Australia’s top 100 schools with most private income as schools find new sources of fundraising

Forget the bake sale, creative fundraising is the new norm in schools, as Australia’s top 100 schools with the most private income were revealed. SEE THE LIST

Exclusive: Move over chocolate drive, Australian schools are finding weird and wonderful ways to raise much-needed funds using everything from camp sites to sugar cane crops.

Schools all over the country are reaping the rewards of creative fundraising using existing facilities to maximise profit.

Weekend markets have become common place on school grounds with locals able to get their retail fix while supporting students.

Among them are Bondi Beach Public School in New South Wales and Fitzroy Primary School in Victoria.

The Fitzroy Primary School has raised funds for the school through a leasing agreement with the Fitzroy Market. Picture: The Fitzroy Market Facebook

Some schools on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland — like Maroochydore State School — have also found a way to make a little bit of extra coin on the school holidays by allowing campers to park motorhomes on the grounds.

This comes as analysis by News Corp, using financial data from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), has determined the schools that received the most income from private sources in 2017.

Bondi Beach Public School leases out its grounds to markets on the weekend. Picture: Supplied

Data from 2017 is the most current financial data available on the ACARA site.

The figures include “donations, interest on bank accounts, profits on trading activities and profits from sale of assets” as well as some income from fundraising activities and capital purposes, according to ACARA.

International student fees are also included in private income.

The top 50 is dominated by independent and Catholic schools — who take in large amounts of donations — but Victoria’s Frankston High School made the cut on the tail end of the list with $3,137,679 of private income.

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In Queensland, Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School was the second top government school with $2,881,254 of private income, followed by Helensvale State High School with $2,451,108.

The two schools, which are some of the biggest in the state, had respective places of 56 and 75 in the overall list.

Palm Beach has generated some of its private income from P & C market days, hiring out facilities and even production company fees as the school is occasionally used for film and television, according to a Department of Education spokesman.

Helensvale hires out its facilities and also hosts a market.

Fitzroy Primary School students, top: Manning (8) and Lillian (9), and bottom row: Hadiya (6) and Zain (6) tending to their Harmony garden which has been created from money raised by the markets. Picture Jay Town

“This source of revenue contributes positively for students and staff of our Queensland state schools by contributing to the delivery of enhanced infrastructure, educational resources and local priorities and programs,” the spokesman said.

Smaller schools — while taking in less income — have become increasingly inventive with Fitzroy Primary School acting principal Angela Richmond saying hosting a market had provided the growing school with invaluable funds.

The Fitzroy Primary School has raised funds for the school through a leasing agreement with the Fitzroy Market. Picture: The Fitzroy Market Facebook

The French, bilingual school in suburban Melbourne also has an ongoing lease agreement with the French Bilingual Association (FBA) which runs a Saturday school on the grounds.

“Rather than having a one-off fundraiser, that particular market is really beneficial to the school,” Ms Richmond said.

“The permit lapsed so the market didn’t run for a couple of months and the difference was noticeable.”

Ms Richmond said funds generated went towards projects such as the school’s Harmony Garden which is one of its environmental sustainability projects.

The FBA has further helped the school by sourcing a donation from the French Embassy for classroom resources and with volunteering and donations for school events.

Freddie Broadley, 12, and this siblings Jasmine, 10, and Albi, 6, are pictured at Bondi Public School Farmers Markets which rents the space from the school on weekends. Picture: David Swift.

Jackie Fisher visits the Bondi Beach Public School markets every weekend and said it was one of the reasons she chose to send her children, Jasmine, 10, and Abli, 6, and Freddie Broadley, 12, to the school.

“We’re really happy with the school,” she said.

“Especially with the garden and the projects that they do.”

According to the school’s P & C website, money made from the markets is separate from P & C fundraising and goes directly to the school to fund maintenance and teachers’ aides.

The Maroochydore State School welcomes motorhome groups to park on its grounds during school holidays. Picture: Maroochydore State School Facebook

Maroochydore State School earns approximately $22,000 per year by allowing motorhomes to park on grounds during school holidays, according to a Department of Education spokesman.

“This arrangement originally came into being around 15 years ago as the larger motorhomes couldn’t be accommodated at nearby caravan parks during peak holiday tourist times,” they said.
“This income has been spent across a number of initiatives for the school including improving the gardens and playgrounds, new readers for the students and on the IT and STEM programs.”

The Harwood Island Public School P&C has been running its Mill Mud Drive for more than 25 years to raise money for the school. Picture: Harwood Island Public School Facebook

Harwood Island Public School P & C, on the NSW north coast, has found a creative way to generate funds by selling ‘mill mud’ which is residue from sugar cane crops.

They have been selling the fertiliser for more than 25 years to raise money for the school.

News Corp can further reveal the school’s that have increased their wealth the most between 2015 and 2017.

The figure includes income derived from government funding, fees and parent contributions, and other private sources.

When broken down by percentage of income growth, government schools which were opened in the past six years dominated the top 10 due to soaring enrolments.

Mill mud is a by-product of the sugar milling process and is used on gardens. Picture: Harwood Island Public School Facebook

Victoria’s Hazel Glen College tops the list with a 236 per cent increase, going from $6,966,702 of gross income in 2015 — the year it opened — to $23,414,879 in 2017.

During that time, the college’s enrolments increased from 682 to 2099.

Hazel Glen College increased its income by 236 per cent between when it opened in 2015 and 2017. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Coming in second and third place were The Ponds High School (NSW) and Joseph Banks Secondary College (WA) which increased their gross income by 177 per cent and 143 per cent respectively.

Both schools were opened in 2015.

Melbourne Grammar School was the leading independent school in the top 20, coming in at number 15 and was the only school which had fewer enrolments in 2017 than 2015.

Melbourne Grammar School increased its income by the highest dollar amount between 2015 and 2017. Picture: News Corp Australia

The prestigious school increased its income by the highest dollar amount, $27,260,570, with a percentage change of 42 per cent during the reporting period.

A further analysis of ACARA financial data revealed an increase in school fees and a private income increase from $8.3m in 2015 to $31.5m in 2017 contributed to school’s position on the list.

TOP 100 SCHOOLS FOR PRIVATE INCOME IN 2017 FROM ACARA

NOTE: This includes income received from other sources — donations, interest on bank accounts, profits on trading activities and profits from sale of assets. It includes some private income received for capital purposes, and from school and community fundraising activities.

Income Government schools derive from international student fees is also included in this total.

1 Melbourne Grammar School VIC Independent

$31,539,799

2 Christ Church Grammar School WA Independent

$17,610,262

3 SHORE — Sydney Church of England Grammar School NSW Independent

$13,395,236

4 Meadowbank Education Trust School NSW Independent

$13,023,905

5 Abbotsleigh NSW Independent

$12,413,988

6 Ivanhoe Grammar School VIC Independent

$10,097,773

7 Sydney Grammar School NSW Independent

$9,595,516

8 Glenvale School VIC Independent

$8,564,017

9 Newcastle Grammar School NSW Independent

$7,636,218

10 Wesley College VIC Independent

$7,552,113

11 St Peter’s College SA Independent

$7,318,419

12 St Kevin’s College VIC Catholic

$6,323,553

13 Knox Grammar School NSW Independent

$5,887,586

14 SCEGGS Darlinghurst NSW Independent

$5,778,303

15 Caulfield Grammar School VIC Independent

$5,627,095

16 Shellharbour Anglican College NSW Independent

$5,598,510

17 St Joseph’s College QLD Catholic

$5,580,380

18 Guildford Grammar School WA Independent

$5,516,804

19 St Lucy’s School NSW Independent

$5,407,649

20 Brisbane Grammar School QLD Independent

$5,025,238

21 Haileybury College VIC Independent

$4,943,868

22 Sheldon College QLD Independent

$4,911,209

23 Xavier College VIC Catholic

$4,829,958

24 Barker College NSW Independent

$4,821,278

25 The King’s School NSW Independent

$4,811,547

26 Yesodei HaTorah College VIC Independent

$4,616,928

27 Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College NSW Independent

$4,395,693

28 MLC School NSW Independent

$4,365,188

29 St Luke’s Grammar School NSW Independent

$4,357,313

30 Firbank Grammar School VIC Independent

$4,349,281

31 Kincoppal — Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart NSW Independent

$4,259,642

32 The John Berne School NSW Independent

$4,220,288

33 SCECGS Redlands NSW Independent

$4,006,591

34 Giant Steps Sydney NSW Independent

$3,908,126

35 Moriah College NSW Independent

$3,842,752

36 St Aloysius’ College NSW Independent

$3,818,743

37 Somerville House QLD Independent

$3,791,114

38 St Andrews Primary School NSW Catholic

$3,707,443

39 Cheder Levi Yitzchok Inc VIC Independent

$3,620,586

40 Anglican Church Grammar School QLD Independent

$3,582,464

41 Sacred Heart College VIC Catholic

$3,467,778

42 The Scots College NSW Independent

$3,444,003

43 Newington College NSW Independent

$3,421,930

44 St Ignatius’ College NSW Independent

$3,369,607

45 St John’s Catholic College NT Catholic

$3,366,510

46 Christian College Highton VIC Independent

$3,321,684

47 Cranbrook School NSW Independent

$3,273,561

48 Presbyterian Ladies’ College VIC Independent

$3,272,737

49 Pembroke School SA Independent

$3,176,536

50 Frankston High School VIC Government

$3,137,679

51 Pedare Christian College SA Independent

$3,114,705

52 Methodist Ladies’ College VIC Independent

$3,038,918

53 Macarthur Anglican School NSW Independent

$2,997,432

54 King’s Christian College QLD Independent

$2,964,109

55 Woodthorpe School WA Independent

$2,951,385

56 Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School QLD Government

$2,881,254

57 Trinity Grammar School NSW Independent

$2,849,746

58 Agnew School QLD Independent

$2,828,847

59 Brisbane Girls’ Grammar School QLD Independent

$2,790,461

60 St Luke’s Catholic College (Primary) NSW Catholic

$2,774,592

61 St Joseph’s Nudgee College QLD Catholic

$2,770,353

62 Radford College ACT Independent

$2,738,921

63 All Hallows’ School QLD Catholic

$2,713,199

64 International Grammar School NSW Independent

$2,694,962

65 Marist College Ashgrove QLD Catholic

$2,599,803

66 Carey Baptist Grammar School VIC Independent

$2,596,976

67 Penrith Anglican College NSW Independent

$2,583,565

68 Unity Grammar College NSW Independent

$2,581,911

69 The Geelong College VIC Independent

$2,530,910

70 Ilim College VIC Independent

$2,530,038

71 Presbyterian Ladies’ College Sydney NSW Independent

$2,513,922

72 Hills International College QLD Independent

$2,501,776

73 Geelong Grammar School VIC Independent

$2,482,304

74 Bialik College VIC Independent

$2,477,961

75 Helensvale State High School QLD Government

$2,451,108

76 RIDBC Alice Betteridge School NSW Independent

$2,447,236

77 Ascham School NSW Independent

$2,436,319

78 Brighton Grammar School VIC Independent

$2,436,216

79 Mentone Grammar School VIC Independent

$2,428,240

80 Wenona School NSW Independent

$2,422,864

81 Emanuel School NSW Independent

$2,414,591

82 Seymour College SA Independent

$2,357,378

83 The King David School VIC Independent

$2,352,858

84 All Saints Anglican School QLD Independent

$2,350,808

85 Sunshine Coast Grammar School QLD Independent

$2,328,649

86 Canberra Grammar School ACT Independent

$2,312,600

87 Brisbane School of Distance Education QLD Government

$2,306,373

88 Bacchus Marsh Grammar VIC Independent

$2,249,606

89 St Gregory’s College Campbelltown NSW Independent

$2,248,811

90 All Saints College (St Mary’s Campus) NSW Catholic

$2,230,850

91 Wanganui Park Secondary College VIC Government

$2,225,726

92 St Joseph’s College NSW Independent

$2,215,080

93 Somerset College QLD Independent

$2,213,482

94 John Calvin Christian College WA Independent

$2,163,490

95 Prince of Peace Lutheran College QLD Independent

$2,159,626

96 Rostrevor College SA Catholic

$2,157,135

97 Wesley College WA Independent

$2,095,705

98 Hale School WA Independent

$2,082,765

99 St Pius X College NSW Independent

$2,078,803

100 Australian Islamic College (Kewdale) WA Independent

$2,076,543