Canberra High is a progressive, co-ed government secondary school in Macquarie with a strong vocational and practical focus.
NAPLAN modestly above national year-level averages and solid student growth; the result is a B overall.
Canberra High is a progressive, co-ed government secondary school in Macquarie with a strong vocational and practical focus. The school draws students with diverse learning needs and abilities through dedicated disability support and vocational education pathways. Distinctive offerings include an afternoon music program, an athlete development program, and a mountain biking club. The inquiry-led approach suits families looking for hands-on learning that connects to real-world skills and interests.
Canberra High School draws students from the Canberra High School (and 1 more zone).
Canberra High School has an overall SchoolRank score of 61.9/100, rated "Good". This score is calculated from academic results, student growth, wellbeing, extracurricular programs, and value for money. Academically, the school scores 60/100, indicating moderate performance relative to other Australian schools. The school's ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) is 1100, well above the national average of 1,000. Notably, the school shows strong student growth over time (60/100), meaning students tend to improve well regardless of their starting point.
In 2025 NAPLAN testing at Canberra High School, Year 7 students averaged 546 across the tested NAPLAN domains, in line with the national average of 540 for that year level, and Year 9 students averaged 595, above the national average of 569 for that year level. Relative to national year-level averages, the school's strongest domain is Reading. National averages are specific to each year level, because NAPLAN scores are scaled so older year levels score higher, a school-wide average can't be compared with a single national figure.
Canberra High School is a medium-sized government secondary school with approximately 898 students. It offers education for years 7-10. As a government school, enrolment is generally available to students living within the school's designated catchment zone. Families outside the zone may apply for out-of-area placement subject to availability.
Canberra High School is a government school, so there are no tuition fees. Families may be asked to contribute to voluntary school fees covering materials, excursions, and activities. The school has a value score of 63/100 on SchoolRank, which compares educational outcomes relative to cost, government schools typically score well on this measure.
Canberra High School has a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.5:1. This is around the national average of approximately 14:1, meaning class sizes are typical for Australian schools. Support staff make up 22% of the workforce, providing additional learning assistance and pastoral care. The student attendance rate is 89%, which is moderate.
Canberra High School is located in Macquarie, ACT, classified as a major cities school. With an ICSEA of 1100 (84th percentile), the school community's socio-educational advantage is above average, families tend to have higher education and income levels. ICSEA measures the educational advantage of a school's community, not the school's quality, a lower ICSEA school with strong academic scores may indicate particularly effective teaching.