Best private boarding schools in Western Australia
17 schools assessed independently — no paid rankings.
Image: Wesley 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 17 private boarding schools in Western Australia. 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 |  Wesley College | South Perth | Boys | Non-denominational | 93.3% | |
| 2 |  Scotch College Perth | Swanbourne | Boys | Non-denominational | 91.0% | |
| 3 |  Penrhos College | Como | Girls | No religious affiliation | 90.3% | |
| 4 |  Hale School | Wembley Downs | Boys | Anglican | 90.1% | |
| 5 |  PLC Perth | Peppermint Grove | Girls | Non-denominational | 90.0% | |
| 6 |  MLC Perth | Claremont | Girls | Non-denominational | 89.2% | |
| 7 |  Christ Church Grammar School | Claremont | Boys | Christian | 88.3% | |
| 8 |  St Hilda's Anglican School For Girls | Mosman Park | Girls | Anglican | 86.0% | |
| 9 |  Guildford Grammar School | Guildford | Co-ed | Anglican | 85.2% | |
| 10 |  St Mary's Anglican Girls' School | Karrinyup | Girls | Anglican | 85.0% |
- Best private boarding schools in Western Australia
- Rank
- 1
- School
- Wesley College
- Suburb
- South Perth
- Gender
- Boys
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 93.3%
- Compare
- Rank
- 2
- School
- Scotch College Perth
- Suburb
- Swanbourne
- Gender
- Boys
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 91.0%
- Compare
- Rank
- 3
- School
- Penrhos College
- Suburb
- Como
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- No religious affiliation
- S360 score
- 90.3%
- Compare
- Rank
- 4
- School
- Hale School
- Suburb
- Wembley Downs
- Gender
- Boys
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 90.1%
- Compare
- Rank
- 5
- School
- PLC Perth
- Suburb
- Peppermint Grove
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 90.0%
- Compare
- Rank
- 6
- School
- MLC Perth
- Suburb
- Claremont
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Non-denominational
- S360 score
- 89.2%
- Compare
- Rank
- 7
- Suburb
- Claremont
- Gender
- Boys
- Affiliation
- Christian
- S360 score
- 88.3%
- Compare
- Rank
- 8
- Suburb
- Mosman Park
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 86.0%
- Compare
- Rank
- 9
- School
- Guildford Grammar School
- Suburb
- Guildford
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 85.2%
- Compare
- Rank
- 10
- Suburb
- Karrinyup
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 85.0%
- Compare
In detail
Image: Scotch College Perth
Rank 1: Wesley College
Wesley College is a non-denominational boys' school in South Perth, Western Australia. It ranks 1st among private boarding schools in Western Australia 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 97%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Academic Excellence, Student Wellbeing, Learning Environment and Institutional Excellence. View full profile.
Rank 2: Scotch College Perth
Scotch College Perth is a non-denominational boys' school in Swanbourne, Western Australia. It ranks 2nd among private boarding schools in Western Australia 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 Academic Excellence, Learning Environment and Institutional Excellence. View full profile.
Rank 3: Penrhos College
Penrhos College is a girls' school in Como, Western Australia. It ranks 3rd among private boarding schools in Western Australia and sits in the Elite tier. It is a Mid-Sized school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Student Wellbeing, scoring 93%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Academic Excellence, Learning Opportunities and Learning Environment. View full profile.
Rank 4: Hale School
Hale School is a Anglican boys' school in Wembley Downs, Western Australia. It ranks 4th among private boarding schools in Western Australia 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 Learning Opportunities, Learning Environment and Institutional Excellence. View full profile.
Rank 5: PLC Perth
PLC Perth is a non-denominational girls' school in Peppermint Grove, Western Australia. It ranks 5th among private boarding schools in Western Australia and sits in the Elite 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 Academic Excellence, Learning Opportunities, Learning Environment and Institutional Excellence. View full profile.
Rank 6: MLC Perth
MLC Perth is a non-denominational girls' school in Claremont, Western Australia. It ranks 6th among private boarding schools in Western Australia and sits in the Elite tier. It is a Mid-Sized 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 and Learning Environment. View full profile.
Rank 7: Christ Church Grammar School
Christ Church Grammar School is a Christian boys' school in Claremont, Western Australia. It ranks 7th among private boarding schools in Western Australia 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 Academic Excellence, Learning Environment and Institutional Excellence. View full profile.
Rank 8: St Hilda's Anglican School For Girls
St Hilda's Anglican School For Girls is a Anglican girls' school in Mosman Park, Western Australia. It ranks 8th among private boarding schools in Western Australia 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 90%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Institutional Excellence. View full profile.
Rank 9: Guildford Grammar School
Guildford Grammar School is a Anglican co-educational school in Guildford, Western Australia. It ranks 9th among private boarding schools in Western Australia 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 90%, reaching Elite tier. It is also Elite for Student Wellbeing. View full profile.
Rank 10: St Mary's Anglican Girls' School
St Mary's Anglican Girls' School is a Anglican girls' school in Karrinyup, Western Australia. It ranks 10th among private boarding schools in Western Australia and sits in the Distinguished tier. It is a Large school by enrolment, teaching Prep to Year 12. Its strongest building block is Student Wellbeing, scoring 90%, reaching Elite tier. View full profile.
Other private boarding schools in Western Australia (7)
| School | Suburb | Gender | Affiliation | S360 score | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School | Gelorup | Co-ed | Anglican | 80.8% | |
 St Brigid's College | Lesmurdie | Girls | Catholic | 80.0% | |
 Aquinas College | Salter Point | Boys | Catholic | 79.6% | |
 Iona Presentation College | Mosman Park | Girls | Catholic | 79.3% | |
 Perth College | Mount Lawley | Girls | Anglican | 76.6% | |
 Mazenod College | Lesmurdie | Boys | Catholic | 73.3% | |
 La Salle College | Middle Swan | Co-ed | Catholic | 71.1% |
- Best private boarding schools in Western Australia
- Suburb
- Gelorup
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 80.8%
- Compare
- School
- St Brigid's College
- Suburb
- Lesmurdie
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 80.0%
- Compare
- School
- Aquinas College
- Suburb
- Salter Point
- Gender
- Boys
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 79.6%
- Compare
- Suburb
- Mosman Park
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 79.3%
- Compare
- School
- Perth College
- Suburb
- Mount Lawley
- Gender
- Girls
- Affiliation
- Anglican
- S360 score
- 76.6%
- Compare
- School
- Mazenod College
- Suburb
- Lesmurdie
- Gender
- Boys
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 73.3%
- Compare
- School
- La Salle College
- Suburb
- Middle Swan
- Gender
- Co-ed
- Affiliation
- Catholic
- S360 score
- 71.1%
- 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 Western Australia
See the full ranking
Best private girls schools in Western Australia
See the full ranking
Best private co-ed schools in Western Australia
See the full ranking
Best Catholic schools in Western Australia
See the full ranking
Best Catholic co-ed schools in Western Australia
See the full ranking
Best private independent schools in Western Australia
See the full ranking
Common questions
How many schools are included in this ranking?
17 private boarding schools in Western Australia 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 Western Australia", 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 Western Australia. Every school assessed still appears on the page: those beyond position 10 are listed under "Other private boarding schools in Western Australia", 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.