15 schools · 2026 fees verified

Best Boarding Schools in Queensland (2026)

Queensland has a strong rural-and-remote boarding tradition serving North Queensland, Outback Queensland and the Pacific Islands. Major boarding schools include The Southport School (TSS), Brisbane Boys' College, St Joseph's Nudgee College, All Saints Anglican School (Gold Coast), and Coomera Anglican College. Many have 200+ boarders.

The Education Desk · Editorial team, schools + fertility + family services · Updated 17 May 2026 · How we rank · Editorial standards

Key takeaways

  • 15 schools matched, ranked by ICSEA (highest first).
  • 2026 Year 12 tuition ranges $14,620–$36,300.
  • 15 of 15 offer boarding.
  • Schools across 2 cities: Brisbane, Gold Coast.
  • Sourced from each school's published 2026 fee schedule. Independent — no paid placements.
Best Boarding Schools in Queensland (2026) — quick compare table · Click any header to sort
Provider Suburb Sector Gender ICSEA Y12 fee Boarding
Brisbane Grammar School Spring HillIndependent (non-denominational)boys1212$36,300Yes
Somerville House South BrisbaneIndependent (PMSA)girls1184$31,872Yes
St Peters Lutheran College IndooroopillyLutheranco-educational1183$26,088Yes
Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) East BrisbaneAnglicanboys1167$33,720Yes
Brisbane Boys' College ToowongIndependent (Presbyterian and Uniting Church)boys1164$33,260Yes
Stuartholme School ToowongCatholic (Society of the Sacred Heart)girls1163$22,820Yes
Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) East BrisbaneAnglicanboys1142$24,820Yes
Toowoomba Grammar School East ToowoombaIndependent (non-denominational)boys1140$22,320Yes
Fairholme College Toowoomba ToowoombaPresbyteriangirls1138$20,180Yes
St Hilda's School Southport SouthportAnglicangirls1126$27,284Yes
The Cathedral School Townsville Mundingburra, TownsvilleAnglicanco-educational1098$14,820Yes
St Joseph's Nudgee College BoondallCatholic (Edmund Rice)boys1097$23,250Yes
All Souls St Gabriels School Charters Towers Charters TowersAnglicanco-educational1052$14,620Yes
The Southport School SouthportAnglicanboys$31,773Yes
St Margaret's Anglican Girls School AscotAnglicangirls$33,216Yes

Top 20 by ICSEA. Independent — no paid placements.

1

Brisbane Grammar School

, Spring Hill
Independent (non-denominational) Boys Top tier Boarding Est. 1868

Brisbane Grammar School is in Spring Hill, Brisbane. Independent (non-denominational), boys, Year 5-Year 12. $36,300/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1212. Founded 1868. Boarding offered. Standout: Top NAPLAN numeracy results in QLD.

Y12 fee 2026

$36,300/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$36,300

ICSEA

1212

Year levels

Year 5-Year 12

Boarding: $35,660/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: Boarding families across QLD

Standout programs

  • Top NAPLAN numeracy results in QLD
  • GPS sport powerhouse
  • Strong music + debating tradition
2

Somerville House

, South Brisbane
Independent (PMSA) Girls Mid tier Boarding Est. 1899

Somerville House is in South Brisbane, Brisbane. Independent (PMSA), girls, Prep-Year 12. $31,872/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1184. Founded 1899. Boarding offered. Standout: All-inclusive fee (laptop, camps, QGSSSA sport).

Y12 fee 2026

$31,872/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$31,872

ICSEA

1184

Year levels

Prep-Year 12

Best for: Boarding families across QLD

Standout programs

  • All-inclusive fee (laptop, camps, QGSSSA sport)
  • Strong academic record - QLD top OP/ATAR results
  • International + STEM programs
3

St Peters Lutheran College

, Indooroopilly
Lutheran Co-ed Mid tier Boarding Est. 1945

St Peters Lutheran College is in Indooroopilly, Brisbane. Lutheran, co-educational, Prep-Year 12. $26,088/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1183. Founded 1945. Boarding offered. Standout: IB Diploma + AC Senior pathways.

Y12 fee 2026

$26,088/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$24,708

ICSEA

1183

Year levels

Prep-Year 12

Best for: Boarding families across QLD

Standout programs

  • IB Diploma + AC Senior pathways
  • Largest Lutheran co-ed school in QLD
  • Strong music conservatorium and outdoor ed (Crows Nest)
4
Anglican Boys Mid tier Boarding Est. 1912

Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) is in East Brisbane, Brisbane. Anglican, boys, Prep-Year 12. $33,720/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1167. Founded 1912. Boarding offered. Standout: GPS sport (rowing, rugby, cricket).

Y12 fee 2026

$33,720/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$33,720

ICSEA

1167

Year levels

Prep-Year 12

Best for: Boarding families across QLD

Standout programs

  • GPS sport (rowing, rugby, cricket)
  • International Baccalaureate Diploma + Primary Years Programme
  • 150-boy boarding house from Year 7
5
Independent (Presbyterian and Uniting Church) Boys Mid tier Boarding Est. 1902

Brisbane Boys' College is in Toowong, Brisbane. Independent (Presbyterian and Uniting Church), boys, Prep-Year 12. $33,260/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1164. Founded 1902. Boarding offered. Standout: GPS sport (rugby, rowing, cricket).

Y12 fee 2026

$33,260/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$33,260

ICSEA

1164

Year levels

Prep-Year 12

Boarding: $32,460/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: Boarding families across QLD

Standout programs

  • GPS sport (rugby, rowing, cricket)
  • Strong cadet + outdoor education
  • Robust music and pipe band tradition
6

Stuartholme School

, Toowong
Catholic (Society of the Sacred Heart) Girls Mid tier Boarding Est. 1920

Stuartholme School is in Toowong, Brisbane. Catholic (Society of the Sacred Heart), girls, Year 7-Year 12. $22,820/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1163. Founded 1920. Boarding offered. Standout: Sacred Heart Madeleine Sophie Barat tradition.

Y12 fee 2026

$22,820/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$20,680

ICSEA

1163

Year levels

Year 7-Year 12

Boarding: $22,600/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: Boarding families across QLD

Standout programs

  • Sacred Heart Madeleine Sophie Barat tradition
  • Largest girls' boarding school in QLD
  • Strong music + drama programs
7
Anglican Boys Mid tier Boarding Est. 1912

Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) is in East Brisbane, Brisbane. Anglican, boys, Prep-Year 12. $24,820/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1142. Founded 1912. Boarding offered. Standout: GPS rugby + rowing + cricket.

Y12 fee 2026

$24,820/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$22,480

ICSEA

1142

Year levels

Prep-Year 12

Boarding: $22,800/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: Boarding families across QLD

Standout programs

  • GPS rugby + rowing + cricket
  • Strong music + concert band program
  • Boarding draws from regional QLD + PNG
8

Toowoomba Grammar School

, East Toowoomba
Independent (non-denominational) Boys Mid tier Boarding Est. 1875

Toowoomba Grammar School is in East Toowoomba, Brisbane. Independent (non-denominational), boys, Prep-Year 12. $22,320/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1140. Founded 1875. Boarding offered. Standout: QLD's oldest boys boarding school.

Y12 fee 2026

$22,320/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$19,680

ICSEA

1140

Year levels

Prep-Year 12

Boarding: $33,200/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: Boarding families across QLD

Standout programs

  • QLD's oldest boys boarding school
  • GPS rugby + cricket
  • Boarding draws from regional QLD + PNG
9
Presbyterian Girls Mid tier Boarding Est. 1917

Fairholme College Toowoomba is in Toowoomba, Brisbane. Presbyterian, girls, K-Year 12. $20,180/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1138. Founded 1917. Boarding offered. Standout: QLD's largest girls' boarding school.

Y12 fee 2026

$20,180/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$17,820

ICSEA

1138

Year levels

K-Year 12

Boarding: $30,200/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: Boarding families across QLD

Standout programs

  • QLD's largest girls' boarding school
  • Boarding draws from regional QLD + outback
  • Strong sport + agriculture programs
10
Anglican Girls Mid tier Boarding Est. 1912

St Hilda's School Southport is in Southport, Gold Coast. Anglican, girls, Pre-Prep to Year 12. $27,284/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1126. Founded 1912. Boarding offered. Standout: Only girls' school on the Gold Coast; full and weekly boarding from Year 6.

Y12 fee 2026

$27,284/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$26,349

ICSEA

1126

Year levels

Pre-Prep to Year 12

Boarding: $28,912/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: Boarding families across QLD

Standout programs

  • Only girls' school on the Gold Coast; full and weekly boarding from Year 6
  • Strong arts and music program
  • 5% discount for early payment of fees
11

The Cathedral School Townsville

, Mundingburra, Townsville
Anglican Co-ed Lower-fee Boarding Est. 1917

The Cathedral School Townsville is in Mundingburra, Townsville, Brisbane. Anglican, co-educational, ELC-Year 12. $14,820/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1098. Founded 1917. Boarding offered. Standout: North QLD Anglican boarding.

Y12 fee 2026

$14,820/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$12,820

ICSEA

1098

Year levels

ELC-Year 12

Boarding: $29,200/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: Boarding families across QLD

Standout programs

  • North QLD Anglican boarding
  • Boarding draws from far north QLD + outback
  • Strong sport + agriculture programs
12
Catholic (Edmund Rice) Boys Mid tier Boarding Est. 1891

St Joseph's Nudgee College is in Boondall, Brisbane. Catholic (Edmund Rice), boys, Year 5-Year 12. $23,250/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1097. Founded 1891. Boarding offered. Standout: 315+ boarders - largest QLD Catholic boys boarding.

Y12 fee 2026

$23,250/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$23,250

ICSEA

1097

Year levels

Year 5-Year 12

Boarding: $31,050/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: Boarding families across QLD

Standout programs

  • 315+ boarders - largest QLD Catholic boys boarding
  • GPS rugby/rowing powerhouse
  • Edmund Rice Christian-service tradition
13
Anglican Co-ed Lower-fee Boarding Est. 1920

All Souls St Gabriels School Charters Towers is in Charters Towers, Brisbane. Anglican, co-educational, Year 5-Year 12. $14,620/yr Year 12 tuition · ICSEA 1052. Founded 1920. Boarding offered. Standout: Outback QLD Anglican boarding tradition.

Y12 fee 2026

$14,620/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$12,780

ICSEA

1052

Year levels

Year 5-Year 12

Boarding: $28,800/yr (additional to tuition)

Best for: Boarding families across QLD

Standout programs

  • Outback QLD Anglican boarding tradition
  • Largest boarding intake from cattle station families
  • Equestrian + agriculture programs
14

The Southport School

, Southport
Anglican Boys Mid tier Boarding Est. 1901

The Southport School is in Southport, Gold Coast. Anglican, boys, Pre-Prep to Year 12. $31,773/yr Year 12 tuition. Founded 1901. Boarding offered. Standout: Largest boys' boarding facility in Queensland (276 boarders Years 7-12).

Y12 fee 2026

$31,773/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$27,216

ICSEA

Year levels

Pre-Prep to Year 12

Best for: Boarding families across QLD

Standout programs

  • Largest boys' boarding facility in Queensland (276 boarders Years 7-12)
  • GPS (Great Public Schools) sporting tradition
  • Strong rowing, rugby and music programs

Note: TSS does not publish 2026 fees publicly; figures via Good Schools Guide.

15
Anglican Girls Mid tier Boarding Est. 1895

St Margaret's Anglican Girls School is in Ascot, Brisbane. Anglican, girls, Pre-Prep-Year 12. $33,216/yr Year 12 tuition. Founded 1895. Boarding offered. Standout: ~190 boarders Years 5-12 (one of QLD's leading girls' boarding schools).

Y12 fee 2026

$33,216/yr

Y7 fee 2026

$33,216

ICSEA

Year levels

Pre-Prep-Year 12

Best for: Boarding families across QLD

Standout programs

  • ~190 boarders Years 5-12 (one of QLD's leading girls' boarding schools)
  • QGSSSA sport - rowing, hockey, netball
  • Sisters of the Sacred Advent founding heritage

Common questions

Why are QLD boarding schools important for rural families?

Queensland's vast geography means many farming, mining and remote families have no local secondary school option. Boarding schools have served this community for 150+ years. The Federal AIC Scheme provides up to $10k/year.

Is GPS rugby a major boarding-school feature in Queensland?

Yes. The GPS Association of Queensland comprises eight schools — TSS, Brisbane Boys, Brisbane Grammar, Churchie, Gregory Terrace, Ipswich Grammar, Nudgee, and Toowoomba Grammar. GPS rugby and rowing are major Queensland sporting institutions.

Are there girls-only boarding options in Queensland?

Yes — Stuartholme School (Catholic, Toowong), Fairholme College (Toowoomba), New England Girls (Armidale, accepts QLD families), and some co-ed schools have separate girls boarding houses.