If you are a parent interested in Australian schooling for your child, or you are a student looking to study in Australia at a K-12 school, there are a few differences in schooling you should know about the education system.
Schooling in Australia is compulsory for children from the ages of 6 to 15 (16 in South Australia and Tasmania). Most children start school when they are younger than 6 and remain at school beyond the age of 15. Below is a comparison of Australian to North American grade levels.
| Australian Education Term |
Grades |
North American Equivalent |
| Early years of schooling or infant school |
Preschool to Year 1 |
Preschool, Kindergarten |
| Lower primary |
Year 1 to Year 4 |
Primary or elementary |
| Upper primary |
Year 4 to Year 7 |
Primary or middle school |
| Secondary school |
Year 7 to Year 10 |
Junior high or high school |
| Post compulsory |
Years 11 and 12 |
High school, secondary or CEGEP |
In Australia, parents can choose from government (public) and non-government (private) schools. Government schools operate under the direct responsibility of the relevant State or Territory Minister, while non-government schools, often religious, are established and operate under conditions determined by government registration authorities.
Currently, there is no national curriculum, but government schools follow 8 Key Learning Areas, which are common throughout schools in Australia.
My School is a source for detailed information on over 10,000 schools in Australia. Developed by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), this website publishes nationally comparable data on Australian schools.
There are no school league tables or ranking systems but Australian students consistently score highly in international assessments.
The academic calendar begins in January and ends in December. It is divided into four terms. Each state/territory education department sets its own academic calendar.