Melbourne High School

What Melbourne High School does

Melbourne High School is a selective entry boys' government secondary school (Years 9-12) located at Forrest Hill, South Yarra, Victoria, Australia, operating continuously at the site since 1927 (with institutional origins dating to the 1854 National Model School on Spring Street). The school delivers a Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) program to 1,370+ students selected primarily via a centralised ACER Year 9 entrance examination administered by the Department of Education and Training, with approximately 1,500 students listing MHS as first preference annually. Core offerings include the VCE academic program, the Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES) — a $27.5 million purpose-built facility at 669 Chapel Street where selected students complete first-year university courses as part of VCE — and an extensive co-curricular ecosystem comprising over 40 clubs (including an Army and Air Force Cadet unit and a 200+ member Robotics Club), 30+ sports activities and teams, and 30+ musical ensembles delivering 50+ performances annually. Digital infrastructure includes the Canvas LMS, Compass parent/student portal, and a mandatory 1:1 Hybrid Tablet Notebook Program using HP devices procured through Atturra.

The school's revenue model is government-funded with no tuition fees charged. Primary income derives from Department of Education and Training recurrent funding, supplemented by voluntary parent contributions (published per year-level), donations through the MHS Foundation (an independent not-for-profit managing charitable trusts), and named scholarship programs including Lindsay Fox ($3,000/annum), Alan Metcalf ($3,000/annum), Pratt Indigenous ($3,000/annum), Chris McGrath ($1,000/annum), and William Perry Mole scholarships. Auxiliary assets include the Millgrove Outdoor Education Centre (4-hectare campground near Warburton in the Yarra Ranges) used for mandatory Year 9-10 outdoor education. Admissions use a multi-pathway structure: Year 9 via ACER examination, Year 10 via EduTest Academic Assessment plus application and interview (minimum 26 students), and a small Year 11 Arts & Humanities intake requiring audition/folio and interview. An Equity Consideration pathway reduces application fees by 50% for Health Care Card/Pension Card holders and Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander applicants.

Governance is provided by a School Council (parent, DET, student, and community members) led by President Grant Kelly, with executive leadership under Principal Dr Anthony Mordini and four Assistant Principals covering Resources/IT/Strategy, Teaching & Learning/Senior School, Operations/Cocurricular/Junior School, and Student Wellbeing/Engagement. The school is supported by a community ecosystem comprising the Melbourne High School Old Boys Association (MHSOBA, since 1907), MHS Foundation, Parents & Friends Association, Friends of Music, Past Parents and Friends, Rowing Fraternity, and Second Hand Uniform Shop. Strategic partnerships include a longstanding combined-music partnership with Mac.Robertson Girls' High School (annual musical, Winter Concert at Hamer Hall), the Crawford Shield inter-school exchange with North Sydney Boys High School (since 1959, 10 sports and activities), and an emerging AI-and-entrepreneurship partnership with La Trobe University. Demand materially exceeds supply — Year 9 receives ~1,500 first-preference applications for a fixed selective-entry cohort — positioning MHS as structurally demand-constrained rather than growth-seeking.

Name

Melbourne High School

Legal name

Melbourne High School

Website

https://mhs.vic.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Melbourne High School is a Victorian selective entry boys' government secondary school (Years 9-12) in South Yarra, Australia, serving 1,370+ academically gifted students through a VCE program, the $27.5M CHES university-level facility, and 40+ co-curricular clubs and 30+ sports.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Selective Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD)

Keywords

• Selective secondary education
• Boys secondary school
• VCE program
• Co-curricular activities
• Government school

Headquarters

HQ city

South Yarra

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (DET): As a Victorian government selective entry school, MHS is funded by the Department of Education and Training. No annual tuition fee is charged to parents.
2. Parent Voluntary Contributions: Parents are invited to make voluntary payment contributions to cover materials, equipment, and consumables. The school publishes per-year-level parent payment policies. No强制性 tuition fee is charged.
3. Donations and Fundraising (via MHS Foundation): The MHS Foundation, an independent not-for-profit, manages charitable trusts and conducts the Annual Tax Appeal. Donations to the Foundation are tax-deductible and fund scholarships, arts, infrastructure upgrades, and wellbeing programs.
4. Scholarships and Bursaries: Multiple named scholarships (Lindsay Fox $3000/annum, Alan Metcalf $3000/annum, Pratt Indigenous $3000/annum, Chris McGrath $1000/annum total $4000, William Perry Mole Scholarship) awarded to students experiencing financial need, accessed as credits against school charges, books, and uniforms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Melbourne High School is a Victorian government selective entry boys' secondary school (Years 9–12) delivering the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) curriculum to approximately 1,370 students. The core offering centres on academically selective secondary education enriched by an extensive co-curricular program (40+ clubs, 30+ sports, 30+ musical ensembles), a mandatory outdoor education camp, and the Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES), where selected students complete first-year university courses as part of their VCE.

Product overview

Melbourne High School is a selective-entry boys' government secondary school (Years 9-12) with approximately 1370+ students and 180+ staff, guided by the 'More Than Just Marks' philosophy and motto 'Honour the Work.' The offering is a unified educational programme centred on selective secondary education (Years 9-12 VCE) supplemented by an extensive co-curricular ecosystem. Key integrated modules include: the VCE Program with the Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES) enabling university-level study; the Co-curricular Program spanning 40+ clubs (notably Cadets and Robotics), 30+ sports activities, and 30+ musical ensembles; Performing & Visual Arts with combined productions with Mac.Robertson Girls' High School; and the Millgrove Outdoor Education Centre for mandatory Year 9/10 camps. Supporting infrastructure includes the MHS Foundation (fundraising arm), MHSOBA (alumni network), and Parents & Friends Association. Digital learning is supported through Canvas LMS and Compass portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES): A $27.5 million state-of-the-art facility adjacent to the school where selected students can complete first year university courses as part of their VCE. Formerly known as the Melbourne High School Gifted Academy.

Products and services

• Selective Secondary Education Program (Years 9–12)
• Year 10 Academic Intake
• Year 11 Arts & Humanities Intake
• VCE Program
• Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES)
• Co-curricular Program
• Performing & Visual Arts Program
• Millgrove Outdoor Education Centre
• Sport Program
• Scholarship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 1500+ students list MHS as first preference in the Year 9 entrance examination annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• North Sydney Boys High SchoolflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1959The Crawford Shield Exchange is a proud tradition connecting MHS and North Sydney Boys High School since 1959. Each year, students travel to Sydney or Melbourne to compete across 10 sports and activities including Basketball, Volleyball, Water Polo, Badminton, Table Tennis, Cricket, Futsal, Music, Chess, and Debating. In March 2026, 78 students and 10 staff traveled to Sydney for the exchange, with the return visit planned for 2027.
• Mac.Robertson Girls' High SchoolflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMHS and Mac.Robertson Girls' High School (Mac.Rob) have a longstanding partnership producing an annual combined schools' musical, combined concerts (Winter Concert at Hamer Hall, Combined Winter Concert, Spring Concert), and collaborative events. The partnership produces spectacular full-scale displays of student talent at Melbourne's premiere performance venues including Memorial Hall and Hamer Hall. Music programs include combined showcase ensembles, massed choirs, symphony orchestras, and stage bands.
• La Trobe UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA partnership through which MHS Economics and Business students work with La Trobe University academics to explore how AI can be used to support new entrepreneurial ventures. The Entrepreneurship Program has been growing from strength to strength, providing a valuable adjunct to the formal curriculum. Led by Mr Marotta, Head of Commerce at MHS.
• Bunnings CollingwoodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBunnings Collingwood hosts the MHS Friends of Music sausage sizzle fundraiser, which raised approximately $1,600 for the school music program. Bunnings provides the opportunity for the school community to raise vital funds through a Bunnings sausage stall.
• William Angliss InstituteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWilliam Angliss Institute hosts MHS events including the Captain of Boats Dinner (September 2025) and the inaugural Parents & Friends Welcome (Back) Dinner (March 2026). The restaurant venue accommodates 130+ guests for these school community events.
• ACER (Australian Council for Educational Research)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerACER administers the Year 9 entrance examination for all four Victorian Selective Entry High Schools. Applications open 2 March 2026 for the 2027 intake. ACER manages the examination process with results issued by the Department of Education and Training.
• EduTestcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEduTest independently administers the Year 10 Academic Abilities Assessment for MHS. Registration closes 29 May 2026, with the test scheduled at MHS on 15 June 2026 for the 2027 intake. Equity Consideration applicants receive a 50% reduction in the EduTest application cost.
• MHS FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MHS Foundation is an independent not-for-profit that serves as the school's fundraising arm. It manages trusts and funds with charitable gift status, allowing tax-deductible donations. The Foundation purchased the land at 669 Chapel Street for CHES, has funded scholarships, purchased musical equipment, supported school productions, renovated classrooms, and manages speech night prizes.
• Toolbox EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerToolbox Education, a psychology service, facilitated an online parent information session for Year 9 families on 'Thinking Traps' — concepts from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). The session aligns with upcoming student workshops exploring these concepts in greater depth, providing a common language between school, students, and home.
• MHSOBA (Melbourne High School Old Boys Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMHSOBA has existed since 1907 and is the alumni association of Melbourne High School. It hosts reunions, fundraisers, and social events; provides generational mentoring and professional networking opportunities; and has financed many school facilities through its fundraising efforts. The Association contributes to the MHS Foundation and manages scholarships for students.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mac.Robertson Girls' High School: Victoria's other flagship selective entry government high school, and MHS's longstanding co-production partner. Operates the same selective entry model under the Department of Education and Training and is the most directly comparable peer in status, scale, and admission process.
• John Monash Science School: Victorian government selective entry school co-located with Monash University, specialising in science, mathematics, and tertiary-linked study. Directly comparable as a state selective school with a STEM/tertiary pathway orientation similar to MHS's CHES program.
• Suzanne Cory High School: Victorian selective entry coeducational government high school in Melbourne's west, drawn from the same statewide ACER selective entry pool. Operates with a similar gifted-student mission and Department of Education funding model.
• North Sydney Boys High School: NSW selective entry boys' high school and MHS's Crawford Shield exchange partner since 1959. Operates an analogous selective entry public school model with comparable academic and co-curricular programs, making it a strong interstate direct peer.
• University High School (Melbourne): Adjacent Parkville selective entry coeducational government school with similar academic profile and catchment overlap with MHS. Shares the same ACER Year 9 admissions process and is a direct peer within the Victorian selective schools ecosystem.
• Nossal High School: Victorian selective entry coeducational government high school in the Casey area. Competes for the same statewide selective entry applicant pool via the same ACER process and serves a similar gifted-student niche.

Regional players

• Sydney Grammar School: Elite Sydney private boys' school and a peer selective-equivalent institution by academic profile, though geographically separate. Useful benchmark for ATAR outcomes and co-curricular depth in the Australian boys' school market.

Broad incumbents

• Melbourne Grammar School: Leading Melbourne private boys' school (Years 9-12 plus earlier years) and the most prestigious non-government competitor for academically gifted boys in the same Melbourne catchment. Competes for many of the same high-achieving families who consider selective entry options.
• Trinity Grammar School (Kew): Melbourne private boys' school with comparable co-curricular breadth (music, sport, cadets) and academic positioning. Relevant private alternative for families choosing between government selective and independent schooling.
• Scotch College (Melbourne): Major Melbourne private boys' school with strong academic, sporting, and music programs comparable in scale to MHS's co-curricular offering. Competes directly for selective boys and their families considering private alternatives.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/honourthework
• Xx.com/melbournehs9
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/melbourne-high-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Melbourne High School