Qld schools: Every Brisbane suburb’s best school for NAPLAN
Analysis has revealed the best primary and secondary schools for NAPLAN results in 180 suburbs across Brisbane, Logan and Moreton Bay. CHECK YOUR AREA
Education
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Parents are paying a premium for properties inside Brisbane suburbs to access high-performing public schools and potentially save tens of thousands of dollars that would be spent on a private education.
Experts say accessing quality free education is becoming “increasingly important” for families deciding where to live amid the cost of living crisis.
REIQ chief executive Antonia Mercorella said parents were prepared to pay a premium of up to $50,000 for properties inside a high-performing state school catchment.
It comes on the back of a Courier-Mail analysis of 2022 NAPLAN results which revealed the top primary and secondary schools for 180 suburbs across Brisbane, Logan and Moreton Bay council areas.
Some of the top public schools, many which are under strict enrolment management plans, ranked alongside inner-city private colleges which charge thousands of dollars in annual fees.
Ms Mercorella said families with several children could potentially save hundreds of thousands of dollars in school fees by turning to the public system.
“$20,000, $30,000 even $50,000 above asking price is warranted to save the double, triple cost in school fees,” Ms Mercorella said.
“Parents want schools with a good reputation and with more kids going to university, the academic results are becoming increasingly important.
“With the cost of living it can be very difficult to balance it all. So if there’s an opportunity to give a great education without the price tag, it’s not surprising parents are paying a premium.”
Ms Mercorella said schools were one of several contributing factors to swings in property prices, similar to the appeal of restaurants, cafes and lifestyle factors.
She said there had been recent spike in property prices in Sunnybank Hills, Dutton Park, Indooroopilly, South Brisbane and West End, some of it triggered from demand for catchment places.
Social demographer Mark McCrindle said academic success and a school’s stellar reputation were driving factors for families deciding where to live.
Mr McCrindle said schools and public system catchments were of similar importance to proximity to shops and parks.
“It’s a strong selling point. Particularly with the current cost of living pressures, really good public school catchments are important for parents. They say ‘let’s go there’,” Mr McCrindle said.
“The number one thing is a school’s reputation, its behaviours, peer reviews, then it’s academic performance, your NAPLANs, ATARs, and then the third is co-curricula. All are key drivers.
“Schools on the radar of parents, along with shops, amenities. They’re a major part of the process.”
Mr McCrindle said parents would often look to obtain places in established schools with good reputations over some new schools because of the “unknown” factor.
In Indooroopilly, which has a median house price of $1.4m, parents are spoiled for choice with a high-performing public and independent school in the primary sector, and four secondary schools to send their children.
Indooroopilly State School was the 15th best performing NAPLAN primary school in Queensland last year, just trailing its neighbour St Peters Lutheran College (12th) and ahead of Holy Family Primary School (23rd).
Similarly in Kenmore, where median house prices tick over $1m, there are three primary schools that were all ranked in the top 70 for 2022 NAPLAN results.
Albany Creek, which has a median house price of $900,000, parents have the option of two public primary schools and two independent primaries on offer.
Queensland’s top NAPLAN primary school Sunnybank Hills State School is mentioned as a “key highlight” on several homes for sale, according to listings on realestate.com.au.
“This land is a rare opportunity to build a luxurious home in one of Brisbane’s most renowned school districts,” one listing read.
“The area is highly desired due to its proximity to the top-rated Sunnybank Hills Primary School.”
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