Essendon Primary is a progressive government school centred on inquiry-based learning and direct experience.
NAPLAN averaging +27 above national year-level averages; the result is a B overall.
Essendon Primary is a progressive government school centred on inquiry-based learning and direct experience. The iPad program and Japanese language option sit alongside well-developed instrumental music and camping programs, giving students multiple pathways to explore their interests. The school suits families drawn to hands-on, outdoors-focused learning where curiosity drives the curriculum.
Essendon Primary School has an overall SchoolRank score of 62.2/100, rated "Good". This score is calculated from academic results, student growth, wellbeing, extracurricular programs, and value for money. Academically, the school scores 64/100, indicating moderate performance relative to other Australian schools. The school's ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) is 1137, well above the national average of 1,000.
In 2025 NAPLAN testing at Essendon Primary School, Year 3 students averaged 448 across the tested NAPLAN domains, well above the national average of 407 for that year level, and Year 5 students averaged 502, above the national average of 490 for that year level. Relative to national year-level averages, the school's strongest domain is Numeracy. 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.
Essendon Primary School is a small government primary school with approximately 387 students. It offers education for years Prep-6. 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.
Essendon Primary 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 67/100 on SchoolRank, which compares educational outcomes relative to cost, government schools typically score well on this measure.
Essendon Primary School has a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.3:1. This is around the national average of approximately 14:1, meaning class sizes are typical for Australian schools. Support staff make up 36% of the workforce, providing additional learning assistance and pastoral care. The student attendance rate is 92%, which is strong.
Essendon Primary School is located in Essendon, VIC, classified as a major cities school. With an ICSEA of 1137 (93th 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.