RANKED: Redland’s richest and poorest schools: Study finds islands fare worst in income gap
Redland’s richest school has raked in more than $158.6 million in five years with an average cost per student of $23,357, tightly held school statistics reveal. SEE ALL SCHOOL RANKINGS | TABLE
Schools Hub
Don't miss out on the headlines from Schools Hub. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Three of the top five income-earning schools in the wealthy bayside city of Redland were independent public or private schools, new federal data shows.
The findings came after analysis of Redland schools’ financial records, from the MySchool website, which also showed the more impoverished were schools on the city’s bay islands.
The statistics revealed the massive amount of money some schools make every year, and how little some are forced to scrape by on.
The school income rankings, followed startling revelations that 40 per cent of the country’s private schools received more government money than they needed while public schools were short changed by about $4.5 billion this year.
Of 20 schools in Redland City, Sheldon College in Sheldon had the highest gross income than any other in the region over a five-year period from 2017-2021.
The school made a gross income of $158.6 million, according to financial records from the combined past five years, when the school’s income fell by 11.4 per cent.
The latest enrolment figures showed the college had 1500 students.
The prestigious independent school grew its reputation under the careful 25-year guidance of founder Dr Lyn Bishop an now offers the latest technology in media, science and language laboratories under new principal Kate Mortimer.
The region’s second richest school was Ormiston College, in Ormiston, which had a gross income of $145.3 million.
Its total gross income per student in 2021 was $22,555.
Last year, Ormiston stood out at the prestigious Australian Education Awards where its focus on having the most up-to-date digital technology paid off when it won the title for Best Use of Technology Award.
The college, known as one of southeast Queensland’s leading independent schools, also won Excellence Awards for Primary School of the Year; Non-government, Secondary School of the Year; Non-government School Principal of the Year; Non-government and Best Co-Curricular Program.
College principal Brett Webster said it was important for the students to have the most game-changing ed-tech tools in education and for teachers to overcome common ed-tech-related pitfalls.
“Ormiston College appreciates the financial contributions from government, as well as the extra sacrifices made by many parents to afford school fees,” Mr Webster said.
“Ormiston College is a mid-range fee school and we aim to provide an excellent value-for-money schooling option for families.
“Our Ormiston College community can be proud of the way our resources are used to support students to achieve some of Queensland’s strongest schooling outcomes.”
The school with the third highest gross income was Cleveland District State High School, in Cleveland, which made $139.2 million.
Its total gross income per student in 2021 was $13,708.
The school, which is the only one in Redland to provide the International Baccalaureate program, also specialises in music, languages and soccer.
The income figures for the Redland schools include all fees, charges and parental contributions as well as state and federal government funding and any other private sources over the five-year period.
They do not include any deductions for capital works or debt servicing.
The analysis did not include special schools or schools that did not have complete financial data in MySchool for one or more of the five years.
Macleay Island State School on Macleay Island had the lowest gross income of any school in Redland.
It made just $12.7 million over the five-year period.
Its total gross income fell by 13.2 per cent from 2017 to 2021 while the total gross income per student in 2021 was $16,129.
Russell Island State School at Russell Island had the second lowest gross income in Redland.
It made just $14.3 million over the five-year period.
Its total gross income fell by 6 per cent from 2017 to 2021 while the total gross income per student in 2021 was $16,236.
Dunwich State School on Minjerribah North Stradbroke Island had the third lowest gross income in the city.
It made just $15.5 million over the five-year period.
Its total gross income increased by 24 per cent from 2017 to 2021 while the total gross income per student in 2021 was $19,416.
‘Less distraction’: Truth behind Qld’s single-sex school debate
It’s the age old question, single-sex vs co-ed? We may finally have the answer.
First look at Brisbane Catholic school’s new campus design
An upcoming Catholic school, which expects to open in 2026, has revealed their campus design with new buildings and renovation on existing structures, including 24 parking spaces.