Schools & Childcare in Adelaide
An independent analysis of school quality and childcare ratings across 701 schools and 1,274 childcare services in SA.
Total Schools
701
Total Childcare
1,274
Mean ICSEA
1,003
Exceeding NQS
24.2%
South Australia's childcare Exceeding rate of 24.2% is the second-highest in Australia after the ACT. SA's ICSEA mean of 1,003 is close to the national average. Adelaide's school quality is more evenly distributed than in Sydney or Melbourne, with less extreme concentration in any single corridor.
Analysis
Adelaide's Flat Distribution: A Feature, Not a Bug
Unlike Sydney and Melbourne, where school quality concentrates sharply in a few corridors, Adelaide's ICSEA scores are more evenly spread. The gap between the top and bottom suburbs is narrower than in any other capital. This means families in Adelaide have more viable school options across a wider geographic range. Suburbs like Unley, Norwood, and Burnside score well, but the drop-off to mid-tier suburbs is less severe than in eastern capitals.
Childcare Strength Across the State
SA's childcare Exceeding rate of 24.2% is the second-highest in Australia. This strength is not confined to affluent suburbs. Regional SA centres perform well, and the gap between metro and regional Exceeding rates is smaller in SA than in most states. For families, this means childcare quality is relatively consistent regardless of location within the state.
The Eastern Suburbs Corridor
Adelaide's strongest ICSEA band runs through the eastern suburbs from Norwood through Burnside to Belair. This corridor parallels the Adelaide Hills and benefits from established communities with stable demographics. North Adelaide and the western beach suburbs (Glenelg, Brighton) offer secondary pockets of strength, though the school count is smaller.
Above ICSEA 1,050
28.2%
Above ICSEA 1,100
11.0%
Childcare Exceeding
24.2%
Top Suburbs by School Quality
Ranked by average ICSEA score (minimum 3 schools per suburb). National average is 1,000.
| Rank | Suburb | ICSEA | Schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Walkerville | 1,144 | 3 |
| 02 | Kingswood | 1,113 | 3 |
| 03 | Athelstone | 1,107 | 3 |
| 04 | Eden Hills | 1,090 | 3 |
| 05 | Marion | 1,087 | 3 |
| 06 | Adelaide | 1,086 | 11 |
| 07 | Henley Beach | 1,071 | 5 |
| 08 | Prospect | 1,060 | 5 |
| 09 | Plympton | 1,056 | 4 |
| 10 | Flinders Park | 1,051 | 3 |
| 11 | Mount Barker | 1,049 | 7 |
| 12 | Wynn Vale | 1,049 | 5 |
| 13 | Aberfoyle Park | 1,048 | 7 |
| 14 | Paradise | 1,045 | 3 |
| 15 | Golden Grove | 1,045 | 4 |
| 16 | Sheidow Park | 1,043 | 3 |
| 17 | Hope Valley | 1,037 | 4 |
| 18 | Evanston South | 1,035 | 3 |
| 19 | Willunga | 1,031 | 3 |
| 20 | Para Vista | 1,021 | 4 |
Top Suburbs by Childcare Quality
Ranked by percentage of services rated "Exceeding NQS" (minimum 5 services).
| Rank | Suburb | Rating | Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Craigmore | 60% | 5 |
| 02 | Port Pirie | 57% | 7 |
| 03 | Paradise | 56% | 9 |
| 04 | Modbury North | 67% | 6 |
| 05 | Reynella | 50% | 6 |
| 06 | Magill | 50% | 6 |
| 07 | Enfield | 60% | 5 |
| 08 | Evanston | 40% | 5 |
| 09 | Two Wells | 50% | 6 |
| 10 | Renmark | 50% | 6 |
| 11 | Newton | 33% | 6 |
| 12 | Para Vista | 33% | 6 |
| 13 | Norwood | 43% | 7 |
| 14 | Lockleys | 43% | 7 |
| 15 | South Plympton | 29% | 7 |
Childcare Quality Areas
How SA childcare services perform across the seven NQS quality areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good ICSEA score in Adelaide?
SA's state average ICSEA is 1,003, close to the national average. Above 1,050 is above average, above 1,100 is strong. Adelaide's highest-scoring suburbs are in the eastern corridor (Unley, Norwood, Burnside). Adelaide's ICSEA distribution is flatter than Sydney or Melbourne, meaning less extreme variation between suburbs.
How do school zones work in South Australia?
SA government schools have designated zones. Students living in the zone have guaranteed enrolment. You can check your school zone using the interactive map on this page. SA uses a Prep/Reception year starting at age 5. Catholic and independent schools set their own enrolment criteria.
Is Adelaide's childcare quality above average?
Yes. SA has the second-highest childcare Exceeding rate in Australia at 24.2%, behind only the ACT. This strength is consistent across metro and regional areas. SA's regulatory authority appears to apply the Exceeding threshold at a similar level to the ACT, making cross-state comparison more reliable than with WA.
Which Adelaide suburbs have the best schools?
The eastern corridor from Norwood through Burnside to Belair has the highest ICSEA concentration. North Adelaide and beach suburbs like Glenelg also score above average. Use the suburb rankings on this page for detailed comparisons.
How often is the school data updated?
School ICSEA data comes from ACARA and is updated annually. Childcare NQS ratings are sourced from the ACECQA National Register. School zone boundaries are published by the SA Department for Education.
Explore Adelaide Schools on the Map
Search any address to see nearby schools colour-coded by ICSEA score, childcare services by NQS rating, and school catchment zone boundaries.