Hunter’s richest schools revealed

The Hunter‘s richest school has raked in more than $133.3 million in five years with an average cost per student of $20,058, tightly held school statistics reveal.

St Phillips Christian College, Waratah.

An independent analysis of school financial records from the MySchool website have shown the massive amount of money some schools make every year, and how little some schools are forced to scrape by on.

The figures revealed St Philip‘s Christian College - Waratah had a higher gross income than any other school in the Hunter region.

The school made a gross income of $133.3 million, according to financial records from the combined past five years.

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

The region‘s second richest school was Hunter Valley Grammar School, in Ashtonfield, which had a gross income of $133.1 million.

Its total gross income per student in 2021 was $26,054.

The school with the third highest gross income was Newcastle Grammar School, in The Hill, which made $129.3 million.

Its total gross income per student in 2021 was $29,675.

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.

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.

Hunter Valley Grammar School, Ashtonfield. Picture: Google Maps.

Newcastle Grammar School. Picture: Google Maps.

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 Newcastle 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 HUNTER

St Philip‘s Christian College - Waratah: $133.3 million

Hunter Valley Grammar School: $133.1 million

Newcastle Grammar School: $129.3 million

St Philip‘s Christian College - Cessnock: $106 million

All Saints College: $101.1 million

Rutherford Technology High School: $97 million

Newcastle High School: $93.2 million

Tomaree High School: $92.6 million

St Francis Xavier‘s College: $91.4 million

Warners Bay High School: $91.1 million