Queensland’s richest schools earn $1.8 billion in one year

Queensland’s 50 richest schools raked in a staggering $1.85 billion in just one year, and not all of them are private. SEE THE SCHOOL RANKINGS.

Queensland’s richest schools have been revealed, with two of Brisbane’s most prestigious and priciest boys’ colleges topping the list.

Newly-released financial data on every school in Queensland has revealed the top 50 schools earned a combined total of $1,858,727,296 in gross income in 2019.

Once again Brisbane Grammar School was named the richest in the state, having raked in more than $63 million.

That was an equivalent of almost $37,000 per student, which was also the highest figure of any school.

The vast bulk of the school’s income – more than $44 million – came from school fees, charges and parent contributions. BGS school fees are the highest of any school in Queensland, and in 2019 were about $26,000 per year.

Less than 20 per cent, or about $11 million, of the school’s income came from recurrent federal and state government funding, while a further $7.7 million came from other private sources.

Brisbane Grammar School topped the list as the richest school in the state. Picture: Supplied

BGS headmaster Anthony Micallef said the school’s financial model ensured students were provided with high-quality learning experiences, co-curricular opportunities and facilities.

“As a not-for-profit institution, all money received goes back into improving the school for the benefit of our students,” he said.

“Our well-established philanthropic culture further opens access to our Brisbane Grammar School to boys in financial need.”

Anglican Church Grammar School pulled in more than $54 million, or about $30,000 per student. Almost $39 million of income came from fees, with $11.9 million from combined government funding.

Co-educational school St Peters Lutheran College ($53.9 million in gross income), King’s Christian College ($47.4 million) and Brisbane Girls Grammar School ($45.7 million) rounded out the top 5.

Kelvin Grove State College was Queensland’s richest public school. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Kelvin Grove State College was the richest public school, pulling in more than $44 million, including more than $30 million from recurrent state government finding and a further $8.1 million in federal funding.

But with more than 3400 students in 2019, it recorded a much-lower equivalent of $13,019 per student.

The in-demand Brisbane State High School was recorded as receiving a gross income of $40.9 million in 2019, or $12,868 for each of its 3184 students.

Three of the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association’s four Queensland schools made it into the top 50 richest – Brisbane Boys’ College, Somerville House, and Sunshine Coast Grammar School – with a combined gross income of more than $112 million in 2019.

THE TOP 50 SCHOOLS AND THEIR 2019 GROSS INCOME

Brisbane Grammar School $63,373,514

Anglican Church Grammar School $54,388,792

St Peters Lutheran College $53,918,264

King’s Christian College $47,440,432

Brisbane Girls Grammar School $45,740,752

St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace $45,618,744

St Joseph’s Nudgee College $45,120,934

Kelvin Grove State College $ 4,449,667

The Southport School $44,265,727

Varsity College $44,107,255

Brisbane Boys’ College $43,338,656

Tagai State College $42,966,730

Chancellor State College $42,209,267

Brisbane State High School $40,970,481

All Hallows’ School $39,176,509

Somerset College $39,141,955

All Saints Anglican School $39,014,978

North Lakes State College $38,911,608

St Laurence’s College $38,904,751

Somerville House $38,511,556

Marist College Ashgrove $37,685,961

Brisbane School of Distance Education $36,764,301

Meridan State College $36,706,270

Stretton State College $36,327,728

John Paul College $36,240,366

Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School $34,247,555

Ryan Catholic College $33,435,695

Matthew Flinders Anglican College $33,364,895

Helensvale State High School $33,303,101

Mansfield State High School $32,861,098

Iona College $32,737,342

Marsden State High School $32,551,223

Sheldon College $32,467,968

Upper Coomera State College $31,790,959

Emmanuel College $ 31,307,681

St Hilda’s School $31,166,591

The Rockhampton Grammar School $31,094,705

St Andrew’s Anglican College $31,017,919

Sunshine Coast Grammar School $31,005,619

Indooroopilly State High School $30,976,357

Citipointe Christian College $30,964,976

A B Paterson College $30,724,027

Canterbury College $30,517,595

West Moreton Anglican College $30,480,776

Calamvale Community College $29,894,565

Toowoomba Grammar School $29,716,559

Grace Lutheran College $29,595,239

Mueller College $29,516,647

Mountain Creek State High School $29,400,962