with a score of 99.3. It achieved a median study score of 37 and 34.7% of students scored 40+. It is a selective-entry government girls' school located in Melbourne CBD. See the full VIC school rankings for more details.

Which suburb in Victoria has the most top-ranked schools?

Kew has the most top-20 schools with three: Methodist Ladies' College (AU Guide score 95.1), Ruyton Girls' School (94.6), and Trinity Grammar School Kew (93.7). All three are independent schools. Kew's median house price is $2.7M.

Are there affordable suburbs with top schools in Victoria?

Yes. Berwick (median house $900K) is home to Nossal High School, ranked 4th statewide with an AU Guide score of 96.4. Keysborough (median house $900K) hosts Haileybury College, ranked 3rd with a score of 97.0. Both suburbs are priced well below Melbourne's median of approximately $1.05M.

How does AU Guide calculate school scores for VIC?

AU Guide's VCE composite score combines two metrics: median study score percentile (comparing each school against all VIC schools) and 40+ percentage percentile. The two percentiles are weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 100. See the full scoring methodology for details.

Which suburbs with top schools have the lowest crime rates?

Among suburbs hosting top-20 schools, Canterbury has the lowest crime rate at 2,885 per 100K population, followed by Wheelers Hill at 2,978. Both are well below the VIC average of 6,810 per 100K. Canterbury is home to Camberwell Girls Grammar School (ranked 10th), while Wheelers Hill hosts Caulfield Grammar School (ranked 20th).

Are selective schools better than private schools in Victoria?

In terms of raw academic scores, selective schools perform exceptionally well — MacRobertson Girls High School (#1) and Nossal High School (#4) both achieved median study scores of 37, matching or exceeding all private schools. However, selective schools offer only senior secondary (Years 9-12 or 10-12), while most private schools provide Prep-to-12 education, co-curricular programmes, and smaller class sizes. Selective schools also involve a competitive, statewide entrance exam, and placement is not guaranteed even for high-achieving students. Private schools, by contrast, provide a more predictable enrolment pathway, though annual fees typically range from $20,000 to $40,000+. The best choice depends on each family's priorities, budget, and the individual student's learning style.

What is a good VCE median study score?

The statewide VCE median study score is 30. A score of 34 or above places a school in roughly the top 10% of all VIC schools. All 20 schools in this report achieved median scores of 34 to 37, putting them in the top 10% statewide. A score of 40+ is considered exceptional and is achieved by only a small percentage of all VCE students.

Data Sources

• Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) — 2025 VCE school results, median study scores, and 40+ percentages
• Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) — Census 2021 population and demographic data including Chinese ancestry percentages
• Domain — 2025 median house and unit prices by suburb
• Crime Statistics Agency Victoria — Crime rate data (September 2025 quarter)
• AU Guide VCE Scoring Methodology — Composite score calculation method