Cheltenham Girls High is not a private school, but it has a tennis court, a symphony orchestra and Wednesday workouts in the gym.
The school, in Sydney’s north, ranked among the most searched-for school catchments last year, according to real estate data from Domain.
Cheltenham’s NAPLAN results are above average, and due to demand – the school had 1400 students – enrolment is strictly limited to those living inside the catchment area.
While the state government has embarked on a policy of guaranteeing co-ed options to families – closing some single-sex schools – many of the most popular schools are single sex.
Others include Epping Boys, Willoughby Girls, Strathfield Girls and Burwood Girls.
British immigrant Duncan Davies lived in Dolls Point in Sydney’s south with his wife, Nicky, when he arrived in Australia. Tired of the uncertainty of renting, they wanted to buy in a suburb within their price range with good public schools before daughters Catie and Ari started primary school.
Duncan and Nicky Davies with their daughters Ari (left) and Catie.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone
“[Nicky] was actively going through the schools list to see which were the best schools in Sydney and those that also had relatively affordable housing,” Davies said.
Despite the best-laid plans, after moving across the city, their new house fell just outside the catchment for their planned school, Beecroft Public, so they sent their daughters to Arden Anglican School for primary school.
Staying there for high school seemed logical, but something about Cheltenham Girls’ open day lured the family back.
“It was a tough decision to take them out of private and into public – it felt like we were going against the flow. But we haven’t looked back,” Davies said.
The school is set on the grand former estate of the Vicars family, who were associated with the 19th century history of Parramatta.
Cheltenham Girls High School is highly sought after by house hunters. Credit: Peter Rae
As well as tennis courts, Cheltenham Girls has a pond on the grounds and other newly built facilities. But Davies said he was more impressed with the teachers.
“They’re a really committed bunch of teachers, and the leadership team are a strong group. Whenever you go to orientation day or another event, you get the sense they love the kids and they’re invested in education.”
Top-performing area real estate agent Kevin Dearlove said people in Cheltenham never wanted to leave the suburb, often staying for 20 years, but parents sought out the area for schools, paying between $2 million and $6 million for a family home.
“We get families coming from the south, from Hurstville, we get buyers from the lower north shore and the inner west. They are incredibly education-focused,” he said.
“The primary schools are on another level, in my opinion. Beecroft Public is extremely in demand.”
Co-educational Cherrybrook Technology High School in Sydney’s Hills District was the most searched-for public school catchment.
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