Schools360 | Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Schools360 created?
We created Schools360 to empower parents with data-driven insights for a well-informed school choice.
How is Schools360 different from other ranking platforms?
We take an independent, rigorous, and holistic approach, providing a '360-degree' assessment covering various school aspects, 60 evaluation criteria in total.
How was Schools360 developed?
Founded by a former strategy consultant, Schools360 applies strategic analysis and corporate benchmarking to Australia's private education sector.
How did you come up with the evaluation criteria?
We interviewed parents and conducted research to determine the most important factors for a successful education experience.
What criteria does Schools360 consider?
Our framework covers academic excellence, student development, learning opportunities, the learning environment, and institutional excellence. We analyse 60 unique evaluation criteria and are the most comprehensive school rankings in Australia.
Do parents pay to use Schools360?
No, Schools360 insights are free for parents to access.
Do you provide advice to parents on which school to choose?
No, we do not provide personal advice. Schools360 is a free resource for parents to access general information on schools.
Do schools pay to be included in your rankings?
No, schools do not pay for the Schools360 evaluation or for inclusion in our rankings. We are impartial, and our analysis is independent.
Are your rankings independent?
Yes, our rankings are independent, impartial, and based on robust ‘outside-in’ analysis.
Is Schools360 affiliated with any educational institution?
No, Schools360 is an independent entity, ensuring impartiality in our analysis and rankings.
Where do you get your data from?
We use publicly available data from school websites, government databases, annual reports, financial reports filed with the ACNC, social media sites, etc.
How do you score subjective factors like student wellbeing?
We have developed a robust scoring system to convert qualitative topics like student wellbeing into a quantitative score.
Why is my school not included?
For our inaugural rankings, we evaluated 100+ private schools in Melbourne and Sydney. We used academic scores as a cut-off and plan to expand our analysis.
Will you rank schools in other cities/states?
Yes, we plan to expand our rankings to cover all major cities in Australia and the best regional schools in the coming months.
How often do you update your data?
We plan to update our analysis annually, incorporating the latest academic results and new data from schools' filings.
How do you ensure the data's accuracy?
We use credible data sources, including government datasets and school publications, relying on schools to be truthful and accurate.
Do you contact schools for information?
Our analysis is 'outside-in,' using publicly available information. However, for 2024, we'll contact schools for academic results.
My school produced good academic results, why aren't we ranked higher?
We evaluate schools based on 60 evaluation criteria, going beyond academic results. Our holistic 360 assessment considers various factors crucial to a child's success, not solely academic scores.
Why is my school scored low on things that we know we do well?
We use a diverse set of publicly available data. If your school doesn't publish or promote certain aspects, we might not be aware of them. We encourage schools to be open and transparent, providing the information parents need for an informed decision.
Do you evaluate public schools?
No, we currently analyze non-government schools (private schools) due to their significant financial investment for parents.
How many schools do you plan to analyse?
We've analyzed 100+ private schools in Melbourne and Sydney and aim to analyse ~500 schools across Australia.
Can I advertise on your site?
We will be offering a limited number of advertising opportunities for relevant businesses. Use our contact form to find out more.
If you have any further questions that have not been answered above, please reach out to us using the Contact Us form.