Revealed: Central Coast’s fastest growing schools and those going backwards

The data is in and the regions’ fastest growing school can be revealed. Find out which schools are expanding and which are going backwards. See where your school rates here.

Richard Noone

@richard_noone

3 min read

November 22, 2023 - 5:00AM

Central Coast Express Advocate

Ava Lee, 11, and her sister Ivy, 9, go to Central Coast Sports College at Kariong, which has been the fastest growing school in the region from 2018-2022. Picture: NewsLocal

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Central Coast’s fastest growing schools — and the ones going backwards — have been revealed.

An analysis of federal government data has revealed every Central Coast school’s student enrolment trajectory over the past five years — exposing where student numbers have risen and declined the most.

Central Coast Sports College at Kariong is the region’s fastest growing school, with enrolments increasing by 94 per cent in the five years from 2018 to 2022.

The second fastest growing school was Darkinjung Barker at Yarramalong with a 93 per cent change while The Central Coast Montessori Primary School at Bateau Bay recorded the third biggest change with a 85 per cent increase.

But both Darkinjung and Montessori were coming off a very small baseline with just 27 and 34 enrolments in 2018 respectively.

Aspiring footballers Ava and Ivy Lee are among a growing number of students going to Central Coast Sports College. Picture: NewsLocal

Central Coast Sports College (CCSC) celebrated its 10th anniversary this year having grown from just 76 students in 2013 to 696 last year.

Sports is a key differentiator but the school also focuses on the entire “student athlete” where academic success is important, students are encouraged into internships from Year 9, transport is covered and hot meals provided every day.

Central Coast Sports College continues to expand, becoming the region’s fastest growing schools.

Principal and founder Paul Chapman said the school concentrated on gearing learning towards what individual students were passionate about.

“Something that appeals to people who check out CCSC, is that we are really challenging the status quo and courageous enough to follow a different pathway that focuses on what is in the best interest of each and every student,” he said.

“Having moved away from he HSC more than four years ago, we are still having 100 per cent success rate of students (who apply to university) getting offers in their preferred courses, testament to the fact that school does not have to be the same as it was when we ourselves were students, and also there are many alternative pathways to uni or careers that don’t rely on the HSC/ATAR.”

Keen footballers Ava Lee, 11, and her sister Ivy, 9, started at mainstream schools before moving over to CCSC to follow their dreams of playing for the Matildas.

Ivy said she loves that “we do sport every day” but also the “learning environment and all the teachers”.

Ivy, 9, (left) and Ava Lee, 11, love the sports college. Picture: NewsLocal

Ava, who has just been named as next year’s Year 6 vice-captain of the junior school, said she also liked the canteen “that gives us healthy meals”.

Mum Monique Lee said Ava, in particular wasn’t, enjoying school until she moved across to the sport college where she loves it so much she complains “why do we have to have holidays”.

“She loves the sports side of it,” Ms Lee said.

“She also knows if she doesn’t get her school work done she can’t get along to training.”

Meanwhile, the analysis also highlighted the coast’s schools in decline with Kulnura Public School at Kulnura recording a 52 per cent drop over five years.

Chertsey Primary School in Springfield recored the second biggest drop in enrolments with a 44 per cent dip followed by Peats Ridge Public School where enrolments had recorded a 38 per cent decline, albeit again coming off a small base to begin with at just 24 students in 2018.

The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority figures are the most up to date enrolment numbers that include all state and private schools nationally.