Richest and poorest schools on the Sunshine Coast 2023

A Sunshine Coast public school has been revealed as the region’s richest after raking in more than $200m over five years. See how your school’s wealth compares.

Jorina Maureschat

2 min read

June 27, 2023 - 5:00AM

Chancellor State College and Meridan State College are amongst the top schools in gross income within the past five years.

Schools Hub

Don't miss out on the headlines from Schools Hub. Followed categories will be added to My News.

Independent analysis of school financial records has revealed the eye-watering amount of money some schools make each year and how little some scrape by on.

The MySchool website figures revealed Chancellor State College in Sippy Downs had a higher gross income than any other school in the Sunshine Coast region.

The school made a gross income of $204.8m, according to financial records from the combined past five years.

The school’s income increased by 20 per cent between 2017 and 2021.

Executive principal Leanne Jensen-Steele said the unique prep to year 12 school was founded in 2004 when it forged a partnership with the neighbouring University of the Sunshine Coast.

Ms Jensen-Steele attributed much of the school’s wealth and success to its “well managed and innovated” P and C which generated about $350,000 annually to be invested back into the college.

“For example, our P and C have supported over $1.5m in seating, lighting and sound to support the function of our new multipurpose centre,” she said.

Chancellor State College executive principal Leanne Jensen-Steele. Pic: Facebook

The multipurpose centre was delivered by Education Queensland and was valued at between $14-15m.

The school educates about 3000 students – with 1000 primary and 2000 secondary – with a team of 400 staff.

“We are not at capacity and are therefore able to support excellence programs in touch (football) and soccer, while size afford the offering of a diverse range of opportunities in our Pathways to Excellence programs,” Ms Jensen-Steele said.

Ms Jensen-Steele the school’s wealth was a result of its investment in infrastructure and facilities.

“We receive the same grants and funding per capita student as any other state school,” she said.

“Our areas-of-focus draw no extra financial bonuses.”

The region’s second richest school was Meridan State College, in Meridan Plains, which had a gross five-year income of $179.6m.

Its total gross income per student in 2021 was $14,236.

The school with the third highest was Matthew Flinders Anglican College, in Buderim, which made $173.8m.

Its total gross income per student in 2021 was $27,609.

An aerial view of Matthew Flinders Anglican College, Buderim.

The figures include all fees, charges and parental contributions as well as State and Federal Government funding and any other private sources over the five years from 2017 to 2021.

It does not include any deductions for capital works or debt servicing.

The analysis does not include special schools or schools that did not have complete financial data in MySchool for one or more of the five years.

Montessori Noosa at Sunshine Beach had the lowest gross income of any school in the Sunshine Coast region.

It made $4.4m over the five year period.

Its total gross income increased by 200 per cent from 2017 to 2021 while the total gross income per student in 2021 was $22,106.

The school was founded in 2017 and caters for up to 60 students between prep and Year 6.

Montessori Noosa was contacted for comment.

Kenilworth State Community College at Kenilworth had the second lowest gross income of any school in the Sunshine Coast region.

It made $6.1m over the five year period.

Its total gross income increased by 10 per cent from 2017 to 2021 while the total gross income per student in 2021 was $27,211.