Best private schools in Perth 2026 fees, ICSEA and how to choose

The Education Desk · Editorial team, schools + fertility + family services · Updated 5 June 2026 · How we rank · Editorial standards

Perth's leading private schools in 2026 cluster around the western suburbs and river. The highest-ICSEA independents are St Hilda's, Christ Church Grammar, Scotch College Perth and Hale School, with Year 12 day tuition of roughly $30,000-$37,000. Catholic options like John XXIII and Trinity College sit far lower. See our full ranking for best private schools in Perth.

Key takeaways

  • Top Perth day tuition for 2026 runs roughly $30,000-$37,000 at the elite independents (Christ Church, Scotch, Hale, St Hilda's, MLC, St Mary's).
  • Highest ICSEA scores in our Perth set: St Hilda's (1,194), Christ Church Grammar (1,191), Scotch College Perth (1,170).
  • Catholic and lower-fee options (Trinity College, John XXIII, Iona Presentation, All Saints' College, Aquinas) sit around or below the mid-$20,000s.
  • Most leading schools run boarding for regional WA families, charged on top of tuition.
  • ICSEA reflects the socio-educational profile of the community, not teaching quality. Use it alongside open days, culture fit and program strengths.

Choosing a private school in Perth is rarely about a single league table. Fees, ICSEA, sector, gender model, boarding and program strengths all matter, and the right answer depends on your child and your budget. Below are the Perth schools in our register, with their published 2026 fees and ICSEA scores, so you can compare like with like. Every school links to its full profile, and the complete city ranking lives at best private schools in Perth on our site.

Perth private schools at a glance (2026 fees and ICSEA)

Fees shown are indicative Year 12 day tuition for 2026. Boarding, where offered, is charged separately. ICSEA has a national average of 1,000.

School Suburb Sector / gender Year 12 fee 2026 ICSEA
St Hilda's Anglican School for GirlsMosman ParkAnglican, girls$34,2301,194
Christ Church Grammar SchoolClaremontAnglican, boys$37,1731,191
Scotch College PerthSwanbourneUniting, boys$35,9321,170
Hale SchoolWembley DownsAnglican, boys$32,5301,169
Wesley College PerthSouth PerthUniting, boys (co-ed to Yr 6)$31,8901,159
St Mary's Anglican Girls' SchoolKarrinyupAnglican, girls$30,3401,158
Methodist Ladies' College PerthClaremontUniting, girls$34,4281,149
Presbyterian Ladies' College PerthPeppermint GroveUniting, girls$34,7461,107
Perth CollegeMount LawleyAnglican, girls$23,8201,163
All Saints' CollegeBull CreekAnglican, co-ed$21,8201,167
John XXIII CollegeMount ClaremontCatholic, co-ed$14,8201,167
Penrhos CollegeComoUniting, girls$22,3801,148
Iona Presentation CollegeMosman ParkCatholic, girls$14,8201,148
Trinity College PerthEast PerthCatholic, boys$20,5401,115
Aquinas College PerthSalter PointCatholic, boys$22,7791,020

Fees are sourced from each school's published 2026 schedule or the Good Schools Guide listing; ICSEA values are from the ACARA MySchool register. Always confirm current figures with the school before deciding.

The elite western-suburbs independents

Christ Church Grammar School in Claremont (ICSEA 1,191) is consistently among the strongest non-selective WACE and ATAR performers in WA. It is a PSA sport school with rowing on Freshwater Bay and a 110-boy boarding house. Year 12 day tuition for 2026 is around $37,173, the highest in our Perth set.

Scotch College Perth in Swanbourne is an authorised IB World School (PYP, MYP and Diploma) and a PSA sport powerhouse, with around 170 boarders across Years 7 to 12. Hale School in Wembley Downs is the oldest boys' school in WA (founded 1858), with a strong cadet and boarding tradition and PSA rugby, rowing and cricket. Both sit in the low-to-mid $30,000s for 2026 Year 12 day tuition.

Leading girls' schools

St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls in Mosman Park has the highest ICSEA in our Perth set (1,194), three campuses including a Pemberton outdoor education site, IGSSA sport and boarding from Year 7. St Mary's Anglican Girls' School in Karrinyup runs the largest Anglican girls' boarding house in WA (around 171 boarders) with strong WACE and ATAR outcomes.

MLC Perth in Claremont and PLC Perth in Peppermint Grove are both well-regarded Uniting Church girls' schools; PLC is an IB Diploma World School and a Round Square global member. Perth College in Mount Lawley offers both WACE and IB and sits at a more accessible $23,820 for Year 12.

Strong value: Catholic and lower-fee schools

If the elite tier is out of budget, Perth has genuinely strong Catholic and lower-fee independent options. John XXIII College (a joint Jesuit and Loreto co-ed foundation, ICSEA 1,167) and All Saints' College in Bull Creek (ICSEA 1,167, IB and WACE) both deliver high-ICSEA communities at well under half the elite fee. Trinity College Perth (Edmund Rice, ACC sport) and Aquinas College on its 69-hectare riverside campus round out the boys' Catholic options, while Iona Presentation College is a lower-fee Catholic girls' choice in Mosman Park.

How to use ICSEA and fees together

  • ICSEA is a community measure, not a quality score. A score above 1,000 means the student community is, on average, more socio-educationally advantaged. It does not directly measure teaching or results.
  • Fees buy facilities and co-curricular breadth, not guaranteed outcomes. Several lower-fee Perth schools (John XXIII, All Saints') post ICSEA scores within a few points of the elite tier.
  • Match the gender model and sector to your child. Perth's leading schools split fairly evenly between single-sex and co-ed; the right fit matters more than the brochure.
  • Factor in the extras. Uniforms, IT, camps, music tuition and boarding can add $5,000-$45,000 a year on top of headline tuition.

Boarding in Perth

Perth's leading schools draw boarders from regional WA, the Pilbara and the Kimberley, plus interstate and international families. Christ Church Grammar, Scotch College Perth, Hale School, St Hilda's, St Mary's, MLC Perth, PLC Perth and Aquinas College all run boarding houses. Wesley College Perth added Year 7 boarding from 2026. Boarding fees are charged on top of tuition, so budget for the combined figure. For the wider picture, read our guide to boarding school costs and what is included in the fees.

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Common questions

Perth private schools: frequently asked questions

What is the most expensive private school in Perth?

Among the schools in our register, Christ Church Grammar School in Claremont charges the highest day tuition at around $37,173 a year for Year 12 in 2026, followed closely by Scotch College in Swanbourne at about $35,932. Several Perth schools also charge separate boarding fees on top of tuition.

What is a good ICSEA score for a Perth school?

ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) has a national average of 1,000. Perth's leading independent schools sit well above this: St Hilda's (1,194), Christ Church Grammar (1,191), Scotch College Perth (1,170) and Hale School (1,169). ICSEA measures the socio-educational background of the student community, not teaching quality or academic results.

Which Perth private schools offer boarding?

Many of Perth's leading schools run boarding houses for regional WA and interstate families, including Christ Church Grammar, Scotch College Perth, Hale School, St Hilda's, St Mary's Anglican Girls' School, MLC Perth, PLC Perth and Aquinas College. Wesley College Perth introduced Year 7 boarding from 2026. Boarding fees are charged in addition to tuition.

Are there affordable private schools in Perth?

Yes. Catholic and lower-fee independent options keep day tuition well below the elite tier. Trinity College Perth (around $20,540), All Saints' College Bull Creek (around $21,820), Aquinas College (around $22,779), John XXIII College (around $14,820) and Iona Presentation College (around $14,820) all sit under or around the mid-$20,000s for Year 12.

When should I apply for a private school place in Perth?

For the most in-demand Perth schools, register your interest 2 to 4 years before your intended entry year, and earlier still for the elite independents and boarding places. Year 7 is the most competitive entry point. Always confirm each school's specific deadlines and waiting-list policy directly.

Do Perth private schools offer scholarships?

Most do. Academic, music, all-rounder and sometimes sport scholarships are common, alongside means-tested financial assistance and Indigenous student support. Scholarship exams typically run 12 to 18 months ahead of the entry year. Apply to several schools at once, as places are limited.