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.
42 schools where people talk about “music” and subjects and senior pathways.
Also counting related words: band, orchestra, choir, instrumental, ensemble. Schools where “music” itself comes up are listed first.
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
Some evidence5 people mention it. Worth reading what they said.
Comes up in 21% of 19 reviews · about the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 21% Brisbane 14%
Of 8 comments: 5 speak well of it
9 of 10 former students who listed their arts activities did Choir / Vocal Performance or Orchestra / Instrumental Music
7 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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Co-ed · State, competitive entry · Kelvin Grove
- Fees No tuition fees (state school)
- Students 437
Some evidence2 people mention it. Worth reading what they said.
Comes up in 40% of 5 reviews · 2.8× the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 40% Brisbane 14%
Of 7 comments: 3 speak well of it
2 of 5 former students who listed their arts activities did Choir / Vocal Performance or Orchestra / Instrumental Music
Review Year 12 subject choices
English SL, Mandarin Ab Initio, Psychology HL, Biology HL, Math AI SL, Music HL I wish I had done a different language instead of Mandarin, as it was very difficult. However, I loved the teacher and the class so it’s not a deep regret. I also wish I took biology at an SL level or did chemistry instead, because I later realised it was not a strong subject of mine.
4 more from Queensland Academy for Creative Industries
Review Subject range and curiosity
Specialising in the arts, the school offered numerous choices for art disciplines such as music, visual arts, dance, film, design tech, etc. For other groups, it might’ve been more scarce. For Group 3 (humanities) students only had the option of picking Psychology or Business or Environmental Systems, so that may have limited people’s interests.
Review Would you recommend it?
I would recommend this school if you would like to be surrounded by like-minded peers with very nice facilities. Specialising in the arts, there are many resources for these students - as a music student myself, I loved the recording studio. During my time however, there were a lot of staff changes which made learning a bit difficult, although I could tell teachers were trying their best. If you are more academically inclined and lean towards stem subjects, I would recommend QASMT more.
Review What had the biggest impact
The biggest impact on me was probably the connections you make. I made a lot of close friends at QACI and there is a lot of events surrounding “school spirit” that make your time fun. I also am grateful for opportunities that I wouldn’t have had elsewhere, such as recording in a music studio, helping my visual art friends paint, and learning the IB program.
Review Chances to take part in the arts
In Year 11, students can choose to specialise in one or two arts subjects. Being a music student, I thought the opportunities were really cool (eg; getting a professional string quartet to play your composition) and loved the recording studio. Other disciplines also always had their own events like theatre performances and art showcases. It was nice to see other students work. Albeit, it is important to note that while there is this creative freedom, it is still limited by the IB guidelines and assessments.
2 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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Co-ed · State, competitive entry · Toowong
- Fees No tuition fees (state school)
- Median ATAR 94.75 (2025)source
- Students 1,370
Strong evidence7 separate reviews mention it, out of 22.
Comes up in 32% of 22 reviews · 2.2× the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 32% Brisbane 14%
Of 8 comments: 3 speak well of it · 1 raises concerns
1 of 4 former students who listed their arts activities did Choir / Vocal Performance or Orchestra / Instrumental Music
Review Chances to take part in the arts
Even though subjects like music and drama weren't an option, the school encouraged artistic expression through annual events such as the Battle of the Bands and Festival of Creativity, where students performed instrumental pieces, showcased their paintings etc. Due to a high number of applications, auditions… Read all
Even though subjects like music and drama weren't an option, the school encouraged artistic expression through annual events such as the Battle of the Bands and Festival of Creativity, where students performed instrumental pieces, showcased their paintings etc. Due to a high number of applications, auditions were usually required, but I don't know anyone who applied and didn't get accepted. I was part of a creative writing club, with sessions held every Friday afternoon. I, along with other members, wrote stories and shared ideas together over the course of one to two hours. The school provides opportunities to create and establish clubs if it has enough support, so this is another way that students can be involved in the arts.
1 more from Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology
Review School culture
…graduate with a high score. Although it was competitive, it was more the reason for students to band together and support one another. In a program like IB that's incredibly difficult, it was almost impossible for anyone to get through it alone- at least, that was my experience. I found that people were… Read all
As mentioned previously, QASMT is highly competitive and academics-focused. Students strive for good grades, and this culture is supported by the school itself in the way that award ceremonies are constantly held and students are praised for their achievements. QASMT prides itself in this, additionally expecting students to maintain a high standard of dress and behaviour both in and out of the school with strict rules. Because of this, most students had the same mindset- do well and graduate with a high score. Although it was competitive, it was more the reason for students to band together and support one another. In a program like IB that's incredibly difficult, it was almost impossible for anyone to get through it alone- at least, that was my experience. I found that people were more than happy to help each other, sharing notes and teaching each other concepts. As the IB does not rely on a bell-curve grading system like the ATAR, this means that one person getting a high score does not make it harder for another person to do well. This is one thing that I appreciated- that we competed with ourselves to be constantly better rather than be in competition with others where people would ultimately be more selfish with resources etc. in order to do good.
6 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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Co-ed · Independent · Everton Park
- Fees $14,855 a year (2026, Year 12, first child, all-in)
- Students 1,258
Some evidence4 people mention it. Worth reading what they said.
Comes up in 27% of 15 reviews · 1.8× the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 27% Brisbane 14%
Of 4 comments: 2 speak well of it
2 of 9 former students who listed their arts activities did Choir / Vocal Performance or Orchestra / Instrumental Music
4 more review mentions. Reviews and Open Day Reflections for independent and Catholic schools are part of Full Access: one $289 payment, no subscription.
Get Full AccessSign 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
Some evidence4 people mention it. Worth reading what they said.
Comes up in 11% of 36 reviews · about the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 11% Brisbane 14%
Of 4 comments: 2 speak well of it
8 of 14 former students who listed their arts activities did Choir / Vocal Performance or Orchestra / Instrumental Music
Review Subject range and curiosity
Yes, Brisbane State High offered a wide range of subject choices, from sciences and humanities to arts, music, and sport-focused electives. There were also a lot of extracurricular activities like debating, clubs, and representative sport, which helped students explore interests outside the classroom.… Read all
Yes, Brisbane State High offered a wide range of subject choices, from sciences and humanities to arts, music, and sport-focused electives. There were also a lot of extracurricular activities like debating, clubs, and representative sport, which helped students explore interests outside the classroom. Some subjects had hands-on projects or excursions, which made learning more engaging and went beyond just preparing for exams.
3 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 inKelvin Grove State College
Co-ed · State · Kelvin Grove
- Fees No tuition fees (state school)
- Students 3,646
Some evidence4 people mention it. Worth reading what they said.
Comes up in 21% of 19 reviews · about the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 21% Brisbane 14%
Of 4 comments: 1 speaks well of it
3 of 6 former students who listed their arts activities did Choir / Vocal Performance or Orchestra / Instrumental Music
4 more review mentions. A free account opens them, and you don't need a card.
Create free accountSign inCannon Hill Anglican College
Co-ed · Independent · Cannon Hill
- Fees $21,456 a year (2026, Years 7-12, all-inclusive single tuition fee)
- Sport TAS
- Students 1,364
Some evidence3 people mention it. Worth reading what they said.
Comes up in 20% of 15 reviews · about the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 20% Brisbane 14%
Of 4 comments: 2 speak well of it
7 of 10 former students who listed their arts activities did Choir / Vocal Performance or Orchestra / Instrumental Music
4 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 · Carina
- Fees $7,889 a year (2026, Year 12)
- Sport CaSSSA
- Students 810
Some evidence2 people mention it. Worth reading what they said.
Comes up in 40% of 5 reviews · 2.8× the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 40% Brisbane 14%
Of 4 comments: 2 speak well of it · 1 raises concerns
4 of 4 former students who listed their arts activities did Choir / Vocal Performance or Orchestra / Instrumental Music
4 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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Co-ed · State · The Gap
- Fees No tuition fees (state school)
- Median ATAR 86 (2024)source
- Students 1,700
Some evidence2 people mention it. Worth reading what they said.
Comes up in 25% of 8 reviews · 1.7× the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 25% Brisbane 14%
3 more review mentions. A free account opens them, and you don't need a card.
Create free accountSign inCraigslea State High School
Co-ed · State · Chermside West
- Fees No tuition fees (state school)
- Students 1,241
Some evidence2 people mention it. Worth reading what they said.
Comes up in 20% of 10 reviews · about the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 20% Brisbane 14%
Of 3 comments: 2 speak well of it
3 of 4 former students who listed their arts activities did Choir / Vocal Performance or Orchestra / Instrumental Music
3 more review mentions. A free account opens them, and you don't need a card.
Create free accountSign 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
Some evidence3 people mention it. Worth reading what they said.
Comes up in 17% of 18 reviews · about the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 17% Brisbane 14%
Of 3 comments: 2 speak well of it
5 of 9 former students who listed their arts activities did Choir / Vocal Performance or Orchestra / Instrumental Music
3 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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Co-ed · State, competitive entry · Mansfield
- Fees No tuition fees (state school)
- Students 3,978
Some evidence2 people mention it. Worth reading what they said.
Comes up in 7% of 28 reviews · below the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 7% Brisbane 14%
Of 3 comments: 3 speak well of it
3 of 9 former students who listed their arts activities did Choir / Vocal Performance or Orchestra / Instrumental Music
3 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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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