FULL LIST: Queensland’s cheapest private high schools revealed

As the number of Queensland parents choosing to enrol their children in private schools instead of public schools reaches an “all-time high”, we take a look at some of the cheapest high school options in the state. SEE THE LIST.

The number of students attending private schools in Queensland is at an “all-time high” despite rising fees and Covid-induced financial stresses, new data has revealed.

Independent Schools Queensland CEO Chris Mountford said there were currently more than 140,000 students enrolled at more than 230 independent schools across the state, making up 15.9 per cent of all Queensland school enrolments.

A survey of nearly 4000 parents of children at 116 Queensland private schools conducted by the peak independent schooling body last year revealed the financial sacrifices people were willing to make to maintain their children’s enrolments post Covid-19 pandemic.

“Due to their independent nature, schools across the sector have been able to react quickly and efficiently to the Covid-19 pandemic, and this has been reflected with more than 85 per cent of parents stating they were either satisfied or totally satisfied with how their child’s school handled the pandemic,” Mr Mountford said.

“This is a real testament to the hard work of all the school staff and their communities throughout one of the biggest disruptions to the education sector.”

Ipswich Grammar School this year increased its Year 9 to 12 annual fee by 3.56 per cent, and its Year 1 fee by 9.72 per cent, on 2021. Picture: Richard Walker

The survey data indicated nine in 10 parents relied on their salaries, either wholly or in combination with other sources such as family members, to meet private schooling costs.

Virtually every private school across the state increased its fees this year — bar Grace Lutheran College, Redlands College, and The Southport School — by between two and four per cent on 2021, though some — including All Hallows’ School, Brigidine College, Cannon Hill Anglican College, and Clayfield College, and Ipswich Grammar School — saw much steeper increases of more than seven per cent.

Clayfield College’s listed fees soared in 2022 by more than 14 per cent, which principal Dr Andrew Cousins explained was due to a change in structure which allowed parents to pay a single all-inclusive fee, rather than separate tuition fees and expenses.

“Our families are extremely supportive of this change as we move towards going coeducational Pre-Prep to Year 12 from 2023,” Dr Cousins told The Courier-Mail in January.

Queensland parents who wish to send their children to private schools will find their cheapest options are located in rural and regional areas such as Gympie, Kingaroy, Dalby, Innisfail, and Mount Isa.

Closer to the city, schools in suburbs including Nundah, Sunnybank, Park Ridge, Crestmead, and Beenleigh are the most affordable.

A Quest News analysis of Brisbane’s private schools has revealed Clairvaux MacKillop College is one of the cheapest in the city for 2022, with annual Year 12 fees priced at $6290.

Brisbane Christian College, Mt Maria College, and St James College are also relatively inexpensive at $7190, $7800, and $7800 for Year 12 students respectively.

The 2021 data compiled by Independent Schools Queensland indicated almost 30 per cent of parents with children at private schools had gross weekly household income levels in the three lowest income brackets, or less than $2000.

A whopping 70 per cent of survey respondents said their choice of school was totally or highly influenced by the facilities it offered, while 53 per cent said their choice was totally or highly influenced by their child’s opinion.

Parents were also heavily influenced to choose a particular school by their family, friends, and colleagues and — to a slightly lesser extent — by school open days and other parents with children at the relevant school. About 14 per cent were influenced by the school’s website and social media and eight per cent by family members already attending the school.

St Rita's College Clayfield is one of the cheapest private schools in Brisbane, with Year 12 annual tuition fees priced at about $9000. Picture: File

The reasons why parents chose a private school for their child or children over a state or Catholic school in 2021 came down to: its ability to prepare students to fulfil their future potential, it seeming “right” for the student’s individual needs, the high quality of teachers, the school-work attitude it promoted, and its teaching methods and philosophies.

Independent Schools Queensland’s Mr Mountford said the diversity of local private schools also made them popular among parents.

“The diverse makeup of schools in the independent sector gives parents a real choice when it comes to deciding where to send their child to school,” he said.

NOTE: Figures presented in this article are a general guideline and some schools may include additional costs. Please contact the individual schools directly for further information.