Revealed: The 15 SA schools where parents earn $200k or more

There were 15 schools in SA where parents earn a median income of more than $200k.

The incomes of parents sending their children to South Australia’s top private schools have been revealed, with median earnings at 15 colleges exceeding $200,000.

Wilderness School topped the 2023 list at $271,000 family income before tax, with parents paying $29,532 for Year 12 tuition fees.

Close behind were Walford Anglican School at $270,000, with Year 12 fees of $30,840, and Pembroke School at $269,000, which has the highest fees in the state at $31,251.

Other top institutions such as Scotch College ($265,000), St Peter’s College ($264,000) and Pulteney Grammar School ($243,000) were also among the most affluent.

The only Catholic school listed was Mercedes College in Springfield, which counts Premier Peter Malinauskas among its old scholars and has a median family income of $225,000.

Wilderness School topped the 2023 list at $271,000 family income before tax. Picture: Morgan Sette

Mercedes College in Springfield has a median family income of $225,000. Picture: Morgan Sette

New analysis by Save Our Schools, derived from Senate Estimates figures, also revealed Westminster School scored the most federal funding at about $60m between 2022-28, while Pembroke School received about $56m in the same period.

St Peter’s College was given $49m and a similar amount went to Prince Alfred College.

Save Our Schools national convener Trevor Cobbold said the situation was “appallingly unfair” and he estimated that the state government over-funded private entities by $30 million per year.

“Millions of taxpayer funds are being squandered on highly privileged South Australian private schools serving the wealthiest families in the state while public schools serving the most disadvantaged and vulnerable families have to beg for funds,” Mr Cobbold said.

“The funding model for private schools introduced by the Morrison government over-estimates their need for taxpayer support because it ignores income gifts from the bank of mum and dad for school fees, childcare and house deposits.

“It also ignores lucrative sources of private school income from donations to building funds, financial investments and rental income.”

The overfunding figures were calculated by taking the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS), the minimum amount of money necessary to meet the needs of all students, and comparing it to the actual allocated funding.

Association of Independent Schools of SA (AISSA) chief executive Anne Dunstan said school funding is “complex” and that the “only meaningful way” to compare funding is by combining Commonwealth and state contributions.

In 2022, independent schools received an average of $12,160 per student in total government annual recurrent funding, compared to an average of $22,510 for a student in a government school, according to Ms Dunstan.

Education Minister Blair Boyer said his “singular focus” is lifting public schools to 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard: Roy VanDerVegt

“Independent schools rely on parents for funding, with more than half of independent schools’ recurrent income coming from private sources, although the portions vary between schools,” she said.

Catholic Education SA executive director Dr Neil McGoran said government funding is “vital” and “is used to fund teachers, staff and resources”.

“Parent contributions, including school fees, make up 58 per cent of Mercedes College’s funding,” Dr McGoran said.

“The school fees cover the gap in government funding and all costs related to building and infrastructure.”

Last week, Education Minister Blair Boyer said his “singular focus” is lifting public schools to 100 per cent of the SRS.

He said the current five per cent shortfall in funding, worth about $190m, “would go directly into school supports so that teachers have the time and resources to help students achieve the best academic outcomes”.