1. Choose level
Primary, secondary, P–12 and specialist/support settings are separated so a family does not compare unlike pathways.
RATE CHALLENGE SCHOOL EXPLORER · 2026/27
Best Schools on the Gold Coast QLD: School Explorer & Catchments 2026/27
Explore Gold Coast local-government area and compare the things that matter to your family: year level, school type, entry rules, location, enrolment and programs.
105schools/campuses in this explorer
64.8%schools with enrolment information
12schools with specialist programs listed
Websitesofficial school links available
My School ↗official NAPLAN results
How to use the guide
Start with the pathway, then narrow the address.
The Gold Coast spans coastal, hinterland and northern-growth communities. School catchments, Programs of Excellence and peak-hour travel can materially change the practical shortlist.
2. Choose entry
Filter local-zone/intake schools, selective entry, audition/special entry or application-based non-government schools.
3. Choose strengths
Use the program filter to explore Academic, Sport, Arts, STEM, Languages, IB, Boarding and other programs we have been able to confirm. If something is not listed, check the school website because our list may not cover every activity.
4. Verify before buying
Open Queensland EdMap, check the exact residential address, ask the school about capacity and criteria, then test transport and housing costs.
Important: a school zone or catchment is an enrolment tool, not a property-value guarantee. Zones can change, specialist/selective settings use different rules, and out-of-area enrolment may depend on capacity.
Interactive school explorer
Filter the full directory by what matters to your family.
Search the regional school directory, then narrow it by level, sector, entry pathway, location, enrolment, programs and other practical factors.
All levelsPrimarySecondaryP–12Specialist/support
All sectorsGovernmentCatholicIndependent
All pathwaysLocal zone / intakeSelective / special entryApplication / school criteria
All programs
All council / areas
All genders
All sizesUnder 300300–799800+Not published
All fee bandsGovernmentUnder $5k$5k–$15k$15k–$25k$25k+Check school website
See My School for official resultsTop 10%Top 25%Top 50%
Programs & entry options firstA–ZEnrolment: largest firstFees: lower firstNearest to shared locationNAPLAN percentile
For official school-level NAPLAN results, use My School ↗. NAPLAN is one useful measure alongside enrolment, programs, entry pathways, location and the fit for your child.
Loading directory details…
Loading schools…
Side-by-side comparison · 0 selected
How this guide works
A simple way to compare schools.
We include a broad range of schools and help you compare the things that may matter to your family. We do not accept payment to rank schools, and we do not treat one result as the whole story.
1
Start with a broad school list
We aim to include the schools in the area, not just a hand-picked top ten.
2
Use official information first
Government school directories, enrolment information and school websites are our starting point.
3
Programs are checked
We only list sport, arts, STEM, academic and other programs when we can confirm them from school or government information.
4
Compare what matters to you
Academic results, programs, location, entry rules, costs and travel can all matter differently to each family.
5
Fees are matched carefully
Where we show private-school fees, we match them to the correct school and campus and still recommend checking the latest school fee schedule.
6
Use NAPLAN in context
Use My School ↗ for official NAPLAN results. NAPLAN is useful, but it is only one part of choosing a school.
7
Always check the school zone
School zones can change and may depend on the exact address, so confirm the address in the official state tool before making a property decision.
8
Check the latest details
School programs, fees and enrolment rules can change. Use the links provided and the school website to confirm anything important to your decision.
About the information
What this guide includes.
The Queensland school list we use was published in September 2022, so we show that date clearly and link to the live Schools Directory and EdMap for the latest details. Program and fee information is added separately where available.
Not every program is listed
Schools may offer sport, music, arts and other activities that are not shown here. Check the school website for the latest program information.
Enrolment numbers can change
Enrolment figures help show the size of a school, but they do not mean places are currently available. Check with the school for current enrolment information.
Private-school fees can change
Check the school’s latest fee schedule for tuition, levies, devices, camps and other costs.
About our data: School details are checked against official directories. Program and fee information is shown where available.
School directory
Schools included in this Gold Coast explorer.
Browse schools alphabetically, or use the filters above to narrow the list and compare schools.
Open A–Z school index
- AA B Paterson College (Arundel) — Arundel 4214 · All Saints Anglican School (Merrimac) — Merrimac 4226 · Aquinas College (Ashmore) — Ashmore 4214 · Arcadia College (Varsity Lakes) — Varsity Lakes 4227 · Arundel State School — Arundel 4214 · Ashmore State School — Ashmore 4214 · Assisi Catholic College (Upper Coomera) — Upper Coomera 4209 · Australian Industry Trade College (Robina) — Robina 4226
- BBellevue Park State School — Ashmore 4214 · Benowa State High School — Benowa 4217 · Benowa State School — Benowa 4217 · Biggera Waters State School — Biggera Waters 4216 · Broadbeach State School — Broadbeach 4218 · Burleigh Heads State School — Burleigh Heads 4220
- CCaningeraba State School — Burleigh Waters 4220 · Cedar Creek State School — Cedar Creek 4207 · Clover Hill State School — Mudgeeraba 4213 · Coolangatta State School — Coolangatta 4225 · Coombabah State High School — Coombabah 4216 · Coombabah State School — Coombabah 4216 · Coomera Anglican College (Upper Coomera) — Upper Coomera 4209 · Coomera Rivers State School — Coomera 4209 · Coomera Springs State School — Upper Coomera 4209 · Coomera State School — Coomera 4209 · Currumbin Community Special School — Currumbin Waters 4223 · Currumbin State School — Currumbin 4223 · Currumbin Valley State School — Currumbin Valley 4223
- EElanora State High School — Elanora 4221 · Elanora State School — Elanora 4221 · Emmanuel College (Carrara) — Carrara 4211
- FFoxwell State Secondary College — Coomera 4209
- GGaven State School — Oxenford 4210 · Gilston State School — Gilston 4211 · Gold Coast Christian College (Reedy Creek) — Reedy Creek 4227 · Guardian Angels' Catholic Primary School (Ashmore) — Ashmore 4214
- HHelensvale State High School — Helensvale 4212 · Helensvale State School — Helensvale 4212 · Highland Reserve State School — Upper Coomera 4209 · Hillcrest Christian College (Reedy Creek) — Reedy Creek 4227
- IIngleside State School — Tallebudgera Valley 4228
- JJosiah College (Carrara) — Carrara 4211 · Jubilee Primary School (Pacific Pines) — Pacific Pines 4211
- KKeebra Park State High School — Southport 4215 · King's Christian College (Reedy Creek) — Reedy Creek 4227
- LLabrador State School — Labrador 4215 · Livingstone Christian College (Ormeau) — Ormeau 4208 · Lutheran Ormeau Rivers District School (Pimpama) — Pimpama 4209
- MMarymount College (Burleigh Waters) — Burleigh Waters 4220 · Marymount Primary School (Burleigh Heads) — Burleigh Waters 4220 · Merrimac State High School — Mermaid Waters 4218 · Merrimac State School — Merrimac 4226 · Miami State High School — Miami 4220 · Miami State School — Mermaid Waters 4218 · Mother Teresa Primary School (Ormeau) — Ormeau 4208 · Mudgeeraba Creek State School — Mudgeeraba 4213 · Mudgeeraba Special School — Mudgeeraba 4213 · Mudgeeraba State School — Mudgeeraba 4213 · Musgrave Hill State School — Southport 4215
- NNerang State High School — Nerang 4211 · Nerang State School — Nerang 4211 · Norfolk Village State School — Ormeau 4208 · Numinbah Valley State School — Numinbah Valley 4211
- OOrmeau State School — Pimpama 4209 · Ormeau Woods State High School — Ormeau 4208 · Oxenford State School — Oxenford 4210
- PPacific Pines State High School — Pacific Pines 4211 · Pacific Pines State School — Pacific Pines 4211 · Palm Beach State School — Palm Beach 4221 · Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School — Palm Beach 4221 · Park Lake State School — Pacific Pines 4211 · Picnic Creek State School — Coomera 4209 · Pimpama State Primary College — Pimpama 4209 · Pimpama State School — Pimpama 4209 · Pimpama State Secondary College — Pimpama 4209
- QQueensland Academy for Health Sciences — Southport 4215
- RRivermount College (Yatala) — Yatala 4207 · Robina State High School — Robina 4226 · Robina State School — Robina 4226
- SSaint Stephen's College (Coomera) — Coomera 4209 · Silkwood School (Mount Nathan) — Mount Nathan 4211 · Somerset College (Mudgeeraba) — Mudgeeraba 4213 · Southport Flexible Learning Centre (Southport) — Southport 4215 · Southport Special School — Southport 4215 · Southport State High School — Southport 4215 · Southport State School — Southport 4215 · Springbrook State School — Springbrook 4213 · St Andrews Lutheran College (Tallebudgera) — Tallebudgera 4228 · St Augustine's Parish Primary School (Currumbin Waters) — Currumbin Waters 4223 · St Brigid's Catholic Primary School (Nerang) — Nerang 4211 · St Francis Xavier School (Runaway Bay) — Runaway Bay 4216 · St Hilda's School (Southport) — Southport 4215 · St Joseph's College (Coomera) — Coomera 4209 · St Kevin's School (Benowa) — Benowa 4217 · St Michael's College (Merrimac) — Merrimac 4226 · St Vincent's Primary School (Surfers Paradise) — Clear Island Waters 4226 · Surfers Paradise State School — Surfers Paradise 4217
- TTallebudgera State School — Tallebudgera 4228 · The Southport School (Southport) — Southport 4215 · Toogoolawa School (Ormeau) — Ormeau 4208 · Trinity Lutheran College (Ashmore Rd, Ashmore) — Ashmore 4214
- UUpper Coomera State College — Upper Coomera 4209
- VVarsity College — Varsity Lakes 4227
- WWilliam Duncan State School — Highland Park 4211 · Woongoolba State School — Woongoolba 4207 · Worongary State School — Worongary 4213
Questions worth asking
A better school tour checklist.
School choice is not reducible to one public test result. Ask questions that reveal whether the setting works for the actual student and household.
Learning & extension
- How is high ability identified and extended?
- What literacy/numeracy intervention exists?
- What subjects or senior pathways are genuinely available?
Sport, arts & activities
- Which programs require trials or auditions?
- Are specialist activities timetable-based or extracurricular?
- What additional travel or competition costs apply?
Support & wellbeing
- How are disability adjustments organised?
- What is the approach to behaviour, bullying and attendance?
- What counselling and transition support is available?
Practical household fit
- What are start/finish times and transport options?
- Is OSHC available and at what cost?
- Are there waitlists, catchment restrictions or sibling rules?
FAQ
Common questions about the explorer.
Use this guide to build a shortlist, then confirm the latest details with the school and the relevant education authority.
Does Rate Challenge rank every school from best to worst?
No. No. Different families value different things, so we let you compare schools by the factors that matter to you.
Where can I check a school’s NAPLAN results?
Use My School ↗ for official school-level NAPLAN information. Treat NAPLAN as one part of a broader school comparison.
Why do some schools have no Sport or Arts tag?
Our program list may not cover everything a school offers. Check the school website for the latest sport, arts and other program information.
Can I rely on this page to decide whether a house is in a school zone?
No. Use Queensland EdMap for the exact address and verify the current enrolment rules with the school.
Are private-school fees exact?
Where fees are shown, use them as a guide only. Always check the school’s current fee schedule and compulsory charges.