SA’s overflowing schools: The number of schools over student capacity set to double in 2023

By next year, 14 of the state’s public schools will hit or exceed their capacities – more than double this year’s number. Search our table to see if your local schools are nearing capacity.

The number of state schools reaching capacity is expected to more than double next year, despite upgrades to high school campuses to accommodate year 7 students.

A Freedom of Information request has uncovered a report showing 14 of Adelaide’s schools were forecast to either reach, or exceed, their capacity in 2023 – up from six this year.

Those most oversubscribed were predicted to be Upper Sturt Primary, at 141 per cent, Grant High in Mount Gambier (116 per cent) Sturt Street Community School (114 per cent) and Marryatville and Adelaide Botanic high schools (both 108 per cent).

Others expected to reach, or exceed, capacity include Plympton International College, Glenunga International High and Mount Barker High (all 107 per cent), Edwardstown Primary (106 per cent), Mount Barker South Primary (105 per cent), The Heights School (102 per cent) and Playford International College, Unley High and Hillcrest Primary (all 100 per cent).

Edwardstown, Sturt Street, Upper Sturt, Glenunga, Grant and Marryatville were all forecast to operate at, or above, capacity this year.

Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie said Mount Barker’s schools were struggling to keep up with the area’s rapid population growth, and another primary campus was needed close to new housing.

Mount Barker residents Chris Prestidge and Riarnna Groth moved to the area about 12 months ago, with their sons Carvin, 12, and Reed, 7, attending Mount Barker High and Mount Barker South Primary.

Ms Groth said she was generally happy with her children’s schooling, but her sons may “slip through the cracks” if student numbers grew much larger.

“Our kids aren’t very vocal, they’re quite quiet kids,” Ms Groth said.

“Both schools probably have enough space to add extra classrooms. They’d probably (also) need more teachers if the numbers are going to go up.”

In Mount Gambier, Grant High was expected to welcome 1084 students this year, over its capacity of 1024, and next year, it was predicted to have 1183 students.

An artist's impression of the $98 million redevelopment of Adelaide Botanic High School.

Local MP Troy Bell said teachers had raised concerns about “the ability to physically house everybody” and behaviour management problems that may arise from overcrowding.

Opposition education spokesman Blair Boyer, who lodged the FOI request, said many schools “bursting at the seams” were in that position because of year 7’s transition to the secondary school system this year.

“The government just hasn’t built the capacity that’s needed in the system either at high schools or primary school level,” he said.

Riarnna Groth and Chris Prestidge with children Carvin, 12 and Reed, 7, in Mount Barker. Picture: Michael Marschall

Education Minister John Gardner said a $119m investment to expand Adelaide Botanic High School and Roma Mitchell Secondary College would help meet the demand for places.

The government opened new schools in Aldinga, Angle Vale and Goolwa this year and was also building the new Morialta Secondary College, providing combined capacity for 4800 extra students by 2028.

Capacity management plans were helping maintain sustainable enrolments, along with the use of new modular buildings, staggered break times and “effective timetabling” to make use of specialist learning areas.

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