Public vs private school in Australia: the third option most parents miss

By Jon Petruch · Updated 9 November 2026

Key takeaways

• The choice isn't just public or private. Every mainland state also offers selective public schools or gifted programs, and most private schools offer academic scholarships. Both give a highly academic education for little or no tuition.
• Private schools are partly government-funded. The Commonwealth funds most of a non-government school's public share, adjusted by the school community's capacity to pay.
• Each state runs its own system. NSW has the most selective places by far. Victoria's selective schools start at Year 9. WA has one fully selective school. Queensland and SA run academies and gifted programs.
• Timing matters more than most parents expect. Many scholarship and selective tests are sat in Year 4, 5 or 6, a year or more before entry.
• The right choice depends on your child, your budget and how far you're willing to travel, not on a league table.

Public vs private at a glance

How school funding actually works

All Australian schools receive government money. Under the national funding model, the Commonwealth provides a set share of a non-government school's Schooling Resource Standard, adjusted by the school community's capacity to contribute. In practice, low-fee private schools receive more public funding per student than high-fee ones, and parents' fees make up the rest. Public schools are funded mainly by state governments, with a smaller Commonwealth share.

So "public vs private" is really a question of how much the family pays on top of government funding, and what that buys.

The third option: selective schools and scholarships

Most public vs private articles stop at fees and ATARs. For an academically strong child, the more useful question is: can they get a private-school-level education without paying full fees?

There are two routes:

1. Selective public schools and gifted programs. These are free government schools or streams that take students by entrance test.
2. Academic scholarships at private schools. These cover part or all of tuition, awarded through a scholarship test (AAS, ACER or EduTest) and usually an interview.

Both are competitive, and both reward preparation started early. The details differ a lot by state.

New South Wales

NSW has Australia's largest selective system. The Department of Education lists 17 fully selective high schools, 25 partially selective high schools (selective classes inside a comprehensive school) and 4 agricultural high schools, plus Aurora College for rural and remote students. There are about 4,248 selective Year 7 places, and you can apply to schools outside your local area.

• Selective test: the NSW Selective High School Placement Test, sat in Year 6 for Year 7 entry.
• Opportunity Classes (OC): selective classes for Years 5 and 6, tested in Year 4.
• Private scholarships: most Sydney independent schools use AAS, with some on ACER.

Guides: NSW selective schools · OC test · NSW Selective practice · Scholarship pages: Barker, Abbotsleigh, Pymble Ladies' College, MLC School, Trinity Grammar

Victoria

Victoria has four selective entry high schools: Melbourne High School (boys), The Mac.Robertson Girls' High School, Nossal High School and Suzanne Cory High School (both co-educational). Together they take about 1,000 students into Year 9 each year.

• Selective test: sat in Year 8 for Year 9 entry, through a central process.
• SEAL programs: accelerated streams in many government secondary schools, each with its own entry test.
• Private scholarships: a mix of EduTest, ACER, AAS and schools' own exams. Several top schools now test in Year 5 for Year 7 entry.

Because selective entry starts at Year 9, many Victorian families pair a Year 7 scholarship with a later selective attempt.

Guides: Victorian selective entry exam · SEAL program · Scholarship pages: Melbourne Grammar, Geelong Grammar, Brighton Grammar, Camberwell Grammar, Ivanhoe Grammar

Queensland

Queensland's academically selective public options are the Queensland Academies (Science, Mathematics and Technology; Health Sciences; and Creative Industries), Brisbane State High School's academic entry, and excellence programs inside state high schools.

• QASMT and BSHS: entry tests sat in Year 5 or Year 6, depending on the pathway.
• Excellence programs: many state high schools run academic streams with their own testing.
• Private scholarships: most Queensland independent schools use ACER's cooperative sitting, held in late February.

Guides: Queensland Academies entry · QASMT vs Brisbane State High · Best high schools in Brisbane · Queensland school scholarships

Western Australia

Perth Modern School is the only fully selective public school in WA, with up to 225 Year 7 places. Other public secondary schools run Gifted and Talented (GATE) academic, arts and languages programs.

• Selective test: the ASET (Academic Selective Entrance Test), sat in Year 6 for Year 7 entry.
• Private scholarships: a mix of AAS and ACER.

Guides: ASET test · GATE program · Perth Modern entry · ASET practice

South Australia

South Australia's full-time gifted program, IGNITE, runs at three public schools: Glenunga International High School, The Heights School and Aberfoyle Park High School. Brighton Secondary School runs a similar enrichment program, Think Bright.

• Selective test: an ACER assessment, usually sat in Year 6 for Year 7 entry. You choose one IGNITE school per application.
• Private scholarships: a mix of AAS and ACER.

Guides: IGNITE practice · HAST practice

How to decide

Ask these questions in order:

1. Is my child working well above year level? If yes, selective schools and scholarships are realistic, and worth a practice test to find out.
2. When is the test? Check now. Many tests fall in Year 4, 5 or 6, and missing a registration date means waiting a year.
3. What can we afford for six years, not one? Fees rise each year, and extras (uniforms, devices, camps) add up.
4. How far will my child travel? A selective school an hour away every day is a real cost.
5. What does my child want? Sport, music, a particular friend group, or a smaller school can matter more than rankings.

A practical approach: sit one free practice test early. It tells you whether the selective or scholarship route is realistic before you commit time or money.

Frequently asked questions

What are the key differences between public and private schools in Australia?

Public schools are free to attend and take local students from their catchment. Private schools charge fees, set their own enrolment rules and are partly government-funded. Selective public schools sit in between: free, but entry is by test.

Where do private schools get their funding?

From both governments and parents. The Commonwealth provides most of a private school's public funding, adjusted by the school community's capacity to contribute, and states contribute too. Parents' fees cover the rest.

Are selective schools better than private schools?

Not automatically. Selective schools often post very strong results because they select high-ability students. Private schools vary widely. The best choice depends on your child's needs, interests and how far they'll travel.

Can you get a free private school education?

Sometimes. Some schools offer scholarships of up to 100% of tuition, usually for Year 7 entry, awarded by test and interview. They're rare and very competitive, and most scholarships cover part of the fees.

What if we can't afford full private school fees?

Look at three options: academic scholarships (by test), means-tested bursaries (by family income) and selective public schools (free, by test). Many private schools offer both scholarships and bursaries, so ask each school what's available.

When should we decide?

Earlier than you'd think. For Year 7 entry, many tests fall in Year 4, 5 or 6, so start looking at options in Year 3 or 4.

Start with a free practice test

Not sure whether the selective or scholarship route suits your child? Try a free sample test for your state's exam and see where they stand.

This guide is general information, not financial advice. Details on school numbers and programs are from state education departments as of November 2026. Always check with schools directly.

Sources

• NSW Department of Education: Selective high schools
• Victorian Government: Selective entry high schools
• WA Department of Education: Selective schools
• SA Department for Education: Special interest schools and programs