In their words
Which schools suit what your child loves?
Search for a sport, instrument, subject or worry to see which Brisbane schools people mention it at, and what they said. Tick up to three schools to compare them.
66 schools where people talk about diversity and inclusion.
Order:Best matchMost talked aboutLowest feesA to Z
How we work these numbers out
- Order. “Best match” puts schools where your exact word comes up first. “Most talked about” uses the share of reviews that mention it. Neither is a ranking of how good a school is.
- Comes up in X% of reviews is the share of the school's reviews that mention your search. The Brisbane average is the same share across all Brisbane schools.
- Speak well, mixed or raise concerns is worked out by software, using only the sentences about your search. It's right most of the time but not always, so read what people said.
- What students did comes from the sports and activities former students ticked in their review. We show it when at least 3 answered.
- Evidence is strong when 5 or more of at least 10 reviews mention it, some when 2 or more people do, and thin when only one person does.
- Facts such as fees, ATAR and enrolments come from each school's own documents. Fees cover different year levels at different schools, so compare carefully.
- Open Day Reflections come from our visits to 2026 open days. They're useful, but they reflect the school's own voice.
St Peters Lutheran College
Co-ed · Independent · Indooroopilly
- Fees $26,786 a year (2026, Years 10-12 day students)
- Sport QGSSSA (girls), AIC (boys)
- Median ATAR 90.5 (2025)source
- Students 2,302
- Boarding
Strong evidence9 separate reviews mention it, out of 19.
Comes up in 47% of 19 reviews · about the Brisbane average (34%)
This school 47% Brisbane 34%
Of 16 comments: 11 speak well of it
14 more review mentions and 2 more Open Day Reflections. Reviews and Open Day Reflections for independent and Catholic schools are part of Full Access: one $289 payment, no subscription.
Get Full AccessSign inMansfield State High School
Co-ed · State, competitive entry · Mansfield
- Fees No tuition fees (state school)
- Students 3,978
Strong evidence11 separate reviews mention it, out of 28.
Comes up in 39% of 28 reviews · about the Brisbane average (34%)
This school 39% Brisbane 34%
Of 17 comments: 10 speak well of it · 1 raises concerns
Review Experience of the sports program
My child was in the Mansfield basketball team and highly enjoyed it. The coach was extremely supportive and the team was extremely inclusive. It was one of my child’s favourite experiences during his high school journey.
2 more from Mansfield State High School
Review Subject range and curiosity
Yes, my school offered a wide range of subject choices, allowing students to explore diverse interests beyond the core curriculum. It encouraged curiosity by offering extracurricular activities, hands-on projects, and special interest clubs related to different fields like science, art, and technology.… Read all
Yes, my school offered a wide range of subject choices, allowing students to explore diverse interests beyond the core curriculum. It encouraged curiosity by offering extracurricular activities, hands-on projects, and special interest clubs related to different fields like science, art, and technology. Teachers also emphasized critical thinking and real-world applications, making learning more engaging than just preparing for exams. These opportunities helped foster a deeper love for learning and encouraged students to pursue their passions.
Review Bullying and getting to school safely
Bullying was not an issue at my school, as there was a strong focus on respect and inclusivity. I always felt safe getting to and from school, with minimal risks in the area. The school maintained a secure environment through supervision, clear rules, and a supportive community.
13 more review mentions. Reviews and Open Day Reflections for competitive-entry state schools are part of Full Access: one $289 payment, no subscription.
Get Full AccessSign inSt James College
Co-ed · Catholic · Spring Hill
- Fees $10,500 a year (2026, Years 7-12, first student)
- Students 914
Some evidence7 people mention it. Worth reading what they said.
0 of 1 review so far mention it
Too few reviews to compare with other schools.
Of 7 comments: 3 speak well of it
7 more Open Day Reflections. Reviews and Open Day Reflections for independent and Catholic schools are part of Full Access: one $289 payment, no subscription.
Get Full AccessSign inIndooroopilly State High School
Co-ed · State · Indooroopilly
- Fees No tuition fees (state school)
- Students 2,910
Strong evidence10 separate reviews mention it, out of 23.
Comes up in 44% of 23 reviews · about the Brisbane average (34%)
This school 44% Brisbane 34%
Of 15 comments: 10 speak well of it
Review Why we chose this school
We chose Indooroopilly State High School because of its strong academic reputation, diverse student community, and excellent extracurricular offerings, especially in music, STEM and language programs. We live within the catchment, so no major move was needed, but we did consider private options and decided Indooroopilly SHS provided comparable quality without the high tuition fees. We absolutely feel the school is worth it given the quality of teaching, facilities and the wide range of opportunities available to students. It has met and, in many ways, exceeded our expectations.
3 more from Indooroopilly State High School
Review What we like and dislike
Likes: Dedicated teachers who go out of their way to support students. Strong academic focus with extension and enrichment options. Diverse cultural environment that teaches respect and global awareness. Good music and sports programs. Modern facilities, especially the science labs and the new performing arts centre Dislikes: The school can feel quite large and sometimes a bit impersonal. Parking and drop-off zones are often congested.
Review Bullying and the social scene
The school has clear anti-bullying policies and runs regular programs to promote inclusion and respect. From our experience, staff take bullying seriously and incidents are handled promptly. The school’s pastoral care system means there are year coordinators who keep an eye on student wellbeing. Socially, our child has had a positive experience, made good friends, and feels safe and included.
Review Experience of the sports program
Indooroopilly State High School offers a diverse range of sports programs, including rugby, netball, and swimming, with both recreational and competitive pathways—general teams like inter-house competitions are open to all, while elite teams (e.g., GPS sports) require trials, which some students find exclusionary. Parents praise the coaching quality but note a lack of options for non-competitive students, suggesting more "social sport" opportunities and clearer communication about trial criteria. The school emphasizes skill development and competitive performance (especially in GPS sports), though inclusivity and team spirit could improve, as some students feel marginalized in competitive environments. Facility investment rates 4/5, with well-maintained ovals, a gym, and a pool, though older equipment needs upgrading and shaded areas for summer sports would help.
11 more review mentions. A free account opens them, and you don't need a card.
Create free accountSign inBrisbane State High School
Co-ed · State, competitive entry · South Brisbane
- Fees No tuition fees (state school)
- Sport GPS (boys), QGSSSA (girls)
- Median ATAR 94.4 (2025)source
- Students 3,569
Strong evidence11 separate reviews mention it, out of 36.
Comes up in 31% of 36 reviews · about the Brisbane average (34%)
This school 31% Brisbane 34%
Of 14 comments: 12 speak well of it · 1 raises concerns
Review Would you recommend it?
Yes, I would recommend Brisbane State High School. It offers a lot of opportunities, both academically and through extracurricular activities like sport, music, and clubs. The school has a strong reputation, great facilities, and a diverse student community. It can be competitive and fast-paced, but… Read all
Yes, I would recommend Brisbane State High School. It offers a lot of opportunities, both academically and through extracurricular activities like sport, music, and clubs. The school has a strong reputation, great facilities, and a diverse student community. It can be competitive and fast-paced, but if you’re motivated, it’s a great environment to grow in.
1 more from Brisbane State High School
Review School culture
BSHS had a mix of both traditional and modern elements. The culture was competitive and achievement-focused, especially in academics and sport, but also supportive if you were willing to engage. It had fairly strict rules around uniform and behaviour, but the overall environment felt modern, diverse,… Read all
BSHS had a mix of both traditional and modern elements. The culture was competitive and achievement-focused, especially in academics and sport, but also supportive if you were willing to engage. It had fairly strict rules around uniform and behaviour, but the overall environment felt modern, diverse, and energetic. There was a strong school pride, and students were encouraged to aim high.
12 more review mentions. Reviews and Open Day Reflections for competitive-entry state schools are part of Full Access: one $289 payment, no subscription.
Get Full AccessSign inSt Joseph’s College (Gregory Terrace)
Boys · Catholic · Spring Hill
- Fees $26,439 a year (2026, Years 7-12)
- Sport GPS
- Median ATAR 93.35 (2024)source
- Students 1,959
Strong evidence8 separate reviews mention it, out of 18.
Comes up in 44% of 18 reviews · about the Brisbane average (34%)
This school 44% Brisbane 34%
Of 12 comments: 5 speak well of it · 2 raise concerns
8 more review mentions and 4 more Open Day Reflections. Reviews and Open Day Reflections for independent and Catholic schools are part of Full Access: one $289 payment, no subscription.
Get Full AccessSign inCorinda State High School
Co-ed · State · Corinda
- Fees No tuition fees (state school)
- Students 2,123
Strong evidence7 separate reviews mention it, out of 13.
Comes up in 54% of 13 reviews · 1.6× the Brisbane average (34%)
This school 54% Brisbane 34%
Of 10 comments: 7 speak well of it
Review Bullying and the social scene
The school has policies to address bullying, and they do try to create a positive environment. My child had a generally good social experience, with some challenges, but the staff was responsive when issues arose. Overall, the school worked to promote inclusivity and a sense of community.
1 more from Corinda State High School
Review Subject range and curiosity
Yes, there were a diverse list of subjects for students to pick from that reflected a range of interests. The only downside is that there’s only a limited amount of languages that are available to study and I wished there was more.
8 more review mentions. A free account opens them, and you don't need a card.
Create free accountSign inQueensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology
Co-ed · State, competitive entry · Toowong
- Fees No tuition fees (state school)
- Median ATAR 94.75 (2025)source
- Students 1,370
Strong evidence10 separate reviews mention it, out of 22.
Comes up in 46% of 22 reviews · about the Brisbane average (34%)
This school 46% Brisbane 34%
Of 10 comments: 4 speak well of it
Review Inclusion and bullying
QASMT is very diverse with students from multiple backgrounds. Many cultural events were also held, including Harmony Week, where students are encouraged to wear their cultural dress and participate in related activities. Bullying, from what I could tell, wasn't a significant issue. In a school where… Read all
QASMT is very diverse with students from multiple backgrounds. Many cultural events were also held, including Harmony Week, where students are encouraged to wear their cultural dress and participate in related activities. Bullying, from what I could tell, wasn't a significant issue. In a school where academics is the priority, there's a stereotypical correlation between high-achieving students and good behaviour. This is supported by the fact that I never witnessed any bullying, but it should be noted that bullying is pretty much an inevitable issue, albeit less prominent at QA.
1 more from Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology
Review Something only students would know
Some things unique to the school is that doing QA/IB is a lot different from ATAR curriculum, in that there is a lot of independent learning that needs to be done. Therefore, I would not recommend the school for students who struggles to understand concepts or work off/ search for their own online resources.… Read all
Some things unique to the school is that doing QA/IB is a lot different from ATAR curriculum, in that there is a lot of independent learning that needs to be done. Therefore, I would not recommend the school for students who struggles to understand concepts or work off/ search for their own online resources. Furthermore, diversity is really big in QA, so there is a huge emphasise on sharing cultures and celebrating differences, which I really enjoyed. Extracurricular activities such as robotics are also very popular in QA, and students often spend their lunch times either attending the clubs for these activities, or involving themselves in clubs for service, or even beekeeping. The SMT community is also very small and everyone basically knows eachother. Students are also very willing to help others.
8 more review mentions. Reviews and Open Day Reflections for competitive-entry state schools are part of Full Access: one $289 payment, no subscription.
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Boys · Catholic · Boondall
- Fees $25,035 a year (2026, Year 12)
- Sport GPS
- Median ATAR 88.6 (2025)source
- Students 1,720
- Boarding (boys only)
Some evidence4 people mention it. Worth reading what they said.
Comes up in 25% of 4 reviews · about the Brisbane average (34%)
This school 25% Brisbane 34%
Of 4 comments: 2 speak well of it · 1 raises concerns
1 more review mention and 3 more Open Day Reflections. Reviews and Open Day Reflections for independent and Catholic schools are part of Full Access: one $289 payment, no subscription.
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Co-ed · State · Kelvin Grove
- Fees No tuition fees (state school)
- Students 3,646
Strong evidence8 separate reviews mention it, out of 19.
Comes up in 42% of 19 reviews · about the Brisbane average (34%)
This school 42% Brisbane 34%
Of 9 comments: 6 speak well of it · 1 raises concerns
Review Expectations versus reality
I didn’t really have any expectations for the school considering it was a public school, but I don’t like how nosy the school is. I dropped my daughter to school very early one time and she got a detention for being on her phone at 7:30 in the morning and got it taken away. Quite ridiculous I don’t think… Read all
I didn’t really have any expectations for the school considering it was a public school, but I don’t like how nosy the school is. I dropped my daughter to school very early one time and she got a detention for being on her phone at 7:30 in the morning and got it taken away. Quite ridiculous I don’t think the school should be able to take my children’s belongings like that, especially that early in the morning. She was then told to go to the library and borrow a book to read instead of being on her phone. Mind you the library opens at 8.
8 more review mentions. A free account opens them, and you don't need a card.
Create free accountSign inAll Hallows' School
Girls · Catholic · Fortitude Valley
- Fees $23,485 a year (2026, Year 12)
- Sport CaSSSA
- Median ATAR 93.4 (2025)source
- Students 1,733
Some evidence7 people mention it. Worth reading what they said.
Comes up in 78% of 9 reviews · 2.3× the Brisbane average (34%)
This school 78% Brisbane 34%
Of 8 comments: 5 speak well of it
8 more review mentions. Reviews and Open Day Reflections for independent and Catholic schools are part of Full Access: one $289 payment, no subscription.
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Girls · Catholic · Indooroopilly
- Fees $15,092 a year (2026, Year 12)
- Sport GBC, CaSSSA
- Median ATAR 82.82 (2025)source
- Students 953
Some evidence4 people mention it. Worth reading what they said.
Comes up in 100% of 3 reviews · 2.9× the Brisbane average (34%)
This school 100% Brisbane 34%
Of 5 comments: 4 speak well of it · 1 raises concerns
4 more review mentions and 1 more Open Day Reflection. Reviews and Open Day Reflections for independent and Catholic schools are part of Full Access: one $289 payment, no subscription.
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Reviews come from parents and former students whose link to the school we've checked. Open Day Reflections come from our recordings at 2026 open days. Words in [brackets] were unclear, and […] marks a skipped part. They reflect the school's own voice, so read them alongside the reviews. How reviews work