Best private regional schools in New South Wales
19 schools assessed independently — no paid rankings.
Image: Kinross Wolaroi School
Choosing a school is one of the biggest decisions an Australian family makes, and the private sector alone runs to hundreds of schools that differ enormously in size, character, governance and strength — from small regional colleges to century-old metropolitan institutions, each with its own account of what makes it the right choice. A prospectus or an open day rarely settles how one school actually compares with another on the things that matter most to a family.
Schools360 scores every one of them against five questions that matter to a parent choosing a school. How well does the school perform academically? How well will the school look after my child's wellbeing and individual needs? Does the school offer extensive learning opportunities for my child? Does the school offer a great environment for my child to realise their full potential? How well is the school run? The combined result places each school in one of five tiers: Elite, Distinguished, Leading, Trusted, Highly Capable. Every tier name describes a genuine strength; Schools360 publishes no failing grade.
That assessment is independent and built entirely from public information — government data, academic results, school websites, strategic plans, annual reports, teacher reviews, alumni pathways and media reporting — never a form a school fills in about itself. Any content a school does supply directly is always shown separately on its profile and clearly labelled as the school's own words, not part of the assessment.
This page assessed 19 private regional schools in New South Wales. The top 10 are ranked below; the rest are also assessed and listed beneath, without an individual rank. Read the full methodology.
Top 10
Select schools to compare them side by side.
| Rank | School | Suburb | Gender | Affiliation | S360 score | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Frensham School | Mittagong | Girls | Non-denominational | 87.0% | |
| 2 |  Kinross Wolaroi School | Orange | Co-ed | Christian | 85.3% | |
| 3 |  Snowy Mountains Grammar School | Jindabyne | Co-ed | Anglican | 85.3% | |
| 4 |  Chevalier College | Burradoo | Co-ed | Catholic | 85.1% | |
| 5 |  St Columba Anglican School | Port Macquarie | Co-ed | Anglican | 84.7% | |
| 6 |  Oxley College | Burradoo | Co-ed | Christian | 83.0% | |
| 7 |  PLC Armidale | Armidale | Girls | Non-denominational | 82.9% | |
| 8 |  Mount St Patrick College | Murwillumbah | Co-ed | Catholic | 81.1% | |
| 9 |  Scots All Saints College | White Rock | Co-ed | Non-denominational | 80.9% | |
| 10 |  New England Girls' School | Armidale | Girls | Non-denominational | 80.6% |
- Best private regional schools in New South Wales
- Rank
- 1
- School
- Frensham School
- Suburb
- Mittagong
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 87.0%
- Compare
- Rank
- 2
- School
- Kinross Wolaroi School
- Suburb
- Orange
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Christian
- S360 score
- 85.3%
- Compare
- Rank
- 3
- Suburb
- Jindabyne
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 85.3%
- Compare
- Rank
- 4
- School
- Chevalier College
- Suburb
- Burradoo
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 85.1%
- Compare
- Rank
- 5
- Suburb
- Port Macquarie
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 84.7%
- Compare
- Rank
- 6
- School
- Oxley College
- Suburb
- Burradoo
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Christian
- S360 score
- 83.0%
- Compare
- Rank
- 7
- School
- PLC Armidale
- Suburb
- Armidale
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 82.9%
- Compare
- Rank
- 8
- School
- Mount St Patrick College
- Suburb
- Murwillumbah
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 81.1%
- Compare
- Rank
- 9
- School
- Scots All Saints College
- Suburb
- White Rock
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 80.9%
- Compare
- Rank
- 10
- Suburb
- Armidale
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 80.6%
- Compare
In detail
Image: Chevalier College
Rank 1: Frensham School
Frensham School is a non-denominational girls' school in Mittagong, New South Wales. It ranks 1st among private regional schools in New South Wales and sits in the Distinguished tier. It is a Boutique school by enrolment, teaching Year 7 to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Student Wellbeing, scoring 92%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Academic Excellence. View full profile.
Rank 2: Kinross Wolaroi School
Kinross Wolaroi School is a Christian co-educational school in Orange, New South Wales. It ranks 2nd among private regional schools in New South Wales and sits in the Distinguished tier. It is a Mid-Sized school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Learning Opportunities, scoring 92%, reaching Elite tier. View full profile.
Rank 3: Snowy Mountains Grammar School
Snowy Mountains Grammar School is a Anglican co-educational school in Jindabyne, New South Wales. It ranks 3rd among private regional schools in New South Wales and sits in the Distinguished tier. It is a Boutique school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Student Wellbeing, scoring 88%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Learning Opportunities. View full profile.
Rank 4: Chevalier College
Chevalier College is a Catholic co-educational school in Burradoo, New South Wales. It ranks 4th among private regional schools in New South Wales and sits in the Distinguished tier. It is a Mid-Sized school by enrolment, teaching Year 7 to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Learning Opportunities, scoring 93%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Learning Environment. View full profile.
Rank 5: St Columba Anglican School
St Columba Anglican School is a Anglican co-educational school in Port Macquarie, New South Wales. It ranks 5th among private regional schools in New South Wales and sits in the Distinguished tier. It is a Mid-Sized school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Learning Environment, scoring 87%. View full profile.
Rank 6: Oxley College
Oxley College is a Christian co-educational school in Burradoo, New South Wales. It ranks 6th among private regional schools in New South Wales and sits in the Distinguished tier. It is a Mid-Sized school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Learning Environment, scoring 88%, reaching Elite tier. View full profile.
Rank 7: PLC Armidale
PLC Armidale is a non-denominational girls' school in Armidale, New South Wales. It ranks 7th among private regional schools in New South Wales and sits in the Distinguished tier. It is a Boutique school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Student Wellbeing, scoring 88%, reaching Elite tier. View full profile.
Rank 8: Mount St Patrick College
Mount St Patrick College is a Catholic co-educational school in Murwillumbah, New South Wales. It ranks 8th among private regional schools in New South Wales and sits in the Distinguished tier. It is a Boutique school by enrolment, teaching Year 7 to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Learning Opportunities, scoring 90%, reaching Elite tier. View full profile.
Rank 9: Scots All Saints College
Scots All Saints College is a non-denominational co-educational school in White Rock, New South Wales. It ranks 9th among private regional schools in New South Wales and sits in the Distinguished tier. It is a Boutique school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Learning Opportunities, scoring 87%. View full profile.
Rank 10: New England Girls' School
New England Girls' School is a non-denominational girls' school in Armidale, New South Wales. It ranks 10th among private regional schools in New South Wales and sits in the Distinguished tier. It is a Boutique school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Student Wellbeing, scoring 85%. View full profile.
Other private regional schools in New South Wales (9)
| School | Suburb | Gender | Affiliation | S360 score | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Nowra Anglican College | Bomaderry | Co-ed | Anglican | 80.0% | |
 The Armidale School | Armidale | Co-ed | No religious affiliation | 77.8% | |
 Northholm Grammar School | Arcadia | Co-ed | Anglican | 76.8% | |
 The Riverina Anglican College | Wagga Wagga | Co-ed | Anglican | 70.2% | |
 St Anne's Catholic College | Temora | Co-ed | Catholic | 70.0% | |
 St Clare's High School | Taree | Co-ed | Catholic | 66.7% | |
 Nowra Christian School | Nowra | Co-ed | Christian | 65.6% | |
 Xavier Catholic College Ballina | Skennars Head | Co-ed | Catholic | 62.5% | |
 Mackillop College | Bathurst | Girls | Catholic | 61.5% |
- Best private regional schools in New South Wales
- School
- Nowra Anglican College
- Suburb
- Bomaderry
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 80.0%
- Compare
- School
- The Armidale School
- Suburb
- Armidale
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- No religious affiliation
- S360 score
- 77.8%
- Compare
- School
- Northholm Grammar School
- Suburb
- Arcadia
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 76.8%
- Compare
- Suburb
- Wagga Wagga
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 70.2%
- Compare
- Suburb
- Temora
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 70.0%
- Compare
- School
- St Clare's High School
- Suburb
- Taree
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 66.7%
- Compare
- School
- Nowra Christian School
- Suburb
- Nowra
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Christian
- S360 score
- 65.6%
- Compare
- Suburb
- Skennars Head
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 62.5%
- Compare
- School
- Mackillop College
- Suburb
- Bathurst
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 61.5%
- Compare
More rankings
Best private boys schools in New South Wales
See the full ranking
Best private girls schools in New South Wales
See the full ranking
Best private co-ed schools in New South Wales
See the full ranking
Best Catholic schools in New South Wales
See the full ranking
Best Catholic boys schools in New South Wales
See the full ranking
Best Catholic girls schools in New South Wales
See the full ranking
Common questions
How many schools are included in this ranking?
19 private regional schools in New South Wales clear the minimum size for a published ranking. The top 10 are shown by position; the rest are listed under "Other private regional schools in New South Wales", ordered by score but without an individual rank.
Why do only the top 10 schools get a numbered position?
Numbered positions reflect how confident Schools360 is in fine score differences near the top of private regional schools in New South Wales. Every school assessed still appears on the page: those beyond position 10 are listed under "Other private regional schools in New South Wales", ordered by score, without an individual rank attached.
What do the tiers mean?
Every school is placed in one of five tiers based on its Schools360 score: Elite, Distinguished, Leading, Trusted, Highly Capable. Every tier name is a positive outcome; there is no failing grade on Schools360. See the methodology page for the full tier thresholds.
How is the Schools360 score calculated?
Each school is scored across five building blocks, each made up of three factors scored out of 20. The building blocks are weighted and combined into a single percentage. See the methodology page for the full weighting and data sources.
When does this ranking next update?
This is the 2026 edition. Once published, a ranking is frozen: a later score correction updates the school's own profile immediately, but the ranking order itself only changes at the next edition.