Australia's Most Complete School Directory
Find the Perfect Australian School
Explore over 8,879 schools across all 6 states and 2 territories.
From Prep to Year 12 — Government, Catholic, and Independent.
Education System
How Education Works in Australia
Australia has a world-class education system spanning from Early Childhood to Year 12, delivered across Government, Catholic, and Independent schools.
Early Childhood
Preschool / Kindy
Ages 3–5
Foundation learning focusing on play-based education, social skills, and early literacy and numeracy development.
Primary School
Foundation / Prep – Year 6
Ages 5–12 • 7 Years
Core curriculum including English, Maths, Science, HASS, Arts, and PE. The Australian Curriculum is taught nationally.
Junior Secondary
Year 7 – Year 10
Ages 12–16 • 4 Years
Broad subject selection including electives. NAPLAN assessments in Years 7 and 9. Students explore interests for senior school.
Senior Secondary
Year 11 – Year 12
Ages 16–18 • 2 Years
Leads to a state senior certificate (HSC, VCE, QCE etc.) and ATAR ranking for university entry. Students specialise in chosen subjects.
Three Main School Sectors
Government Schools
Funded and operated by state/territory governments. Free to attend for Australian residents. The largest sector, educating ~65% of students.
Catholic Schools
Catholic education systems operating in every state. Low to moderate fees. Values-based curriculum with strong community focus. ~20% of students.
Independent Schools
Privately operated schools with varying fees. Wide variety including Montessori, Steiner, faith-based, and elite academies. ~15% of students.
Key Facts About Australian Education
- School Year: Four terms, runs January to December (Southern Hemisphere summer holidays in Dec–Jan)
- NAPLAN Testing: National assessments in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 for Literacy and Numeracy
- World Rankings: Australian schools consistently rank in the global top 10 for educational outcomes
- Compulsory Education: Education is compulsory from age 6 to 17 across all states and territories
- Distance Education: Pioneering programmes for remote students via Schools of the Air and online platforms
- Indigenous Education: Dedicated support programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students nationwide
Latest Guides & Insights
Expert articles to help Australian families navigate schools, exams, and education choices.
How to Use the MySchool Website: A Guide to Interpreting School Data
The MySchool website is one of Australia's most powerful tools for parents researching schools. Learn how to read NAPLAN results, ICSEA values, staff numbers and more to make the best choice for your child.
The Best Australian Cities for Families: Education and Lifestyle Compared
Choosing which Australian city to call home is one of the biggest decisions a family can make. We compare Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide across schools, cost of living, safety and lifestyle to help you decide.
Bullying Prevention: How the "Bullying No Way!" Initiative Works in Australian Schools
Bullying No Way! is Australia's leading national initiative to prevent school bullying. Here's how it works, what schools must do, and how parents can help.
Public vs. Private vs. Catholic Schools: Key Differences and How to Choose
Australia has three distinct school sectors — government, Catholic and independent — each with different fees, values and approaches. This guide breaks down what really separates them so you can make the right choice for your child.
What is NAPLAN? A Parent's Guide to the National Assessment Program
NAPLAN tests Australian students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 in literacy and numeracy. Here's everything parents need to know about the assessment in 2026.
The Australian Education System Explained: From Prep/Kindy to Year 12
A complete guide to how the Australian education system works — from preschool to Year 12 — including school types, key stages, NAPLAN, ATAR, and state-by-state differences.
Find Schools by Type
- Primary Schools Foundation to Year 6
- Secondary Schools Year 7 to Year 12
- Combined Schools Prep to Year 12
- Special Schools Specialized support needs
Explore Schools on the Interactive Map
Visually browse all 8,879+ Australian schools plotted on an interactive map. Filter by state, type, and sector.