Hughes Primary is a government school in south Canberra that draws families to its International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, which anchors an inquiry-led approach to learning.
NAPLAN modestly above national year-level averages and solid student growth; the result is a B+ overall.
Hughes Primary is a government school in south Canberra that draws families to its International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, which anchors an inquiry-led approach to learning. The school also hosts the Southside Primary Introductory English Centre, supporting families new to Australian education. An active intergenerational program connects students with nearby aged care residents, enriching the school's pastoral culture. Hughes has a tight-knit community feel and offers support for students with disability. It suits families seeking progressive, values-driven learning within a welcoming local setting.
Hughes Primary School is also known as Hughes PS and HPS Hughes.
Hughes Primary School draws students from the Hughes Primary School.
Hughes Primary School has an overall SchoolRank score of 65.9/100, rated "Good". This score is calculated from academic results, student growth, wellbeing, extracurricular programs, and value for money. Academically, the school scores 62/100, indicating moderate performance relative to other Australian schools. The school's ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) is 1157, well above the national average of 1,000. Notably, the school shows strong student growth over time (65/100), meaning students tend to improve well regardless of their starting point.
In 2025 NAPLAN testing at Hughes Primary School, Year 3 students averaged 423 across the tested NAPLAN domains, above the national average of 407 for that year level, and Year 5 students averaged 517, above the national average of 490 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.
Hughes Primary School is a small government primary school with approximately 457 students. It offers education for years K-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.
Hughes 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 65/100 on SchoolRank, which compares educational outcomes relative to cost, government schools typically score well on this measure.
Hughes Primary School has a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.5:1. This is above the national average of approximately 14:1, meaning class sizes are typical for Australian schools. Support staff make up 23% of the workforce, providing additional learning assistance and pastoral care. The student attendance rate is 93%, which is strong.
Hughes Primary School is located in Hughes, ACT, classified as a major cities school. With an ICSEA of 1157 (96th 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.