Gympie, Fraser Coast and Bundaberg’s most expensive, cheapest private schools
Parents across Gympie, the Fraser Coast and Bundaberg region are forking out thousands of dollars to put their children through private education. Now, the fees and principals at each private primary and high school can be revealed.
Gympie
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Education is not cheap, and this is particularly true for parents choosing to have their children attend one of the Wide Bay’s prestigious private schools.
Read where it is most expensive to attend non-public schools, and where families can find a bargain.
All fees are from the 2021 year unless otherwise stated.
Primary schools
All charges are for Year 6 students.
14. St Joseph’s Catholic Primary
Principal: Monica White
St Joseph’s at Bundaberg rolls in as the cheapest private primary school on the Wide Bay thanks to a $1320 tuition fee.
Add on top a $384 building levy and one year for a student at the CBD school will cost $1704.
As a Reef Guardian School Member, St Joseph’s participates annually in the Reef Guardian Schools Future Leaders Eco Challenge day.
Students care for Milbi, the school’s pet turtle, engage in potato growing competitions and are involved in ‘Cut the Glow to Help Turtles Go’ public awareness campaign with Mon Repos Conservation Park.
13. St Mary’s Catholic Primary Bundaberg
Principal: Bill Goodwin
A year at St Mary’s will cost parents a total $2364, which includes $1320 in tuition fees as well levies of $160 all purpose, $160 resource, $100 technology, $90 prep, $384 building, and $150 school Assistance Bond.
12. St Patrick’s Primary School Bundaberg
Principal: Mark Fox
In 2022 parents can expect to pay $2451.50 to send their children to St Patrick’s.
This total fee includes $1350 tuition plus fees of $80 for consumables, activities, and prep each, along with a $394 building levy, a $105 tech levy, a $62.50 iPad cost, and a parents and friends resource fee of $240.
The school curriculum includes specialist lessons in music, drama, and physical education.
11. Xavier Catholic College
Principal: Simon Dash
The cheapest private primary school on the Fraser Coast, a year at Xavier will cost parents $3063.
This includes a $1206 tuition fee, a $598 general levy, a $373 technology fee, a family capital levy of $729, and a P & F Levy of $147.
Xavier’s facilities include a theatre, drama and music facility, a performing arts centre and a digital technology workshop area.
10. St John’s Lutheran Primary School
Principal: Chris Mallett
This central Bundaberg private school will cost $3080 which includes a $2580 tuition fee and a $500 resource levy.
The school boasts a modern library, purpose-built music and computer rooms, and a large multipurpose hall.
9. St Patrick’s Catholic School
Principal: Rachelle Gibson
Gympies cheapest private primary school carries a fee of $3110.
Included in this price is a $2400 tuition fee, a $630 annual fee, and an $80 library fee.
St Patrick’s facilities include an information technology hub, and a music room.
8. Bayside Christian College
Principal: Noela Ensbey
A year at this Urraween private school will cost parents $5800.
This price includes a $1985 tuition fee, a $1045 resource fee, and a $90 bus transport levy.
7. Star of the Sea Catholic
Principal: Nathan Wilson
This Hervey Bay private school carries a total fee of $3858, which includes a $1082 tuition.
Year 6 students are also charged a $1250 camp levy; as a result Years 1-5 students cost no more than $2500 in total, making its place on the list flexible.
The school’s facilities include a chapel, a multipurpose hall, senior grassed oval, junior grassed oval, and multipurpose court (tennis, netball and basketball).
6. Cooloola Christian College
Principal: Ross Waltisbuhl
The primary school section of this Gympie school will cost parents $3900 in total, including $3022 in tuition and an $878 general levy.
The college’s facilities include a $2.8 million STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Centre and Arts precinct, along with a graphics and technology hub and an arts precinct decked out with LED lighting and full multimedia capabilities.
5. Victory College
Principal: Changing in 2022
The final Gympie private school on the list, a year at Victory College will cost parents $4039.88.
Included in this total is a tuition cost of $2950.88, $989 compulsory charge, and $1o0 P & F contribution.
A major drawcard for the college is its equestrian centre, which is joined by other services including three ovals, a large indoor sports stadium, a multipurpose auditorium and a lecture theatre.
4. St James Lutheran College Hervey Bay
Principal: Luke Schoff
Parents can expect to pay $4112 for their students to attend St James Lutheran, which includes $3762 in tuition, a $250 building fund, and a $100 P & F charge.
There are many extra-curricular opportunities available to students at St James Lutheran including a Dramatic Arts For Youth Program, band and choirs, basketball, chess and soccer clubs, a film and television club and a robotics club.
3. Bundaberg Christian College
Principal: Paul Thompson
This college at Windermere carries a cost of $4206, including a $3676 tuition fee and $530 levy charge.
A key feature of the college’s primary school system is letting students study year levels outside age restrictions.
2. Fraser Coast Anglican College
Principal: Joe Wright
The college at Wondunna is the second most expensive in the Wide Bay and carries a price tag of $5375.
Included in this is a $4575 tuition fee, $500 year levy, and $300 technology levy.
Facilities on offer at the college include a library and resource centre, science laboratories, a purpose-built technology precinct with computer laboratories, covered multipurpose area, art and drama classrooms and a catering and food technology laboratory and industrial technology building.
1. St Luke’s Anglican School
Principal: Craig Merritt
The most expensive primary school in the Wide Bay, this Bundaberg centre carries a $6790 price tag in 2022.
Included in this is a $5740 tuition fee and a $1050 capital levy.
The school is built on 21ha, incorporating beautifully landscaped gardens, extensive outdoor sporting facilities, and an indoor gymnasium and modern classrooms.
Secondary schools
All costs for Year 12 students.
10. St Patrick’s College
Principal: Mark Newton
This Gympie college ranks as the cheapest high school in the Wide Bay thanks to a total cost of $4195.
This is made of fees including $2400 for tuition, a $630 capital levy, a $350 e-learning levy, a $375 camp fee and an $80 library fee.
Facilities include a learning resource centre, a college chapel, e-Learning and IT support, tuckshop and pastoral area on the ground floor.
9. Bayside Christian College
Principal: Noela Ensbey
The second cheapest high school in the Wide Bay, a year at Bayside will cost $4595 in 2022.
This fee includes $2430 in tuition, a $1675 resource fee, a $400 building fund charge, and a $90 bus transport levy.
8. Xavier Catholic College
Principal: Simon Dash
Attending this Hervey Bay private school’s secondary classes will cost $4979, including a $2467 tuition fee.
Parents will also need to pay a $701 technology levy, a $935 general levy, a $4729 family capital levy, and a $147 family P & F levy.
7. Victory College
Principal: changing in 2022
Sending high school students to this Gympie private college costs $5038.48 thanks to a tuition fee of $3748.57, and individual fees such as a $733.36 in compulsory charges, workbooks and materials and $312.80 in electives.
6. Bundaberg Christian College
Principal: Paul Thompson
This private school carries a $5158 price tag which includes a $4532 tuition fee.
High school students can take part in the Hoof ‘n’ Hook program, which educates students on the value of the beef industry.
This includes judging cattle and attending shows, which puts them in touch with leading industry experts.
5. Cooloola Christian College
Principal: Ross Waltisbuhl
The last of the three Gympie private schools and the most expensive for secondary students in the region.
The final year at the college carries a $5100 price tag, inclusive of a $3930 tuition fee and $1170 levy.
4. Shalom Catholic College
Principal: Dan McMahon
Sending teenage children to Shalom will cost parents $5593, including a $2890 tuition charge and more than $1675 in levies.
3. St James Lutheran Hervey Bay
Principal: Luke Schoff
This Hervey Bay private school carries a total cost of $6468 annual fee, driven by a $6118 tuition cost, a $250 building levy, and a $100 P & F levy.
2. Fraser Coast Anglican College
Principal: Joe Wright
The second most expensive private high school on the Wide Bay, secondary education here carries a $7162 total price tag.
Included in this is a $6259 tuition fee, a $793 year levy, and a $110 technology levy.
1. St Luke’s Anglican School
Principal: Craig Merritt
The most expensive high school in the Wide Bay, at this Bundaberg college will cost $8160 in 2022.
This fee includes $7110 in tuition costs and a $1050 capital levy.
Extra costs can be incurred for music fees and book hires.
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