Top 10 Schools in Bendigo VIC (2025)

Quick start (60 seconds before you trust any “best schools” list)

Zones & costs (what Bendigo buyers need to know)

Victorian government schools use school zones. Your residential address usually determines your local government primary and secondary school. Use the official Find my School map with the exact property address, zoom right in to the parcel and check both sides of the street. For must-have schools, confirm directly with the school in writing before you sign a contract.

Government schools don’t charge tuition fees for in-zone students. Core instruction is government funded in Victoria. Schools can request voluntary contributions and charge for optional extras like camps, sport programs, laptops and excursions. If contributions are genuinely difficult, talk to the school — students can’t be excluded from the standard curriculum because a voluntary payment isn’t made.

Catholic and independent schools set their own fees and enrolment priorities. In Bendigo you’ll see Catholic systemic options (for example Catherine McAuley College Bendigo and Marist College Bendigo) and independent schools such as Girton Grammar School, Creek Street Christian College and Victory Christian College. Each school publishes a fee schedule and enrolment policy — check what’s included (levies, devices, buses, camps) before comparing net cost.

Where families actually cluster. Once you have a school shortlist, buying conversations often circle around suburbs like Kennington, Strathdale, Quarry Hill, Spring Gully, White Hills, Maiden Gully, Strathfieldsaye, Eaglehawk, Epsom, Kangaroo Flat and Junortoun. The next step is matching those zones to a price bracket that works with your deposit, servicing buffer and commute patterns (including Bendigo Station if Melbourne travel matters).

Top 10 secondary (high) schools to shortlist (alphabetical)

Top 10 primary schools to shortlist (alphabetical)

Note: one entry below (Iona College) is a Year 7–12 pathway school often considered in the Armstrong Creek corridor. It’s included because it comes up frequently in “move + school choice” conversations — always confirm year levels and intake policies directly.

Quick comparison table (scan-friendly)

This is a fast scan tool — it doesn’t replace zone checks or school tours. Use it to shortlist, then verify with official sources below.

How this shortlist was built (sources & limitations)

Maps (click to load)

To keep this page fast on mobile, school maps are click-to-load. Use “Open in Google Maps” for instant navigation, or tap “Load map” on any school card if you want the embed.

This reduces heavy third-party embeds on first load while keeping maps available for decision-making.

How to compare & verify Bendigo schools (no hype)

1) Confirm zones precisely: Use Victoria’s official Find my School map with the exact property address. Zoom right in to the lot and check both sides of the street. If a particular zone is critical, email the school with the address and keep written confirmation before you exchange.

2) Read My School data properly: Focus on enrolment trends, student background, funding and multi-year NAPLAN growth rather than a single year’s ranking. Don’t directly compare pre-2023 data to 2023+ (the reporting scale changed). Compare schools serving similar communities.

3) Understand fees and contributions: For government schools, core instruction is free for residents in-zone. Schools can request voluntary contributions and charge for optional extras such as camps, sport, devices and excursions. Catholic and independent schools publish fee schedules and explain discounts or levies — check what’s actually included before comparing affordability.

4) Programs, pathways and places: For accelerated learning, specialist programs, VCE subjects or VET, confirm entry criteria and timelines early. Ask how many places are available, how waitlists work and what backup options look like if your first preference doesn’t land.

5) Visit and check culture: Use tours and open days to ask about behaviour, learning support and extension, homework expectations and reporting. A school that fits your child’s needs and temperament is usually more important than headline scores.

6) Commute logistics: Time the school run at bell times from your likely suburbs. Check bus corridors, bike paths, parking, after-school activities and OSHC hours — especially if you’re juggling Melbourne commuting or shift work.

7) Transitions and moves: Ask how Prep and Year 7 transitions work, how new students are supported mid-year, and which primaries typically feed into each high school. Good transitions reduce disruption if you’re moving house and school together.

8) Keep a paper trail: Save fee schedules, zone screenshots and tour notes. When you’re ready, we can line up pre-approvals and finance timelines with key enrolment dates, so you’re not making rushed offers just to secure a place.

Official links

Find my School (VIC school zones & designated schools) · My School (national profiles & NAPLAN data) · Catholic Education Sandhurst · Victoria – going to school (fees, enrolment, starting school)

Once you’ve narrowed down zones and school types, it’s usually time to reality-check borrowing power and likely price brackets in suburbs like Kennington, Strathdale, Quarry Hill, Spring Gully, Maiden Gully, Strathfieldsaye, Eaglehawk, Epsom and Kangaroo Flat. The Rate Challenge Home Loan Guide steps through deposits, buffers and pre-approvals with examples for regional Victoria and commuter families.