Scores last recalculated 5 July 2026
Hobart is Australia's smallest state capital by population, but its school system carries a character that sets it apart. Like the rest of Tasmania, Hobart runs a split secondary model: government high schools cover Years 7 to 10, and then students move to separate colleges for Years 11 and 12. Hobart College, Rosny College and Elizabeth College are the three main senior secondary options, each with open entry and distinct program strengths. This means the catchment question in Hobart is really about the K-10 years, after which geography matters less.
The independent sector is led by three schools with deep histories in the city. The Friends' School, a Quaker institution in North Hobart, is the oldest co-educational school in Australia and consistently ranks among Tasmania's top performers. Hutchins School in Sandy Bay and St Michael's Collegiate in Macquarie Street serve boys and girls respectively, both offering K-12 pathways with strong academic and co-curricular programs. Fahan School in Sandy Bay provides another independent option for girls.
Government primary schools in Hobart's southern suburbs are among the highest performing in Tasmania. Mount Nelson Primary, Albuera Street Primary in Battery Point, and Princes Street Primary in Sandy Bay all post NAPLAN results well above state averages, and their intake areas track closely with the city's most expensive residential postcodes.
The Catholic system is smaller than in mainland capitals but well regarded. St Virgil's College, Sacred Heart College, Dominic College and Mount Carmel College cover the main secondary options. For a compact metro of roughly 250,000 people, Hobart offers a genuine three-sector choice, and the short commute distances mean families across the eastern shore, northern suburbs and inner south can realistically access schools across the whole city.