Head-to-head · 2026
Huntingtower School vs St Catherine's School
Side-by-side 2026 comparison: fees, ICSEA, sector, gender, programs and boarding. Both in Melbourne. Sourced from each school's published schedule and ACARA MySchool. Verified 6 June 2026.
Looking for just one school's fees and full profile?
At a glance
The headline differences
- Sector: Huntingtower School is Independent; St Catherine's School is Anglican.
- Gender: Huntingtower School is co-ed; St Catherine's School is girls.
- St Catherine's School offers boarding; Huntingtower School is day-only.
- Year 12 fees differ by $18,825: Huntingtower School is more affordable.
- ICSEA gap of 11: St Catherine's School draws from a more advantaged community.
- St Catherine's School is the older school (est. 1896 vs 1927).
- Both schools are in Melbourne, so catchment + commute considerations are similar.
Comparison
Side-by-side
| Metric | Huntingtower School | St Catherine's School |
|---|---|---|
| City / suburb | Mount Waverley, Melbourne | Toorak, Melbourne |
| Sector | Independent | Anglican |
| Gender | co-ed | girls |
| Year levels | ELC to Year 12 | ELC-Year 12 |
| ICSEA | 1201 | 1212 |
| Year 12 fee | $19,095 | $37,920 |
| Year 7 fee | $15,555 | $34,480 |
| Boarding | Day school | Yes · $31,800/yr |
| Founded | 1927 | 1896 |
| Religion | Non-denominational Christian | Anglican Church of Australia |
All fees verified 6 June 2026 against each school's published schedule. Excludes uniforms, technology, camps, capital + boarding (unless shown).
Huntingtower School
Standout strengths
- ›ICSEA of 1201 places it in roughly the 99th percentile nationally - one of the highest of any Victorian school and the highest of these four; serves a strongly advantaged community.
- ›Consistent academic powerhouse: regularly ranked among Melbourne's top schools on VCE results, with the share of study scores/ATARs above 95 running many times the state average; The Age once ranked it the top co-educational school in Victoria.
- ›Small, single-campus K-12 school (around 750-785 students) with an ~11:1 student-teacher ratio and 26 VCE subjects, marketed on individual attention rather than scale.
Huntingtower is a non-denominational Christian, co-educational independent K-12 day school in Mount Waverley, founded in 1927. With an ICSEA of 1201 it sits among the most academically advantaged schools in Victoria and is a perennial VCE high-performer, kept deliberately small on a single campus.
See full profile →St Catherine's School
Standout strengths
- ›Strong VCE outcomes
- ›Toorak elite community
- ›Small boarding house with rural + international students
Anglican girls' school in Toorak, Melbourne. Founded 1896. Day + boarding.
See full profile →Common questions
FAQs
Which is better, Huntingtower School or St Catherine's School?
"Better" depends on family priorities. By ICSEA, St Catherine's School. By 2026 Year 12 fee, Huntingtower School is more affordable. Both are in Melbourne. The most meaningful comparison is on culture, programs, transport and entry pathway for your specific child – visit open days and talk to current parents.
What are the 2026 fees for Huntingtower School and St Catherine's School?
Huntingtower School's 2026 Year 12 tuition is $19,095 (Year 7: $15,555). St Catherine's School's 2026 Year 12 tuition is $37,920 (Year 7: $34,480). Both schools also charge additional levies (technology, camps, capital, uniform) typically adding 8-15% to headline tuition.
What are the ICSEA scores for Huntingtower School vs St Catherine's School?
Huntingtower School has an ICSEA score of 1201; St Catherine's School has 1212. The Australian median is 1000. ICSEA measures the socio-educational advantage of the school community – it correlates with academic outcomes but does NOT measure teaching quality or value-add. ICSEA is published by ACARA on MySchool.
Which school is older, Huntingtower School or St Catherine's School?
St Catherine's School is the older school (founded 1896 vs 1927 for Huntingtower School).
Do Huntingtower School or St Catherine's School offer boarding?
Huntingtower School: Day school only. St Catherine's School: Yes, 2026 boarding fee from $31,800/yr.
Next step
Model the 6-year cost for either school
Project Year 7-12 tuition with 4.5% annual indexation. Add boarding, levies and sibling discounts. Compare side-by-side.
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