The seven top-performing Melbourne public schools still taking out-of-zone VCE students
While most elite Victorian state schools are strictly locked down to local residents, seven academic standouts remain open to families from outside their zones.
You do not need to buy a million-dollar home inside a hyper-competitive school zone to secure an elite public education in Melbourne. While real estate near coveted campuses often commands massive premiums, a handful of the state’s top-performing VCE schools are still actively accepting enrolments from out-of-zone families [8].
Data from the Department of Education reveals that seven public schools, which all achieved an impressive median VCE study score of 32 last year, remain accessible to students living outside their immediate boundaries [8]. It is a rare loophole in a system where the most academic state schools are increasingly closed to outsiders.
The open seven
The schools keeping their doors open to broader Melbourne include Williamstown High School, Melbourne Girls’ College, Ashwood High, Koonung Secondary, Doncaster Secondary, Princes Hill Secondary College, and Charlton College in regional Victoria [8].
At Williamstown High, for example, more than half of the 2025 VCE cohort achieved an ATAR score above 80 [8]. Yet, the school expects about a third of its incoming class to come from outside its zone, with another third made up of out-of-zone siblings [8]. This presents a major opportunity for families who want high-calibre academic programs, specialized sports streams, or top-tier arts facilities without the postcode price tag.
How the zones work
State education departments must guarantee a place for every child living within a school's designated boundary, which is why high-demand schools like Balwyn High or McKinnon Secondary must enforce strict lockouts to manage their capacity [8].
Seven high-achieving Victorian public schools with a median VCE study score of 32 are still accepting enrolments from outside their zones.
For the select few schools that still have room, out-of-zone applications are processed based on specific priority access guidelines, which look at sibling status and proximity [8]. If you are looking to bypass the private school fees or the stressful inner-suburb property hunt, looking just slightly beyond your local boundary map might be the smartest move you make this year.
Choosing a school is no longer just about where you can afford to buy a house, but knowing which gates remain unlocked.
Filed for The Dispatch. Sunny writes for everyone who landed last week, still working out which tram goes where.
