Top Bendigo Schools 2024: Public, Private & Selective

Bendigo's school landscape reflects the city's character: a regional city with genuine academic ambition and improving outcomes, where the La Trobe University campus and Bendigo Health's professional employment base have supported a growing demand for quality education at both the government and private school levels. The independent school market has been particularly responsive to the influx of Melbourne professional families.

Government schools — Bendigo Senior Secondary College is the most academically focused government secondary option, drawing students from across the Bendigo metropolitan area. Girton Grammar School (originally a government school, now independent) and the broader Bendigo government school network serve the various suburban catchments. VCE median study scores for Bendigo's government schools are around the Victorian state average.

Girton Grammar School — formerly the Girton Church of England School for Girls, Girton is now a co-educational independent school providing K-12 education. The school's VCE results consistently rank among Victoria's best regional school performers, and its boarding house serves rural central Victorian families from the Campaspe, Loddon, and Mallee communities.

Marist College Bendigo — the Catholic boys' school in the Strathdale area provides Year 7-12 education with a strong academic and community tradition. The school's VCE results and university placement record are strong for a regional Catholic school.

Sacred Heart College — the Catholic girls' school in White Hills provides Year 7-12 education with a pastoral care focus and good VCE outcomes. Sacred Heart's arts programme is one of the stronger offerings in the Bendigo school market.

Sandhurst Catholic Education — the Diocese of Sandhurst operates primary and secondary Catholic schools across Bendigo. St Killian's College and St Francis of the Fields are well-regarded options for Catholic families in the outer suburbs.

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