South west Queensland school’s with the worst student-teacher ratios revealed

New data has revealed the most overcrowded school’s in South West Queensland, including how state school’s outrank Catholic school’s nationally. See where each school ranked on the list.

An analysis of national data from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority has revealed the schools where teachers have the most students in their classes.

Figures show in 2021 in the South West Queensland region there were more students per teacher at Biddeston State School than any other school.

According to the data, Biddeston State School had 18.0 students for every teacher with a total of 63 students enrolled and 3.5 full-time equivalent teachers.

The second highest student-teacher ratios were at St Joseph’s School where there was an average of 16.0 students for every teacher at the school. It had 272 students enrolled and 17.0 full-time equivalent teachers.

At St Monica’s School there were 15.9 students for every teacher, the South West Queensland region’s third highest, with 157 students enrolled and 9.9 full-time equivalent teachers.

According to ACARA the national student-teacher ratio was 13.3 students for every teacher, with at the primary level it being 14.5 and secondary 11.9.

It was revealed Catholic schools have the highest national ratios for primary schools with a 15.4 ratio, followed by 14.4 for state schools and 14 for independent schools.

At the high school level, state schools had the highest ratio with 12.4, followed by Catholic with 12.2 and 10.5 for independent.

Meanwhile, the South West Queensland region’s least crowded classroom was at Kindon State School where there was an average of 2.1 students for every teacher at the school.

It had three students enrolled and 1.4 full-time equivalent teachers.

Student-teacher ratios do not take into account teacher aides or non-teaching staff at schools, only the full-time equivalent teachers.

Schools with the highest student to teacher ratio in South West Queensland:

1. Biddeston State School: 18.0 students per teacher

2. St Joseph’s School: 16.0 students per teacher

3. St Monica’s School: 15.9 students per teacher

4. St Patrick’s School: 15.5 students per teacher

5. Jondaryan State School: 15.0 students per teacher

6. Dalby South State School: 14.4 students per teacher

7. Bowenville State School: 14.3 students per teacher

8. Kingsthorpe State School: 14.2 students per teacher

9. Drillham State School: 14.2 students per teacher

10. Chinchilla Christian College: 14.1 students per teacher