NAPLAN results: State school scores confirm catchment pressure of most sought-after schools

THE strong performance of some of Brisbane’s most sought-after state high schools in this year’s NAPLAN tests is set to put further pressure on in-demand catchment areas, with many of the top 20 schools setting rules to restrict entrants. SEE THE TOP 20

THE strong performance of some of Brisbane’s most sought-after state high schools in this year’s NAPLAN tests is set to put further pressure on in-demand school catchment areas.

The partially-selective Brisbane State High School was once again the stand out performer in the public school system, recording the strongest results of any public or fee-paying school in Year 7.

The results will no doubt create further demand for the highly sought-after GPS school, which is already straining to uphold its merit program and meet growing population demands within the local area.

Brisbane State High School’s council is so concerned about people fraudulently purporting to live in the school’s South Brisbane and West End catchment that it has proposed a cap on local enrolments.

High performing Mansfield State High School, also on the city’s south side, which made the Top 20 best performing school list across the state for both its Year 7 and 9 results, is also currently under an Education Queensland catchment management plan to monitor the strong demand for the school.

Local agent Tony Langanis of Ray White – Mt Gravatt said about 70 per cent of people looking to buy in the 4122 postcode were doing so to get in to the Mansfield State High School catchment.

Mr Langanis said families were willing to pay an extra $50,000 to $80,000, in some cases, to secure a property in Mansfield.

Brisbane State High School was once again the stand out performer in the public school system.

“Simply because of the reputation of the school and the high OP achievements of the students there,” Mr Langanis said.

“As a result, more money’s coming into the suburb, it’s becoming more affluent and homes and streetscapes are changing for the better.”

The average house price in Mansfield has risen more than 22 per cent in the past three years to reach $673,000.

In the city’s west, Indooroopilly State High also recorded strong NAPLAN results, where property prices in the area have risen to an average $860,000 for a home.

Alex Jordan of McGrath Estate Agents – Paddington said demand for schools were the main driver of the housing market in Brisbane’s inner west.

“Most people are selling their homes - many in south side suburbs – and moving in to the inner west mainly because of the education for their kids,” he said.

Mr Jordan said many families were realising the benefits of buying into a good state school catchment, such as Indooroopilly High School or Chapel Hill High School, rather than pay private school fees.

The Gap State High made the top 20 list and currently has a catchment management plan.

“If you’ve got two children, then you’re looking at paying about $25,000 per child a year for private schooling,” he said.

“They could buy a property in a good school catchment and take out a million dollar (home) loan and their outgoings would be the same as having two children in a private school.”

Most of the schools on the Top 20 Brisbane state school list, including Indooroopilly State High, Cavendish State High, Mount Gravatt State High, Kenmore State High, The Gap State High and Kelvin Grove State College are currently under catchment management plans - which is introduced when a school nears its capacity and a principal is instructed to control any out-of-catchment enrolment requests.

The state government is in the process of building two new city high schools, one in Fortitude Valley and one in Dutton Park, to take pressure off the high performing Brisbane State High School and Kelvin Grove State College.

The government is yet to publish its proposed catchment maps for the two new schools.