Discover the top primary schools in Canberra with our ACT Primary School Rankings, based on the latest NAPLAN results. Our 2025 guide also highlights the best private, public, and Catholic schools in the region.
Table of Contents
- The Best Primary Schools in Canberra & ACT
- The Best Public Primary Schools in Canberra & ACT
- The Best Private Primary Schools in Canberra & ACT
- How to choose the best primary school in Canberra for your child
With 80 primary schools in the ACT, finding the right one for your child can be challenging. To help you make an informed choice, explore our ACT primary school rankings, which highlight the top schools in Canberra. Our rankings are based on the latest NAPLAN results for Years 3 and 5, ensuring you have reliable data to guide your decision.
The Best Primary Schools in Canberra & ACT
Here are the best primary schools in Canberra & ACT based on the 2024 NAPLAN results:
| Rank | School Name | Average NAPLAN Score 2024 | Type | Suburb | Grades Taught |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canberra Girls Grammar School | 515.5 | Independent | Deakin | K-12 |
| 2 | Emmaus Christian School | 496.7 | Independent | Dickson | K-10 |
| 3 | Radford College | 495.2 | Independent | Bruce | K-12 |
| 4 | Garran Primary School | 490.3 | Government | Garran | K-6 |
| 5 | Canberra Grammar School | 487.9 | Independent | Red Hill | K-12 |
| 6 | Aranda Primary School | 486.7 | Government | Aranda | K-6 |
| 7 | Sacred Heart Primary School | 485.2 | Catholic | Pearce | K-6 |
| 8 | St Joseph’s Primary School | 484.0 | Catholic | O’Connor | K-6 |
| 9 | Trinity Christian School | 483.4 | Independent | Wanniassa | K-12 |
| 10 | Brindabella Christian College | 481.9 | Independent | Lyneham | K-12 |
| 11 | Burgmann Anglican School | 481.4 | Independent | Gungahlin | K-12 |
| 12 | Majura Primary School | 478.5 | Government | Watson | K-6 |
| 13 | Mawson Primary School | 477.8 | Government | Mawson | K-6 |
| 14 | Curtin Primary School | 476.0 | Government | Curtin | K-6 |
| 15 | Holy Trinity Primary School | 474.5 | Catholic | Curtin | K-6 |
| 16 | Arawang Primary School | 471.8 | Government | Waramanga | K-6 |
| 17 | North Ainslie Primary School | 470.5 | Government | Ainslie | K-6 |
| 18 | Turner School | 467.5 | Government | Turner | K-6 |
| 19 | Lyneham Primary School | 467.4 | Government | Lyneham | K-6 |
| 20 | Red Hill Primary School | 466.8 | Government | Red Hill | K-6 |
| 21 | Telopea Park School | 466.6 | Government | Barton | K-10 |
| 22 | Rosary Primary School | 465.9 | Catholic | Watson | K-6 |
| 23 | Hawker Primary School | 457.9 | Government | Hawker | K-6 |
| 24 | Sts Peter and Paul Primary School | 454.9 | Catholic | Garran | K-6 |
| 25 | Campbell Primary School | 452.2 | Government | Campbell | K-6 |
| 26 | Kaleen Primary School | 445.1 | Government | Kaleen | K-6 |
| 27 | Torrens Primary School | 444.4 | Government | Torrens | K-6 |
| 28 | Ainslie School | 436.9 | Government | Braddon | K-6 |
| 29 | Harrison School | 435.5 | Government | Harrison | K-10 |
| 30 | Gold Creek School | 435.2 | Government | Nicholls | K-10 |
*NAPLAN scores sourced from here
The best primary school in Canberra is Canberra Girls Grammar School as it had the best NAPLAN results for 2024.
Beyond NAPLAN results, several primary schools in Canberra stand out for their strong academic programs. Radford College, Canberra Girls Grammar School, Garran Primary School, and Aranda Primary School are known for their excellence in education. Many students from these schools go on to achieve top scores in Year 12.
The Best Public Primary Schools in Canberra & ACT
| Rank | School | Overall ACT Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Garran Primary School | 4 |
| 2 | Aranda Primary School | 6 |
| 3 | Majura Primary School | 12 |
| 4 | Mawson Primary School | 13 |
| 5 | Curtin Primary School | 14 |
| 6 | Arawang Primary School | 16 |
| 7 | North Ainslie Primary School | 17 |
| 8 | Turner School | 18 |
| 9 | Lyneham Primary School | 19 |
| 10 | Red Hill Primary School | 20 |
Garran Primary School
Garran Primary School has long been a top choice for Canberra families, thanks to its prime location and outstanding academic programs. Consistently ranked among the top 10 primary schools in the ACT for over 15 years, it even held the number one spot at one point!
Aranda Primary School
Aranda Primary School has long been recognized as one of Canberra's top primary schools, known for its strong academic focus. When it comes to extracurricular activities in public primary schools, Aranda stands out as a clear leader.
Telopea Park School
Telopea Park School is a highly competitive academic institution that extends up to Year 10. One of its key advantages is that students who attend the primary school receive automatic entry into its high school, which is ranked among Canberra’s top secondary schools.
The Best Private Primary Schools in Canberra & ACT
| Rank | School | Fees per year (Year 6) | Overall ACT Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canberra Girls Grammar School | $23,450 | 1 |
| 2 | Emmaus Christian School | $7,100 | 2 |
| 3 | Radford College | $16,280 | 3 |
| 4 | Canberra Grammar School | $25,240 | 5 |
| 5 | Sacred Heart Primary School | $3,828 | 7 |
| 6 | St Joseph’s Primary School | $4,074 | 8 |
| 7 | Trinity Christian School | $9,400 | 9 |
| 8 | Brindabella Christian College | $11,200 | 10 |
| 9 | Burgmann Anglican School | $12,000 | 11 |
| 10 | Holy Trinity Primary School | $3,801 | 15 |
Radford College
Among all private primary schools in Canberra, Radford College is our top recommendation. It provides a well-rounded education while maintaining strong academic competitiveness, making it an excellent choice for primary school students.
How to choose the best primary school in Canberra for your child
For all primary schools in Canberra and the ACT, you will need to live in the Priority Enrolment Area (PEA) for that school. Take a look at the official Priority Enrolment Area released by the Education Department to see which primary school you are “in area” for.
Public VS Private Primary School
One of the biggest advantages of private primary schools is continuity, as most public primary schools in Canberra only go up to Year 6. Additionally, private schools often provide a wider range of extracurricular activities and sports programs. For instance, Marist College is known for having one of the best primary school sporting programs. If fees are a concern, many private schools offer academic scholarships and sibling discounts—Brindabella, for example, provides a 10% discount for enrolling a second child. That said, when it comes to academics, both public and private primary schools in Canberra offer excellent education options.
