Low-fee schools match elite rivals in Victorian 2025 NAPLAN results

Expensive private schools charging $35,000 a year are losing their academic edge, as government schools deliver results rivalling some of the best schools for a fraction of the tuition fee. See if your school made the cut.

Expensive private institutions are losing their academic edge, with schools charging under $10k a year matching their elite counterparts in new NAPLAN data.

A Herald Sun analysis of 2025 results found several low-fee schools are beating, or performing just as well as their high-fee independent rivals.

The state’s four selective-entry schools – Melbourne High, Mac Robertson Girls’ High, Nossal High and Suzanne Cory High – where students are required to sit an exam to get in but don’t have to pay thousands in fees, dominated every private college in Victoria.

Each had a combined Year 9 average NAPLAN score of 696 or more, ahead of the state’s top independent school Ballarat Clarendon College, where fees were $14,180 for a Year 5 student and $21,640 for a Year 9 this year.

But students don’t have to attend a select-entry or expensive private institution to get top results, with dozens of public schools across the state making it in the top 100 primary and secondary schools, rivalling elite colleges where fees can be as much as $35k a year.

Under the Department of Education guidelines, state schools can “invite” parents to make voluntary financial contributions to support the school, purchase extra-curricular items and activities and purchase educational items to own.

Additionally, schools can’t refuse to educate a child if their parents don’t contribute to these payments.

Out of the 100 primary schools in the state, 41 were eastern and southeastern suburb government schools with Oakleigh South Primary not only the region’s best primary school but also the top government primary school in Victoria.

Acting principal Nikki Virtuoso said she was exceptionally proud of students’ results, which included strong numeracy and grammar scores and an average of 585.4 across the five domains.

“We have been in the top ranked schools for over a decade,” she said.

“As our Year 3 NAPLAN results are so strong, we are a school that achieves expected and exceeding expected growth between year 3 and year 5 NAPLAN.

“There are exceptionally well performing state government primary schools operating throughout Victoria and you can receive excellent education from these schools.”

Families who attend this school are invited to make a voluntary contribution of about $500 per year.

Oakleigh South Primary Acting Principal Nikki Virtuoso with school captains Nikki, Shai, Jade and Niall. Picture: Supplied.

Other high achieving state schools in the region were Wheelers Hill Primary, Beverley Hills Primary and Serpell Primary, which all outperformed a number of elite private schools.

This included Fintona Girls’ School and Trinity Grammar, where fees are above $29k a year.

Meanwhile, 18 eastern and southeastern suburb high schools were in the top 100, including McKinnon Secondary, Albert Park College and Brighton Secondary.

The southeast was also home to one of the state’s most-improved Catholic schools – St Joseph’s Primary School Springvale, which has tuition fees of $1040 per year.

The school achieved an average NAPLAN result of 505.6 – an increase of 7.8 points from last year – with spelling its best-performing domain.

The southeast was also home to one of the state’s most-improved Catholic schools – St Joseph’s Primary School Springvale. Picture: Mark Stewart

Principal Michelle Verna said students’ success didn’t just reflect academic performance but

“their resilience, hard work, and willingness to embrace challenges”.

“Outstanding learning does not depend on high fees. It depends on quality teaching, strong relationships, and a deep understanding of students and their needs,” she said.

“We are committed to delivering an exceptional education in a nurturing, inclusive and aspirational environment.

“Our results show families do not need to choose between affordability and excellence. Here, every child is known, challenged and supported to succeed.”

Several low-fee Catholic schools also made their mark in the west alongside high-achieving government schools Alamanda K-9 College, Williamstown High and Tylden Primary.

Caroline Chisholm Catholic College, Mount St Joseph Girls’ College and Gilson College all achieved average NAPLAN grades between 588 and 593 – proving parents don’t need to spend big for their children to get access to the best education.

Originally published as Low-fee schools match elite rivals in Victorian 2025 NAPLAN results