Search the list: Parent incomes for every private school in the nation
Ever wanted to see how much families earn at the state’s top private schools? Here’s a full list of the average income of families at every elite school in South Australia. Search now.
The richest South Australian parents send their children to the prestigious co-ed school Scotch College, according to federal government figures obtained by News Corp.
The Torrens Park school, which has year 12 fees of $32,000, boasts grand heritage buildings, 20 hectares of manicured grounds and a who’s who of Adelaide society as its alumni.
Its parents have a median family income of $300,000 - more than three times the national household earnings. The school receives more than $7m a year in federal funding.
Next on the SA parental rich list is Pembroke School in Kensington Park, where parents have a median family income of $285,000.
Closely behind is St Peter’s College in St Peters, which was founded in 1847, and leading girls’ school Wilderness, in Medindie, both of which have parents with family incomes of $280,000. Rounding out the top 10 South Australian richest schools are Walford in Hyde Park ($275,000), Seymour College ($260,000), Pulteney Grammar ($255,000), Prince Alfred College ($250,000), Mercedes College ($240,000) and St Peter’s Collegiate Girls’ School ($240,000).
The family income data is used to calculate the $18b in school funding given to private schools by the federal government each year in addition to state funding. In general terms, schools with wealthier parents get less federal funding.
The 2024 figures show the annual net median income of all private school parents in the country is $406m dollars.
But there is a wide gap between those on the top of the list and those at the bottom. Parents at the top 20 schools have a combined annual median income of $8.4m. Parents whose children attend the bottom 20 schools have a combined annual median income of $551,000, proving that private schools are not just for the wealthy.
The average median family income from the 2621 schools on the list is $159,496, which is well above the ABS household median income of $92,040.
In the national top 20, there are 17 NSW schools, one from Victoria and two from Western Australia.
The richest school parents are at SCEGGS Darlinghurst in Sydeny, which has a median family income of $505,000 a year.
The prestigious school, which charges fees of almost $50,000 a year for year 12, is the only one in Australia with parents earning a median income of more than half a million dollars. It receives $2.7m in federal funding a year.
Dr Daniel Pampuch, CEO, Christian Schools Australia, said many Christian school parents are low- to middle income earners.
“They are regular mum and dads wanting to provide the best opportunities they can for their kids. As the cost of living keeps climbing, making ends meet isn’t easy,” he said.
“However, they continue to prioritise Christian education as their child’s learning and development comes first.”
Independent Schools Australia CEO Graham Catt said most independent school families are “ordinary hardworking Australians, 60% are from low and middle-income households, often working two jobs, and - especially as cost of living pressures continue - are making real sacrifices so their children can attend the school that’s right for them.”
“The stereotype that all independent school parents are wealthy is simply wrong and, for parents, upsetting and offensive,” he said.
“Independent schools receive an average of $13,080 per student in government funding, compared to $24,860 for public school students. Many students receive far less.
“Continued, stable, needs-based government funding is vital to ensure every student, in every community, gets the support they need, regardless of which school their parents choose,” Mr Gatt said.
Scotch College declined to comment for the story.
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Originally published as Search the list: Parent incomes for every private school in the nation
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