Best private boarding schools in Victoria
21 schools assessed independently — no paid rankings.
Image: Scotch 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 21 private boarding schools in Victoria. 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 |  Scotch College | Hawthorn | Boys | Non-denominational | 93.0% | |
| 2 |  Melbourne Grammar School | Melbourne | Boys | Anglican | 92.9% | |
| 3 |  Melbourne Girls' Grammar School | South Yarra | Girls | Anglican | 92.1% | |
| 4 |  St Catherine's School | Toorak | Girls | Non-denominational | 91.0% | |
| 5 |  Wesley College | Melbourne | Co-ed | Non-denominational | 89.5% | |
| 6 |  Methodist Ladies' College | Kew | Girls | Non-denominational | 88.4% | |
| 7 |  Geelong Grammar School | Corio | Co-ed | Anglican | 88.3% | |
| 8 |  Presbyterian Ladies' College | Burwood | Girls | Christian | 88.2% | |
| 9 |  Xavier College | Kew | Boys | Catholic | 87.8% | |
| 10 |  Caulfield Grammar School | St Kilda East | Co-ed | No religious affiliation | 87.4% |
- Best private boarding schools in Victoria
- Rank
- 1
- School
- Scotch College
- Suburb
- Hawthorn
- Gender
- Boys
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 93.0%
- Compare
- Rank
- 2
- School
- Melbourne Grammar School
- Suburb
- Melbourne
- Gender
- Boys
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 92.9%
- Compare
- Rank
- 3
- Suburb
- South Yarra
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 92.1%
- Compare
- Rank
- 4
- School
- St Catherine's School
- Suburb
- Toorak
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 91.0%
- Compare
- Rank
- 5
- School
- Wesley College
- Suburb
- Melbourne
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 89.5%
- Compare
- Rank
- 6
- Suburb
- Kew
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 88.4%
- Compare
- Rank
- 7
- School
- Geelong Grammar School
- Suburb
- Corio
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 88.3%
- Compare
- Rank
- 8
- Suburb
- Burwood
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Christian
- S360 score
- 88.2%
- Compare
- Rank
- 9
- School
- Xavier College
- Suburb
- Kew
- Gender
- Boys
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 87.8%
- Compare
- Rank
- 10
- School
- Caulfield Grammar School
- Suburb
- St Kilda East
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- No religious affiliation
- S360 score
- 87.4%
- Compare
In detail
Image: Melbourne Grammar School
Rank 1: Scotch College
Scotch College is a non-denominational boys' school in Hawthorn, Victoria. It ranks 1st among private boarding schools in Victoria and sits in the Elite tier. It is a Large school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Student Wellbeing, scoring 95%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Academic Excellence, Learning Opportunities, Learning Environment and Institutional Excellence. View full profile.
Rank 2: Melbourne Grammar School
Melbourne Grammar School is a Anglican boys' school in Melbourne, Victoria. It ranks 2nd among private boarding schools in Victoria 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 98%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Learning Opportunities and Learning Environment. View full profile.
Rank 3: Melbourne Girls' Grammar School
Melbourne Girls' Grammar School is a Anglican girls' school in South Yarra, Victoria. It ranks 3rd among private boarding schools in Victoria 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 Opportunities, scoring 95%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Academic Excellence, Student Wellbeing, Learning Environment and Institutional Excellence. View full profile.
Rank 4: St Catherine's School
St Catherine's School is a non-denominational girls' school in Toorak, Victoria. It ranks 4th among private boarding schools in Victoria and sits in the Elite tier. It is a Boutique school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Academic Excellence, scoring 95%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Student Wellbeing, Learning Environment and Institutional Excellence. View full profile.
Rank 5: Wesley College
Wesley College is a non-denominational co-educational school in Melbourne, Victoria. It ranks 5th among private boarding schools in Victoria and sits in the Elite tier. It is a Mega school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Learning Environment, scoring 93%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Academic Excellence, Learning Opportunities and Institutional Excellence. View full profile.
Rank 6: Methodist Ladies' College
Methodist Ladies' College is a non-denominational girls' school in Kew, Victoria. It ranks 6th among private boarding schools in Victoria and sits in the Elite tier. It is a Mega school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Learning Opportunities, scoring 93%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Academic Excellence and Learning Environment. View full profile.
Rank 7: Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School is a Anglican co-educational school in Corio, Victoria. It ranks 7th among private boarding schools in Victoria and sits in the Elite tier. It is a Large school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Learning Opportunities, scoring 95%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Institutional Excellence. View full profile.
Rank 8: Presbyterian Ladies' College
Presbyterian Ladies' College is a Christian girls' school in Burwood, Victoria. It ranks 8th among private boarding schools in Victoria 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 98%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Learning Opportunities. View full profile.
Rank 9: Xavier College
Xavier College is a Catholic boys' school in Kew, Victoria. It ranks 9th among private boarding schools in Victoria and sits in the Elite tier. It is a Large school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Learning Opportunities, scoring 92%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Student Wellbeing, Learning Environment and Institutional Excellence. View full profile.
Rank 10: Caulfield Grammar School
Caulfield Grammar School is a co-educational school in St Kilda East, Victoria. It ranks 10th among private boarding schools in Victoria and sits in the Distinguished tier. It is a Mega school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Learning Opportunities, scoring 97%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Learning Environment. View full profile.
Other private boarding schools in Victoria (11)
| School | Suburb | Gender | Affiliation | S360 score | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Genazzano Fcj College | Kew | Girls | Catholic | 87.0% | |
 Toorak College | Mount Eliza | Girls | No religious affiliation | 86.0% | |
 Firbank Grammar School | Brighton | Girls | Anglican | 84.3% | |
 St Patrick's College | Ballarat | Boys | Catholic | 79.0% | |
 Peninsula Grammar | Mount Eliza | Co-ed | Anglican | 78.9% | |
 Ballarat Clarendon College | Ballarat | Co-ed | Non-denominational | 78.2% | |
 Ballarat Grammar | Wendouree | Co-ed | Christian | 76.7% | |
 The Hamilton And Alexandra College | Hamilton | Co-ed | Christian | 74.6% | |
 The Geelong College | Newtown | Co-ed | No religious affiliation | 74.5% | |
 Gippsland Grammar | Sale | Co-ed | Anglican | 71.9% | |
 Assumption College | Kilmore | Co-ed | Catholic | 68.3% |
- Best private boarding schools in Victoria
- School
- Genazzano Fcj College
- Suburb
- Kew
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 87.0%
- Compare
- School
- Toorak College
- Suburb
- Mount Eliza
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- No religious affiliation
- S360 score
- 86.0%
- Compare
- School
- Firbank Grammar School
- Suburb
- Brighton
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 84.3%
- Compare
- School
- St Patrick's College
- Suburb
- Ballarat
- Gender
- Boys
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 79.0%
- Compare
- School
- Peninsula Grammar
- Suburb
- Mount Eliza
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 78.9%
- Compare
- Suburb
- Ballarat
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 78.2%
- Compare
- School
- Ballarat Grammar
- Suburb
- Wendouree
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Christian
- S360 score
- 76.7%
- Compare
- Suburb
- Hamilton
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Christian
- S360 score
- 74.6%
- Compare
- School
- The Geelong College
- Suburb
- Newtown
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- No religious affiliation
- S360 score
- 74.5%
- Compare
- School
- Gippsland Grammar
- Suburb
- Sale
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 71.9%
- Compare
- School
- Assumption College
- Suburb
- Kilmore
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 68.3%
- 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 Victoria
See the full ranking
Best private girls schools in Victoria
See the full ranking
Best private co-ed schools in Victoria
See the full ranking
Best Catholic schools in Victoria
See the full ranking
Best Catholic boys schools in Victoria
See the full ranking
Best Catholic girls schools in Victoria
See the full ranking
Common questions
How many schools are included in this ranking?
21 private boarding schools in Victoria 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 Victoria", 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 Victoria. Every school assessed still appears on the page: those beyond position 10 are listed under "Other private boarding schools in Victoria", 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.