Queensland’s most in-demand public schools revealed
Queensland’s most in-demand public schools continue to be flooded with thousands of out-of-catchment students despite strict enrolment requirements and even threats of police action. Search our interactive table to find out how demand is where you are.
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Queensland’s most in-demand public schools continue to be flooded with thousands of out-of-catchment students despite strict enrolment requirements and even threats of police action.
An exclusive Courier-Mail analysis can reveal more than 50 schools across the state have at least 500 out-of-catchment students enrolled this year.
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Despite using private investigators and even threatening police involvement over catchment fraud, top public school Brisbane State High School still saw more than 1564 out of catchment students enrol in 2022, comprising about 46 per cent of its total student population.
According to the school’s enrolment management plan, BSHS – the country’s largest high school – still accepts more than 1000 kids into its selective entry program.
This is despite the state government building a brand new high school, the $153m Brisbane South State Secondary College, just three kilometres away.
Brisbane State High School has seen its percentage out-of-catchment students barely shift over the past three years with 48 per cent of students’ out-of-catchment in 2020.
Other major and in-demand public high schools also saw large numbers of students enrolled from outside the catchment zone.
At Kelvin Grove State High School, 41 per cent or 1461 students were recorded as being from outside the catchment in 2022 Marsden State High School (32 per cent or 1149 students) and Varsity College (34 per cent or 1138 students) also have recorded huge chunks of their large populations as residing outside supposedly strict catchment zones.
Cavendish Road State High School, Kedron State High School, Indooroopilly State High School and Mansfield State High School also enrolled at least 900 students outside their catchment zone.
But a spokeswoman for the Queensland Department of Education said it was monitoring growth across the state, and “responds to ongoing enrolment demand to ensure the best educational outcomes for all students”.
“This includes monitoring school capacity and enrolment data, as well as projected enrolment growth across the short, medium and long term to ensure future growth needs are catered for,” she said.
“Neither Brisbane State High School nor Kevin Grove Secondary college currently operate combined or modified classes due to out of catchment enrolments.”
On selective entry programs still operating at large public schools, she said those students must have “school reports that reflect continued excellence in academia, behaviour and effort”.
“Selective entry provides access to programs and opportunities specific to each school. For some students, a state school is the only available option to pursue some of these activities,” she said.
A right to information request released late last year offered an insight into the lengths Brisbane State High School takes to restrict out-of-catchment enrolments of students – not accepted into its selective entry program.
Correspondence released under RTI revealed investigators spying on parents hoping to enrol their students at BSHS, monitoring their comings and goings from houses and even following them in traffic.
Internal emails even showed staff members “dobbing in” members of the community who claimed to be living in West End units within the catchment zone, and “spot checks” being conducted on residents where their actions were monitored”.
The school’s enrolment management plan states the demand for enrolment at BSHS “far exceeds the positions available in each year level”.
“The school actively endeavours to maintain the integrity of the school catchment as a means of maintaining a productive learning environment for staff and students.
“Due to accommodation constraints and taking into consideration health and safety issues for both students and staff, it may be necessary for the school to assist you in enrolling your child in another government school.”
In its enrolment management plan, KGSC also states “false or misleading statements or assertions about a student’s principal place of residence amounts to an offence and may be reported to the police”.
“There has been significant growth in KGSC’s student population over the past five years,” the school’s EMP states.
“This aligns with the rising population in Brisbane’s inner city and an increase in the number of families moving into the school’s catchment area. The urban landscape of the catchment is changing, with more high density living, and increases in multi-dwelling properties.
“Increasing demand on KGSC also recognises the school’s outstanding educational reputation and achievements in music, the arts and sport. However, it necessitates that the school tightly control its enrolment processes to ensure genuine local catchment students are catered for.”
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