Schools & Childcare in Canberra
An independent analysis of school quality and childcare ratings across 139 schools and 342 childcare services in ACT.
Total Schools
139
Total Childcare
342
Mean ICSEA
1,082
Exceeding NQS
43.0%
The ACT has the highest childcare Exceeding rate in Australia at 43%, more than double the national average. With a small, affluent population and high proportion of public sector families, Canberra's ICSEA distribution is compressed: fewer extremes at either end. Nearly every suburb has a government school scoring above the national average.
Analysis
The Public Sector Effect
Canberra's workforce is dominated by federal government employees with stable, above-average incomes and high education levels. This compresses the ICSEA distribution: most schools cluster between 1,000 and 1,100, with few outliers in either direction. The result is that government school quality varies less across suburbs than in any other capital. A family moving within Canberra is unlikely to experience a dramatic change in school ICSEA.
Australia's Childcare Capital
At 43% Exceeding, the ACT's childcare sector performs at a level no other jurisdiction matches. This partly reflects a wealthier, more educated parent population that demands higher standards, and partly reflects how the ACT regulatory authority interprets the Exceeding threshold. Regardless of cause, families in Canberra have access to the highest-rated childcare in the country by a wide margin.
A Compact Market
Canberra's small geographic footprint means school choice is less constrained by commute distance than in sprawling capitals like Melbourne or Perth. Most suburbs are within 20 minutes of the city centre. This makes catchment zone boundaries less of a lifestyle constraint than they are in larger cities, where moving one suburb can add 30 minutes to a commute.
Above ICSEA 1,050
76.3%
Above ICSEA 1,100
37.4%
Childcare Exceeding
43.0%
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 | Red Hill | 1,146 | 3 |
| 02 | Lyneham | 1,140 | 3 |
| 03 | Campbell | 1,134 | 3 |
| 04 | Dickson | 1,122 | 3 |
| 05 | Deakin | 1,118 | 3 |
| 06 | Pearce | 1,117 | 3 |
| 07 | Garran | 1,103 | 3 |
| 08 | O'Connor | 1,100 | 3 |
| 09 | Waramanga | 1,097 | 3 |
| 10 | Hawker | 1,089 | 3 |
| 11 | Kaleen | 1,081 | 4 |
| 12 | Nicholls | 1,075 | 3 |
| 13 | Evatt | 1,068 | 3 |
| 14 | Florey | 1,063 | 3 |
| 15 | Wanniassa | 1,062 | 5 |
| 16 | Narrabundah | 1,061 | 3 |
| 17 | Kambah | 1,027 | 4 |
| 18 | Conder | 1,017 | 3 |
| 19 | Calwell | 1,012 | 3 |
Top Suburbs by Childcare Quality
Ranked by percentage of services rated "Exceeding NQS" (minimum 5 services).
Childcare Quality Areas
How ACT childcare services perform across the seven NQS quality areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good ICSEA score in Canberra?
The ACT's average ICSEA is above the national mean of 1,000. Most Canberra schools score between 1,000 and 1,100, a narrower range than other capitals. Above 1,100 is strong. The compressed distribution means suburb-to-suburb differences are smaller than in Sydney or Melbourne.
Why is Canberra's childcare Exceeding rate so high?
The ACT's 43% Exceeding rate is the highest in Australia. This reflects a combination of an affluent, educated parent population, well-funded services, and how the ACT regulatory authority interprets the Exceeding threshold. The result is that nearly half of all childcare services in Canberra exceed the national quality standard.
How do school catchment zones work in the ACT?
ACT government schools have priority enrolment areas. Students in the area have guaranteed places. Canberra's compact size means most catchment zones are small, and many families have multiple school options within a short commute. Check the interactive map on this page for boundaries.
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 enrolment areas are published by the ACT Education Directorate.
Explore Canberra 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.