
Best private boarding schools in Queensland
33 schools assessed independently — no paid rankings.
Image: Brisbane Boys' College
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 33 private boarding schools in Queensland. 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 | Brisbane Boys' College | Toowong | Boys | Non-denominational | 91.3% | |
| 2 | The Southport School | Southport | Boys | Anglican | 91.1% | |
| 3 | Brisbane Grammar School | Brisbane | Boys | Non-denominational | 90.8% | |
| 4 | Rockhampton Grammar School | Rockhampton | Co-ed | No religious affiliation | 87.2% | |
| 5 | St Hilda's School | Southport | Girls | Anglican | 86.6% | |
| 6 | Fairholme College | Toowoomba | Girls | Christian | 85.3% | |
| 7 | Somerville House | South Brisbane | Girls | Christian | 84.6% | |
| 8 | Ipswich Grammar School | Ipswich | Boys | No religious affiliation | 84.3% | |
| 9 | Anglican Church Grammar School | East Brisbane | Boys | Anglican | 84.3% | |
| 10 | St Margaret's Anglican Girls' School | Ascot | Girls | Anglican | 83.5% |
- Best private boarding schools in Queensland
- Rank
- 1
- School
Brisbane Boys' College- Suburb
- Toowong
- Gender
- Boys
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 91.3%
- Compare
- Rank
- 2
- School
The Southport School- Suburb
- Southport
- Gender
- Boys
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 91.1%
- Compare
- Rank
- 3
- School
Brisbane Grammar School- Suburb
- Brisbane
- Gender
- Boys
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 90.8%
- Compare
- Rank
- 4
- Suburb
- Rockhampton
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- No religious affiliation
- S360 score
- 87.2%
- Compare
- Rank
- 5
- School
St Hilda's School- Suburb
- Southport
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 86.6%
- Compare
- Rank
- 6
- School
Fairholme College- Suburb
- Toowoomba
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Christian
- S360 score
- 85.3%
- Compare
- Rank
- 7
- School
Somerville House- Suburb
- South Brisbane
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Christian
- S360 score
- 84.6%
- Compare
- Rank
- 8
- School
Ipswich Grammar School- Suburb
- Ipswich
- Gender
- Boys
- Affiliation
- No religious affiliation
- S360 score
- 84.3%
- Compare
- Rank
- 9
- Suburb
- East Brisbane
- Gender
- Boys
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 84.3%
- Compare
- Rank
- 10
- Suburb
- Ascot
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 83.5%
- Compare

In detail
Image: The Southport School
Rank 1: Brisbane Boys' College
Brisbane Boys' College is a non-denominational boys' school in Toowong, Queensland. It ranks 1st among private boarding schools in Queensland and sits in the Elite tier. It is a Mid-Sized school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Learning Environment, scoring 95%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Academic Excellence, Student Wellbeing, Learning Opportunities and Institutional Excellence. View full profile.
Rank 2: The Southport School
The Southport School is a Anglican boys' school in Southport, Queensland. It ranks 2nd among private boarding schools in Queensland and sits in the Elite tier. It is a Large school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Academic Excellence, scoring 92%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Student Wellbeing, Learning Opportunities, Learning Environment and Institutional Excellence. View full profile.
Rank 3: Brisbane Grammar School
Brisbane Grammar School is a non-denominational boys' school in Brisbane, Queensland. It ranks 3rd among private boarding schools in Queensland and sits in the Elite tier. It is a Large school by enrolment, teaching Year 5 to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Academic Excellence, scoring 93%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Learning Opportunities and Learning Environment. View full profile.
Rank 4: Rockhampton Grammar School
Rockhampton Grammar School is a co-educational school in Rockhampton, Queensland. It ranks 4th among private boarding schools in Queensland and sits in the Distinguished tier. It is a Large school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Learning Opportunities, scoring 93%, reaching Elite tier. View full profile.
Rank 5: St Hilda's School
St Hilda's School is a Anglican girls' school in Southport, Queensland. It ranks 5th among private boarding schools in Queensland and sits in the Distinguished tier. It is a Mid-Sized school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Student Wellbeing, scoring 92%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Learning Opportunities and Learning Environment. View full profile.
Rank 6: Fairholme College
Fairholme College is a Christian girls' school in Toowoomba, Queensland. It ranks 6th among private boarding schools in Queensland and sits in the Distinguished tier. It is a Mid-Sized school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Student Wellbeing, scoring 90%, reaching Elite tier. View full profile.
Rank 7: Somerville House
Somerville House is a Christian girls' school in South Brisbane, Queensland. It ranks 7th among private boarding schools in Queensland 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 90%, reaching Elite tier. View full profile.
Rank 8: Ipswich Grammar School
Ipswich Grammar School is a boys' school in Ipswich, Queensland. It ranks 8th among private boarding schools in Queensland and sits in the Distinguished tier. It is a Mid-Sized 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 9: Anglican Church Grammar School
Anglican Church Grammar School is a Anglican boys' school in East Brisbane, Queensland. It ranks 9th among private boarding schools in Queensland and sits in the Distinguished tier. It is a Large school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Academic Excellence, scoring 92%, reaching Elite tier. View full profile.
Rank 10: St Margaret's Anglican Girls' School
St Margaret's Anglican Girls' School is a Anglican girls' school in Ascot, Queensland. It ranks 10th among private boarding schools in Queensland and sits in the Distinguished tier. It is a Large school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Learning Environment, scoring 90%, reaching Elite tier. View full profile.
Other private boarding schools in Queensland (23)
| School | Suburb | Gender | Affiliation | S360 score | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St Peter's Lutheran College | Indooroopilly | Co-ed | Christian | 83.4% | |
Ipswich Girls' Grammar School | East Ipswich | Girls | Non-denominational | 83.1% | |
Toowoomba Grammar School | East Toowoomba | Boys | No religious affiliation | 81.7% | |
Marist College Ashgrove | Ashgrove | Boys | Catholic | 81.4% | |
The Glennie School | Toowoomba | Girls | Anglican | 81.4% | |
| Beaconsfield | Co-ed | Anglican | 81.3% | ||
Townsville Grammar School | North Ward | Co-ed | Christian | 80.0% | |
Rockhampton Girls Grammar School | Rockhampton | Girls | Non-denominational | 79.1% | |
Stuartholme School | Toowong | Girls | Catholic | 78.6% | |
Clayfield College | Clayfield | Co-ed | Non-denominational | 78.3% | |
St Ursula's College Toowoomba | Toowoomba | Girls | Catholic | 77.9% | |
St Augustine's College Cairns | Cairns | Boys | Catholic | 77.7% | |
St John's Anglican College | Forest Lake | Co-ed | Anglican | 77.7% | |
| Scots PGC College | Warwick | Co-ed | Non-denominational | 76.4% | |
Concordia Lutheran College | Toowoomba | Co-ed | Non-denominational | 76.3% | |
Toowoomba Anglican School | Toowoomba | Co-ed | Anglican | 76.2% | |
Hills International College | Jimboomba | Co-ed | No religious affiliation | 76.0% | |
The Cathedral College Rockhampton | Rockhampton | Co-ed | Catholic | 75.2% | |
Peace Lutheran College | Kamerunga | Co-ed | Christian | 74.7% | |
Kooralbyn International School | Kooralbyn | Co-ed | No religious affiliation | 73.8% | |
St Ursula's College Yeppoon | Yeppoon | Girls | Catholic | 72.0% | |
Blackheath & Thornburgh College | Charters Towers | Co-ed | Non-denominational | 66.0% | |
John Paul College | Daisy Hill | Co-ed | Christian | 61.1% |
- Best private boarding schools in Queensland
- Suburb
- Indooroopilly
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Christian
- S360 score
- 83.4%
- Compare
- Suburb
- East Ipswich
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 83.1%
- Compare
- School
Toowoomba Grammar School- Suburb
- East Toowoomba
- Gender
- Boys
- Affiliation
- No religious affiliation
- S360 score
- 81.7%
- Compare
- School
Marist College Ashgrove- Suburb
- Ashgrove
- Gender
- Boys
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 81.4%
- Compare
- School
The Glennie School- Suburb
- Toowoomba
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 81.4%
- Compare
- Suburb
- Beaconsfield
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 81.3%
- Compare
- Suburb
- North Ward
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Christian
- S360 score
- 80.0%
- Compare
- Suburb
- Rockhampton
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 79.1%
- Compare
- School
Stuartholme School- Suburb
- Toowong
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 78.6%
- Compare
- School
Clayfield College- Suburb
- Clayfield
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 78.3%
- Compare
- Suburb
- Toowoomba
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 77.9%
- Compare
- Suburb
- Cairns
- Gender
- Boys
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 77.7%
- Compare
- Suburb
- Forest Lake
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 77.7%
- Compare
- School
- Scots PGC College
- Suburb
- Warwick
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 76.4%
- Compare
- Suburb
- Toowoomba
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 76.3%
- Compare
- Suburb
- Toowoomba
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 76.2%
- Compare
- Suburb
- Jimboomba
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- No religious affiliation
- S360 score
- 76.0%
- Compare
- Suburb
- Rockhampton
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 75.2%
- Compare
- School
Peace Lutheran College- Suburb
- Kamerunga
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Christian
- S360 score
- 74.7%
- Compare
- Suburb
- Kooralbyn
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- No religious affiliation
- S360 score
- 73.8%
- Compare
- Suburb
- Yeppoon
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 72.0%
- Compare
- Suburb
- Charters Towers
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 66.0%
- Compare
- School
John Paul College- Suburb
- Daisy Hill
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Christian
- S360 score
- 61.1%
- Compare

Every Schools360 ranking uses the same independent, five-block assessment — explore how it plays out across other cohorts.
More rankings

Best private boys schools in Queensland
See the full ranking

Best private girls schools in Queensland
See the full ranking

Best private co-ed schools in Queensland
See the full ranking

Best Catholic schools in Queensland
See the full ranking
Best Catholic boys schools in Queensland
See the full ranking

Best Catholic girls schools in Queensland
See the full ranking
Common questions
How many schools are included in this ranking?
33 private boarding schools in Queensland clear the minimum size for a published ranking. The top 10 are shown by position; the rest are listed under "Other private boarding schools in Queensland", 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 boarding schools in Queensland. Every school assessed still appears on the page: those beyond position 10 are listed under "Other private boarding schools in Queensland", 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.
















