Qld’s biggest high school hires extra staff as enrolments exceed 4000

Queensland’s biggest high school has surged beyond 4000 enrolled students, amid an increase in children turning up after the start of the school year.

Marsden State High School, at Waterford West in Logan, has 4043 children enrolled this year, including 703 Year 7 students.

In-catchment enrolments at Marsden State High surged after the 2024 school year had already begun.Credit: Google Street View

According to its enrolment management plan, the school has a maximum enrolment capacity of 3444 students.

However, an Education Department spokeswoman said enrolments were under the school’s built capacity – a different way of calculating capacity using the maximum target capacity of all general and specialist classrooms.

“All classes are being accommodated in existing facilities,” the spokeswoman said.

The department confirmed it was working with the school following an “increased number of late in-catchment enrolments since the beginning of the 2024 school year”.

“[This is] a trend that has occurred in previous years,” she said.

“As with any state school, enrolments may fluctuate throughout the year, and the department responds to changing needs by providing additional infrastructure and resources where required for in-catchment enrolment growth.

“The department also undertakes comprehensive workforce planning to ensure there is a sustainable supply of teachers to meet the demands of state schools across Queensland.”

The school has 264 full-time-equivalent teachers, up from 250 in 2023.

Marsden State High is known for its excellence programs, including rugby league, which enables children living out of the catchment area to secure a place.

However, places in the programs must only be available to out-of-catchment enrolments once in-catchment demand has been met.

Last year, 30 per cent of the school’s students lived out of catchment.

The department’s trend data suggests the school could reach 4882 students in four years.

The state government plans to build a new school to relieve pressure on Marsden State High, with land acquired at Derby Road, Logan Reserve.

The Education Department said it had not received any complaints about enrolment issues in 2024.

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