Schools Hub: Central West’s richest schools revealed

The Central West’s richest school has raked in more than $162m in five years with an average cost per student of $30,734, tightly held school statistics reveal. See where you kid’s school ranked.

Central West NSW’s richest school has raked in more than $162.1 million in five years with an average cost per student of $30,734, tightly held school statistics reveal.

An independent analysis of school financial records from the MySchool website have shown the massive amount of money some schools make every year.

The figures revealed Kinross Wolaroi School in Orange had a higher gross income than any other school in the Central West NSW region.

The school made a gross income of $162.1 million, according to financial records from the combined past five years.

Kinross Wolaroi School principal Dr Andrew Parry. Photo: Supplied

The school’s income increased by 13 per cent between 2017 and 2021.

The region’s second richest school was James Sheahan Catholic High School, in Orange, which had a gross income of $94 million.

Data has been curated to feature schools that have taken the most gross revenue over a five-year period.

In the interactive below there is also a breakdown of school revenue by student number.

Its total gross income per student in 2021 was $19,674.

The school with the third highest gross income was St Johns College, in Dubbo, which made $89.5 million.

Its total gross income per student in 2021 was $20,111.

St Johns College Dubbo. Photo: Facebook

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.

A NSW Department of Education spokesman said the department ensures resources are given out fairly, efficiently and openly to schools through the Resource Allocation Model.

“The greatest positive influence on student engagement and education outcomes is quality teaching,” the NSWDoE spokesman said.

“That’s why we are looking to support teachers with providing more admin staff to allow them more time to teach, working to increase their pay to reflect the value we place on them and employing more teachers and school counsellors through the Education Future Fund.

“We will be working closely with the Commonwealth Government to bring about a fair funding outcome for public schools.”

The Dubbo News understands RAM is providing a “needs-based funding” based on location, per capita and professional learning including low-level adjustment for disability, Aboriginal background, socio-economic background and English language proficiency.

Targeted funding is also provided for students with special needs.

RICHEST SCHOOLS IN THE CENTRAL WEST

Kinross Wolaroi School: $162.1 million

James Sheahan Catholic High School: $94 million

St Johns College: $89.5 million

Denison College of Secondary Education, Bathurst High Campus: $87.5 million

Orange High School: $83.2 million

Red Bend Catholic College: $81.1 million

Denison College of Secondary Education, Kelso High Campus: $78.8 million

Dubbo School of Distance Education: $75.2 million

Lithgow High School: $73.8 million

Mudgee High School: $71.8 million