Many of Melbourne’s cheapest public schools are outperforming the state’s most expensive private schools

Minus the blistering school fees, some of Melbourne’s fanciest public schools are leaving private schools in the dust in many outcomes.

Victoria’s poshest government schools charge parents a fraction of the fees of private schools and have some of the best academic results in the state. Picture: Supplied

Victoria’s poshest government schools charge parents a fraction of the fees of private schools and have some of the best academic results in the state.

Plus, a handful of state schools have parents with a higher income than some of the leading high-fee independent schools.

Camberwell Primary has 79 per cent of parents in the top socio-economic quarter, placing it above some of the most prestigious schools in the state including Korowa Anglican Girls’ School, Methodist Ladies’ College, Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar.

Camberwell Primary, ranked 84 in the state for year five NAPLAN results, charges average annual voluntary fees of $1290 a year and is the poshest government school overall.

The official school fee is $870 a year plus $200 in optional library and building fees.

Sporting top-level facilities, up-market parents’ soirees and lush grounds, these cashed-up schools are scattered throughout Melbourne’s inner east and north.

Camberwell Primary School has 79 per cent of parents in the top socio-economic quarter, placing it above some of the most prestigious schools in the state. Picture: Supplied

But a handful are in more affordable areas such as Point Cook, Templestowe and Alphington. Making the top twenty poshest primary schools is Merri Creek Primary in Fitzroy North where parents only pay voluntary fees of $633 a year.

A total of 77 per cent of parents are in the top income band. Bell Primary in Preston has 69 per cent of parents from the top income band – the same as the primary school in up-market Surrey Hills.

Serpell Primary in Templestowe has 68 per cent of parents in the top income band, putting it on par with primary schools in Hawthorn East, Malvern East and Caulfield North.

Yet, it charges parents average voluntary fees of just $500 a year.

In terms of secondary schools, the poshest government providers are Melbourne High and MacRobertson Girls’ High where 69 per cent of parents are in the top income band.

They are followed by Princes Hill Secondary with 65 per cent of parents on top incomes and Suzanne Cory in Werribee with 62 per cent.

This puts these state secondary schools above schools such as Genazzano in Kew, Firbank in Brighton and Geelong Grammar in Corio for the most cashed-up parents.

Alamanda P-9 College in Point Cook is the poshest in the southwest, with 58 per cent of parents in the top income band and average annual fees of just $547 a year.

Making the top twenty poshest primary schools is Merri Creek Primary in Fitzroy North where parents only pay voluntary fees of $633 a year. Picture: Supplied

The school received an impressive average year five NAPLAN rank of 125 in 2024.

Brighton Grammar and Mentone Grammar also have 58 per cent of parents in the top income band but charge more than $30,000 a year in fees.

Brighton Grammar beat Alamanda P-9 College for year five NAPLAN results – ranking 98th in the state – but only just.

Mentone Grammar ranked 245 for year five NAPLAN, well behind Alamanda P-9.

Figures from the 2021 Census show 47 per cent of government school parents in Victoria have family incomes above $234,000, compared to 24 per cent of Catholic schools and 29 per cent of private schools.

Originally published as Many of Melbourne’s cheapest public schools are outperforming the state’s most expensive private schools