Brisbane has a strong education system with excellent public (state) and private (independent) schools. Queensland's school year runs from late January to early December, with four terms.
Public (State) Schools
Public schools are free for Australian citizens and permanent residents. You enrol based on your catchment area: your residential address determines which school your child can attend. Out-of-catchment enrolments are possible but not guaranteed.
Top State Primary Schools
- Indooroopilly State School: Consistently high NAPLAN results, strong music and sports programs
- Chapel Hill State School: Excellent reputation, active parent community
- Kenmore State School: Strong academic focus, spacious grounds
- New Farm State School: Popular inner-city option with a great community feel
Top State High Schools
- Brisbane State High School: Selective entry, top academic results. Located in South Brisbane.
- Indooroopilly State High School: Strong STEM and language programs
- Kelvin Grove State College: Kindergarten to Year 12 on one campus, excellent performing arts
- The Gap State High School: Great all-rounder with strong community ties
Private and Independent Schools
Private schools charge tuition fees (typically $5,000 — $25,000 per year). Many have religious affiliations and some offer boarding.
Leading Private Schools (Primary and Secondary)
- Brisbane Grammar School: Boys, Years 5 — 12. One of Queensland's most prestigious schools. Fees: ~$27,000/year.
- Brisbane Girls Grammar School: Girls, Years 7 — 12. Excellent academic record. Fees: ~$27,000/year.
- St Joseph's College (Gregory Terrace): Boys, Years 5 — 12. Strong in academics and rugby. Fees: ~$24,000/year.
- All Hallows' School: Girls, Years 5 — 12. Located in Fortitude Valley. Fees: ~$17,000/year.
- St Peter's Lutheran College: Co-educational, Years Prep — 12, Indooroopilly. Fees: ~$20,000/year.
- Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie): Boys, East Brisbane. Fees: ~$25,000/year.
Enrolment Tips
- Apply early: waitlists for popular private schools can be years long
- Check the Queensland Education Department for catchment maps
- Visit schools during open days: the vibe matters as much as the rankings
- Consider transport: proximity to a school bus route or train station is key
The System in Context
Queensland runs more than 1,200 state schools through the Department of Education, with enrolment based on catchment zones — your residential address determines your local school. The state system is complemented by a large Catholic sector and prestigious independents, with fees ranging from $5,000 to $28,000 a year.
The standout in the public system is Brisbane State High School — Queensland’s only fully selective state school, taking around 500 of several thousand applicants each year via academic and excellence tests in Year 6. For everyone else, the zoned high schools (Indooroopilly, Kelvin Grove, The Gap, Mansfield) define the practical options, which is why school catchments carry a measurable premium in Brisbane’s housing market.
Costs and the 2026 Reality
Public schooling is free for citizens and permanent residents, with $500–$1,500 a year in voluntary contributions, uniforms, and activities. Catholic schools charge $3,000–$8,000 a year; the leading independents — Brisbane Grammar, Brisbane Girls Grammar, Anglican Church Grammar (Churchie), St Joseph’s Nudgee — run $20,000–$28,000 a year. International students pay $14,000–$18,000 a year in state schools and more in independents.
Queensland is also home to one of Australia’s largest boarding school sectors, with regional families sending children to Brisbane’s boarding colleges — worth knowing if you are relocating before the family follows.
Practical Advice
Check the catchment map before signing a lease — it is the single most important school decision you will make in Brisbane. For Brisbane State High, register for the entrance tests 12 months ahead and note that the school also runs an out-of-catchment excellence program for sport and arts. Private school applications should start 18–24 months before entry. And visit on open days: the best fit is a school your child walks to happily, not the one with the highest ranking.
Support and Community
Queensland state schools provide strong support: every school has guidance officers, most run before- and after-school care (with government subsidies), and the department funds learning-support and English-as-an-additional-language programs across the system — important in a city where one in four students has a language background other than English.
The P&C (Parents and Citizens) associations are the social engine of Brisbane schools — they run tuckshops, fundraisers, and events, and they are the fastest way for new families to meet people. In a city where many families have moved recently, the school gate is where the community forms, so treat enrolment as both an educational and a social decision.