Woden · ACT · 2606
Comparing catholic schools in Woden? Browse the providers we list serving Woden and the surrounding Canberra area, typically $4,000-$10,000/yr. Credentials and pricing shown where published — independent, no paid placements.
Australian private school fees in 2026 vary by school tier: Elite Year 12 fees range from $42,000-$55,000/year (Geelong Grammar, Scotch College, Melbourne Grammar, Sydney Grammar). Mid-tier independent schools: $25,000-$38,000/year. Catholic systemic schools: $4,000-$10,000/year. Year 7-9 typically 30-40% lower than Year 12. Boarding adds $25,000-$45,000/year on top of tuition. Total cost of private education K-12: $400,000-$650,000 for elite schools, $150,000-$300,000 for mid-tier, $40,000-$120,000 for Catholic. Always factor in uniforms, IT, camps, music tuition (add $5,000-$15,000/year).
1.4M
Australian non-government school students
~2,750
Independent + Catholic schools nationwide
205
Schools in our 2026 database
$3,488 to $55,380
Year 12 fee range across our database
Woden (2606) is a established south suburb of Canberra, ACT, approximately 8 km from the Canberra CBD. Home to around 6,500 residents with a median age of 38 and a median household income of $2,350/week (ABS Census 2021). The median detached house price is approximately $950k (2026).
Population
6,500
Median age
38
Median income / wk
$2,350
Km from CBD
8
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Verified 2026 fees, ICSEA scores, and standout programs for 13 private schools across Canberra. School data sourced from official 2026 fee schedules and the ACARA MySchool register.
Anglican co-educational school in Red Hill, Canberra. Computing and digital innovation program
Y12 fee 2026
$44,630/yr
Y7 fee 2026
$43,455
ICSEA
1194
Year levels
Preschool-Year 12
Best for: Computing and digital innovation program
Standout programs
Anglican co-educational school in Bruce, Canberra. IB Diploma alongside ACT BSSS pathway
Y12 fee 2026
$25,950/yr
Y7 fee 2026
$25,050
ICSEA
1184
Year levels
Pre-K-Year 12
Best for: IB Diploma alongside ACT BSSS pathway
Standout programs
Anglican co-educational school in Forde, Canberra. Two campuses (Valley Gungahlin and Forde)
Y12 fee 2026
$17,000/yr
Y7 fee 2026
$15,900
ICSEA
1158
Year levels
Pre-K-Year 12
Best for: Two campuses (Valley Gungahlin and Forde)
Standout programs
Anglican girls (co-ed ELC-Year 3) school in Deakin, Canberra. IB Primary Years Programme and Diploma Programme
Y12 fee 2026
$50,270/yr
Y7 fee 2026
$46,330
ICSEA
1155
Year levels
ELC-Year 12
Best for: IB Primary Years Programme and Diploma Programme
Standout programs
Brindabella Christian College is an independent, non-denominational Christian co-educational K-12 day school in Lyneham (with a Norwest campus in Charnwood), founded in 1980 as O'Connor Christian School. It serves around 1,100-1,170 students and has the highest ICSEA (1140) of this Canberra group. Year 11-12 day tuition is about $14,350 a year (2025 official schedule), with a total of about $15,450 including the year levy plus a $1,800-per-family capital levy.
Y12 fee 2026
$14,350/yr
Y7 fee 2026
$13,200
ICSEA
1140
Year levels
K-12 (ELC-12)
Best for: Non-denominational Christian K-12 college with the highest ICSEA of this Canberra group (1140), running a Biblically-integrated curriculum across two campuses (Central, Lyneham; Norwest, Charnwood) plus an early learning centre
Standout programs
Note: Fee year 2025. Year 11-12 tuition $14,350/yr (total fees and levies $15,450) and Year 7-8 tuition $13,200/yr (total $14,600) from the official 2025 BCC fee schedule PDF. The 2026 schedule is hosted on an authentication-walled Shar
Catholic boys school in Pearce, Canberra. Marist Brothers tradition of holistic education
Y12 fee 2026
$15,004/yr
Y7 fee 2026
$13,014
ICSEA
1132
Year levels
Year 4-Year 12
Best for: Marist Brothers tradition of holistic education
Standout programs
Catholic co-educational school in Dickson, Canberra. Run by Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
Y12 fee 2026
$15,040/yr
Y7 fee 2026
$12,796
ICSEA
1106
Year levels
Year 7-Year 12
Best for: Run by Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
Standout programs
Merici College is a Catholic systemic girls' college (Years 7-12) in Braddon, inner-north Canberra. Founded in 1959, it is Canberra's oldest Catholic girls' school and an authorised IB World School (MYP and Diploma Programme). ICSEA 1101, around 680 students. Year 12 day tuition is about $7,623 a year (billed over three terms); total annual Year 12 fees including levies are about $15,932 plus a $625 facilities levy.
Y12 fee 2026
$7,623/yr
Y7 fee 2026
$6,116
ICSEA
1101
Year levels
7-12
Best for: Authorised IB World School offering both the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the Diploma Programme (DP) - one of very few ACT schools running the full IB pathway alongside the ACT Senior Secondary Certificate
Standout programs
Note: Fee year 2026. From the official 2026 Merici fee schedule PDF: Year 12 tuition $7,623, college levy $7,347, camps/retreats $337 = total $15,307 (charged over three terms), plus $625-per-family facilities levy. Year 11 tuition $7,6
Christian co-educational school in Wanniassa, Canberra. Christian parent-controlled school
Y12 fee 2026
$15,388/yr
Y7 fee 2026
$14,355
ICSEA
1095
Year levels
K-Year 12
Best for: Christian parent-controlled school
Standout programs
St Clare's College is a Catholic systemic girls' secondary school (Years 7-12) in Griffith, inner-south Canberra, founded in 1965 and run in the Good Samaritan Benedictine tradition. As part of the Catholic Education Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn fee system, its day tuition is very low (Year 12 about $7,623 a year, billed as $2,541 per term over three terms). ICSEA 1087. Around 880 students.
Y12 fee 2026
$7,623/yr
Y7 fee 2026
$6,116
ICSEA
1087
Year levels
7-12
Best for: Catholic systemic girls' college run in the Good Samaritan Benedictine tradition (founded 1965 as Catholic Girls' High School Griffith, renamed St Clare's in 1980); part of the Catholic Education Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn fee system, so day tuition is far below independent-school levels
Standout programs
Note: Fee year 2026. Year 12 tuition is $2,541 per term billed over three terms = $7,623/yr; total annual Year 12 fees (incl. college levy) approx $13,200 plus a $625-per-family facilities levy. Year 7 tuition $6,116/yr. ICSEA 1087 from
St Francis Xavier College is a Catholic systemic co-educational secondary school and college (Years 7-12) in Florey, in Canberra's Belconnen district, founded in 1976. It is one of the largest schools in the ACT (about 1,320 students) and serves the Belconnen and Gungahlin areas. ICSEA 1070. Year 12 day tuition is about $7,624 a year under the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn systemic fee scale.
Y12 fee 2026
$7,624/yr
Y7 fee 2026
$6,115
ICSEA
1070
Year levels
7-12
Best for: Largest Catholic systemic co-educational college serving the Belconnen and Gungahlin areas (about 1,320 students), founded 1976; very low day tuition (Year 12 about $7,624/yr) under the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn fee system
Standout programs
Note: Fee year 2026. Year 11 and Year 12 annual tuition $7,624 (matches the shared CE systemic scale: Yr 7-8 $6,115, Yr 9-10 $6,282, Yr 11-12 $7,624). Source: goodschools.com.au fee data (2026) plus the SFX official fee-schedule page (n
Catholic boys school in Griffith, Canberra. Edmund Rice Education Australia network
Y12 fee 2026
$10,700/yr
Y7 fee 2026
$7,500
ICSEA
1067
Year levels
Year 4-Year 12
Best for: Edmund Rice Education Australia network
Standout programs
St Mary MacKillop College is a Catholic systemic co-educational secondary college (Years 7-12) in the Tuggeranong Valley, the largest secondary school in the ACT (about 1,800-2,000 students). It runs two campuses: Padua (Wanniassa) for Years 7-9 and St Peter's (Isabella Plains) for Years 10-12. Formed in 1998 from the merger of Padua High School and St Peter's Catholic College. ICSEA 1059. Year 12 day tuition is about $7,623 a year under the systemic fee scale.
Y12 fee 2026
$7,623/yr
Y7 fee 2026
$6,116
ICSEA
1059
Year levels
7-12
Best for: The largest secondary school in the ACT (about 1,800-2,000 students) across two campuses: Padua (Wanniassa) for Years 7-9 and St Peter's (Isabella Plains) for Years 10-12
Standout programs
Note: Fee year 2026. From the official 2026 MacKillop fee schedule PDF: Year 12 tuition $2,541/term billed over three terms = $7,623/yr, college levy $1,036/term, total annual Year 12 fees (with school facilities levy) $11,751; Year 7 t
Common questions
Elite independent schools (Geelong Grammar, Sydney Grammar, Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College): $42,000-$55,000/year for Year 12. Mid-tier independents: $25,000-$38,000/year. Catholic systemic schools: $4,000-$10,000/year. Boarding adds $25,000-$45,000 on top. Year 7-9 fees typically 30-40% lower than Year 12. Total K-12 cost: $400,000-$650,000 for elite schools, $40,000-$120,000 for Catholic systemic. Add $5,000-$15,000/year for uniforms, IT, camps, music tuition.
Elite schools (Scotch, Geelong Grammar, Sydney Grammar): apply at birth or before age 2 for Year 7 entry. Waiting lists at top schools are 1,000+ children. Mid-tier independents: apply 2-4 years before entry year. Catholic systemic: 12-24 months before entry year. Most competitive entry points: Reception (limited places open most spots), Year 7 (start of secondary, biggest intake), Year 11 (VCE/HSC start). Apply to 4-8 schools simultaneously to maximise options.
ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) measures the socio-economic background of a school's community. Average is 1000. Elite private schools typically score 1180-1230. ICSEA correlates strongly with academic outcomes, but it measures family advantage, not school teaching quality. To assess teaching quality, look at "value-added" data (how much the school improves students above their starting point), Education Department websites publish this. A school with ICSEA 1200 should produce strong results; a school with ICSEA 1100 producing strong results is doing more impressive teaching.
Top elite schools: 5-15 academic scholarships per year for Year 7 entry, 200-500 applicants. Highly competitive, typically requires top 1% performance on ASCAS test plus interview. Mid-tier schools: easier scholarships available, often 30-50% fee reduction. Music scholarships at most schools: less competitive than academic, requires 5+ years instrument experience and grade 6-7 AMEB level. Sport scholarships: rare, mostly for boarding. Financial assistance (means-tested): 5-30% of places at most schools. Apply to 3-5 schools simultaneously to maximise chances.
Catholic systemic schools (parish-funded): $4,000-$10,000/year, generally similar academic outcomes to mid-tier independents, religious instruction (Catholic but increasingly inclusive), community-focused, lower socio-economic mix. Independent schools (privately governed): $25,000-$55,000/year, broader extracurricular options, smaller classes, more international students, stronger university preparation, higher ATAR outcomes. Catholic congregational schools (Loreto, Xavier, Mary MacKillop College, etc.) bridge the two, Catholic ethos but independent governance, fees $20,000-$35,000. Many families choose Catholic for primary, independent for secondary.
Research is mixed. Australian Productivity Commission analysis shows private schools deliver 5-8 ATAR points improvement over government schools on average, but much of this is explained by socio-economic background, not teaching quality. Top selective government schools (NSW: Sydney Boys/Girls High, James Ruse; VIC: Melbourne High, Mac.Robertson) consistently outperform top private schools at zero cost. Private school benefits are real (network, extracurriculars, smaller classes, pastoral care) but financial cost is significant, $500,000 invested at age 5 instead would be worth $1.5M+ at age 18 for university and house deposit help.
Visit open days at 5-8 schools matching your geographic and budget criteria. Talk to current parents (often more revealing than school marketing). Ask schools for: median ATAR (or NAPLAN value-added data for primary), retention rate from Year 7 to 12, specific strengths in your child's areas of interest, pastoral care approach, school culture. Match school strengths to your child, academic powerhouse for high achievers, more pastoral schools for sensitive children, sport-focused for athletic kids, music-strong for musicians. Don't just pick the highest-fee school.
Standard process: 1) Register interest at school website (often $50-$200 fee), 2) Submit application form with academic reports and references (12-24 months before entry typically), 3) Sit assessment test (Cooperative Scholarship Test, AAS test, or school-specific), 4) Attend family interview, 5) Receive offer or waitlist position. Many schools require non-refundable enrolment fee ($1,500-$5,000) to secure place. Most schools require 1 term notice plus a fee of one term's tuition if you change your mind after enrolment.