Better Education analysis reveals Victoria’s top 50 primary schools

Several government primary schools have outperformed elite private schools in the latest rankings. See the full list.

Glen Huntly Primary School students Advik, Sriram, Yasmin and Ivy. The school is named in the top 50 in the state. Picture: Jason Edwards

The best primary schools in Victoria have been named, with more than 20 government schools topping the list.

The Better Education analysis of 2022 academic outcomes shows private primary schools including Camberwell Grammar School, Presbyterian Ladies’ College and Camberwell Girls Grammar School took the top three spots, with each receiving a perfect score of 100.

But three state schools including Serpell Primary School in Templestowe, Beverley Hills Primary School in Doncaster East and Oakleigh South Primary School were also in the top 10 and scored 100.

The website is run independently and describes its aim as providing “informative and comparative school results, including school rankings or ratings and lists of best performing schools, to parents wanting to make ­choices about schooling for their children”.

The best overall score is an index of performance, not a ranking, the best score is 100 and the worst is 60.

Schools with the same score are measured by Better Education on academic results to provide overall placings.

Other standout government schools, achieving 100 and in the top 50, include Highvale Primary School in Glen Waverley, Balwyn Primary School and Canterbury Primary School.

Preston West Primary School and Glen Huntly Primary School also achieved high scores of 99.

Private schools with top scores and lower fees include Huntingtower School in Mount Waverley, which costs $13,280 for prep per year.

St Andrews Christian College in Wantirna South is $8850 per year for prep, while Ballarat Clarendon College is $9160 for prep.

In comparison to Fintona Girls’ School and Haileybury College, which both have yearly fees of about $20,000 for prep.

The local government areas with the most schools in the top 50 include Boroondara (11), Monash (9) Whitehorse (5), Glen Eira and Manningham (4).

A recent Herald Sun analysis using Better Education data showed top performing government secondary schools included Glen Waverley Secondary College, Balwyn High School and Highvale Secondary College which all achieved 98, while McKinnon Secondary College Government achieved a score of 97.

Libby Alessi, is proud to see Glen Huntly Primary School taking out number 30 on this year’s list of top primary schools.

Ms Alessi, who has been principal since 2006, said she aimed to “instil a sense of gratitude in students”.

“We have a big dream for our students and are very lucky to have a wonderful partnership with parents who have high expectations for their children,” she said.

“These expectations are shared by the teaching team and help the students to take pride in their actions and strive for their personal best.”

Ms Alessi said she was proud of the capital works program at the school, which saw the building of a full-size gymnasium on the site in 2014.

“It’s added so much value to everyone’s lives,” she said. “It’s leased to community groups and so is a shared space which we are ecstatic about.”