The 5 Best High Schools in Adelaide

Pulteney Grammar School is a good choice for those who live by Anglican values. The school has many weekly programs and liturgical celebrations that aim for the holistic wellbeing of students.

With 175 years of being established, the school aims to distinguish itself through its well-designed strategic intent plan. Here, students are encouraged to create meaningful education relationships which can help in empowering and motivating them.

The school has well-maintained facilities that are mainly decorated with a neutral color palette.

Students can enjoy many comfortable spots all around the campus in the form of lounges, chairs, and more.

They also have a healthy teacher to student ratio, with 20 students for each teacher for year 2. By year 3, it’s increased to 24 students each.

We also like the extensive extra-curricular programs they provide. In particular, their outdoor and experiential learning that involves outdoor education, camps, and global tours is notable.

It also helps that they provide many scholarships for students. It’s generous and also doesn’t have strict requirements.

Parents and students are also introduced well to the school’s culture and facilities through their school tour. Their representatives are friendly and well-informed.

The only downside to the school is that its tuition rates are a bit expensive.

Glenunga International School was opened in 1897 and is notable for having a modern approach to 21st century education in terms of values and education.

The school houses a diverse student population, with students coming from 77 different countries.

A defining program of the school is IGNITE, which is made for students with good academic potential.

Another one is the International Baccalaureate Diploma which is accessible to all students both local and international.

The school is also accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) along with the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO).

We reviewed their faculty and saw that they have university-level qualifications. Most of them also have many years of experience.

They have one of the best languages curriculum on this list, which goes well with their aim of being a top international school. The curriculum gives students access to many languages, including French, Japanese, Indonesian, and Spanish.

The transdisciplinary learning courses they have are also excellent for allowing students to create an education plan that best suits their interests and abilities.

We are disappointed to note, however, that some students have complained of having overcrowded hallways.

Marryatville was established in 1877, and its history is well-reflected in its campus. With eight hectares of outdoor space, students are given lots of space for recreation.

Its campus has a lot of noteworthy spaces, such as the Special Interest Music Center, The Forge, and Eden Park. These are places for music, performance, and physical education.

In addition, they also have a laptop program to ensure that every student has access to the technology they need for education.

They’re also notable for their well-designed vocational education and training. In addition to this, they also have well-rounded cocurricular offerings.

For the latter, their music and tennis programs are also well-equipped and led by qualified teachers.

One of the best indicators of their performance is their high passing rate in the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).

We also like how accommodating they are to international students. 

In particular, their Intensive Secondary English Course is good for both increasing English proficiency and explaining Australian culture.

A downside to them, however, is that their laptop and computer facilities are quite outdated.

Adelaide High School has one of the largest student populations on this list, with more than 1,500 students. They’re known for their dynamic learning approach to education.

The latter is made possible by the diversity of offerings for both curricular and cocurricular programs.

A notable part of this is the House System Challenge that helps foster a sense of community all while challenging students to excel.

The school also has complete facilities, especially for sports. We found their tennis, cricket, netball, basketball, and ovals to be well-maintained.

Students who excel in rowboating are also given access to a boatshed by the River Torrens. This is shared with nearby schools, Unley High School and Norwood Morialta High School.

They also have many language course offerings. These include Mandarin, Greek, Japanese, Spanish, French, Italian, German, and Auslan.

We also like their dedication to providing a good education space for those with special needs. For this, they have a well-equipped Center for the Hearing Impaired.

Many students also said that the community in the school is inclusive. Their teachers have a more relaxed approach to authority and encourages self-expression for students.

A problem, though, is that they’ve received some complaints about unruly students being ignored by teachers and being given inadequate guidance.

Pembroke School houses a large student population of approximately 1,700 students.

They’re known for being an excellent choice for hearing-impaired students because of their special hearing unit.

These are resource rooms led by qualified specialist teachers. They are aided by cochlear implants, F.M. systems, and hearing aids.

Besides this, we like the design of their curriculum, as it provides a well-rounded education for different key learning areas.

Students are also given more space to hone their skills through the diverse additional courses they can take, such as Digital Technology, Visual Art, Drama, Commerce, and more.

Seniors are prepared well for college through the intensive programs they offer. 

This includes Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) modules.

Outdoor education is one of their highlights too. 

Here, students are provided opportunities to be immersed in Australia’s natural wonders through camping, sailing, rock climbing, and more.

They’re also one of the most gender-inclusive schools on this list.

In addition, the school’s sporting programs are plenty and broad in scope. These include Australian HPV Super Series, squash, water polo, and more.

Pembroke also has well-designed spaces for boarding students. Their facilities are a good balance of aesthetics and educational function.

The only downside to the school is it has expensive fees, particularly charges for tuition, canteen, and extracurricular activity.