Our school rankings are based on a deep understanding of what matters most to parents, and incorporates global research on successful educational experiences
We developed the Schools360 framework based on dozens of interviews with parents to understand the important considerations when choosing a school, and countless hours of research into what the ‘professionals’ say are the most important factors in determining a successful educational experience.
Our Schools360 framework seeks to answer five key questions that are important to parents:
Academic Excellence: How well does the school perform academically?
Student Development & Wellbeing: How well will the school look after my child’s wellbeing and individual needs?
Learning Opportunities: Does the school offer extensive learning and experiential opportunities for my child?
Learning Environment: Does the school offer a great environment for my child to realise their full potential?
Institutional Excellence: How well is the school run?
The table below outlines our Schools360 framework, which consists of a total of 60 different scoring elements. The unique scoring system that we developed enables us to transform subjective or qualitative elements such as wellbeing and reputation, into a quantitative score that we use for our schools rankings.
| Building Blocks | Factors | Description of Elements |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Excellence | Academic Performance Years 7-10 | Current and previous years NAPLAN test scores assessing academic proficiency for students in years 7-10 |
| Academic Performance Years 11 & 12 | Measures of academic achievement, inc. median ATAR scores and VCE/HSC results | |
| University Outcomes & Pathways | Evaluates students' progress, entry into top-tier universities, postgraduate study, and alumni success. | |
| Student Development & Wellbeing | Student Wellbeing | Focuses on programs and services promoting students' physical, mental, and emotional health. |
| Student Support | Examines support systems such as learning assistance, mentorship, pastoral care, and inclusion initiatives. | |
| Personal Development | Tracks initiatives fostering leadership, career readiness, independence, and creativity. | |
| Learning Opportunities | Curriculum | Assesses the diversity and quality of the academic curriculum, including specialised subjects and STEM |
| Sports | Evaluates sports opportunities, facilities, swimming programs, and achievements | |
| Arts, Music & Culture | Measures the quality and achievements in visual arts, music, drama, and artistic progression | |
| Learning Environment | Teaching Quality and Staff | Assesses teacher qualifications, ratios, satisfaction, and instructional methodologies |
| Facilities, Learning Spaces, and Environment | Evaluates campus quality, library, modern learning spaces, and open/green spaces for recreation and learning | |
| Technology and Innovation | Examines the integration of technology, device accessibility, innovative tools, and digital literacy initiatives | |
| Institutional Excellence | School Governance | Focuses on the vision, strategy, parent involvement, transparency, and communication in school governance |
| Reputation, Prestige, and Alumni Connections | Considers school history, recognition, community engagement, and the strength of the alumni network | |
| Sustainability | Examines the school's commitment, strategy, reporting, and practices related to environmental sustainability |
Schools360 applies the principles and methods of strategic analysis and corporate benchmarking to Australia’s private education sector.
We’ve spent hundreds of hours analysing thousands of pages of data to rank Australia’s best private schools
At Schools360, we perform rigorous, in-depth analysis on each school. Our analysis is enhanced by artificial intelligence. We leverage a diverse range of trusted data sources including schools, government, industry bodies, news and media outlets, and other open-source data providers.
Below are some examples of the data sources we use, and the analysis we perform:
School websites to understand the curriculum and co-curricular offerings, campus facilities, wellbeing programs etc.
School’s Strategic Plans to understand their strategic objectives and future direction
Principal’s Letter’s and other public statements from the schools to analyse key trends and priorities
Annual Reports/Financial Reports to analyse school’s operational performance and financial sustainability
ATAR scores and HSC/VCE (or equivalent) results for final year academic performance and post-school outcomes
ACRA’s MySchool website for standardised test results (NAPLAN) and other school data including teacher:student ratios
Sports performance data and sporting events/competition results (e.g. Girls’ Sports Victoria)
Glassdoor and Seek workplace reviews to understand teacher satisfaction, staff turnover rate, and teacher’s pay levels
Sentiment analysis of social media reviews from students, parents, and the broader community
News/media reports to keep up to date on achievements and progress, as well as any governance or cultural issues
LinkedIn data to analyse educational and professional pathways of school alumni
We’ve performed this rigorous analysis on 100+ private schools in Melbourne and Sydney, and we’re in the process of analysing ~500 schools across Australia. This thorough analysis ensures that parents have a complete, data-informed understanding of each school's performance, allowing them to make the best educational decisions that align with their child's unique needs and aspirations.