The Gold Coast’s most expensive private schools: Fees and OP results
Gold Coast parents are forking out eye-watering amounts sending their children to the city’s most exclusive private schools – but do the end results match the costly investment? SEE THE LIST
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GOLD Coast parents are forking out eye-watering amounts sending their children to the city’s most exclusive private schools – but do the end results match the costly investment?
The Bulletin has delved into the data to list the Coast’s most expensive schools by fees and the OP (Overall Position) results the educational institutions recorded most recently.
It shows schools with the most costly fees do not always outrank inexpensive counterparts. Two public schools topped rankings: Benowa State High School and Tamborine Mountain State High.
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Fees are based on information listed for 2021, while OP results are based on the latest data released by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) in 2020.
OP results will soon be replaced by Australian Tertiary Admissions Ranks (ATAR), bringing Queensland in line with the rest of the country.
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It’s worth noting, public school participation in OP testing was much more selective than private schools – only 29 per cent of public school seniors were assessed under the program, compared to 66 per cent of private school students.
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Of course, education is about much more than test scores – parents should do their research to ensure their choice suits the needs of their child on an individual basis.
The schools are ranked in order of expense.
1. THE SOUTHPORT SCHOOL
$24,438.00
OP results: 10th of 36 schools
Suburb: Southport
OP students: 104
Students with an OP between 1-5: 30
Percentage of students with an OP between 1-5: 28.846 per cent
Students who completed Year 12: 161
The Southport School (TSS) is the most exclusive boys educational institutions on the Gold Coast – with fees to match.
Impressive facilities at the Anglican day and boarding boy’s school include two heated pools, an indoor gym, nine playing fields, a climbing wall, seven tennis courts and a specialised performing arts building.
TSS also boasts a drama studio, art gallery and rowing and sailing facilities among the usual educational facilities.
2. ST HILDA’S SCHOOL
$20,696.00
OP results: 9th of 36 schools
Suburb: Southport
OP students: 65
Students with an OP between 1-5: 19
Percentage of students with an OP between 1-5: 29.231 per cent
Students who completed Year 12: 91
An exclusive Anglican day and boarding school for girls, St Hilda’s School’s facilities include drama, visual art and music centres, outdoor tennis and netball courts, two gyms and a heated swimming pool.
St Hilda’s has a sizeable theatre and an impressive library among a long list of other drawcards for parents and their children.
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3. SOMERSET COLLEGE
$18,368.00
OP results: 6th of 36 schools
Suburb: Mudgeeraba
OP students: 107
Students with an OP between 1-5: 39
Percentage of students with an OP between 1-5: 36.449 per cent
Students who completed Year 12: 129
Described as an interdenominational school in the Christian tradition, Somerset College‘s highlights include a performing arts centre, arts and graphics centre, music centre, early education centre, specialist music and drama spaces and science and engineering labs.
Somerset students can take a dip in an Olympic-size swimming pool, hit the tennis complex or work up a sweat in the fitness centre.
The school also has a 10-lane synthetic running track, netball/basketball courts, multiple sporting fields and an indoor rock climbing wall.
4. A.B. PATERSON COLLEGE
$13,507.10
OP results: 8th of 36 schools
Suburb: Arundel
OP students: 71
Students with an OP between 1-5: 21
Percentage of students with an OP between 1-5: 29.577 per cent
Students who completed Year 12: 85
A.B. Paterson is a non-denominational private school featuring a raft of modern learning centres, indoor and outdoor sports courts, a gym and a heated pool.
The school also has purpose-built science labs and a performing arts centre with specialised equipment, among other facilities you would expect, including a large library.
5. EMMANUEL COLLEGE
$11,424.00
OP results: 13th of 36 schools
Suburb: Carrara
OP students: 101
Students with an OP between 1-5: 27
Percentage of students with an OP between 1-5: 26.733 per cent
Students who completed Year 12: 133
Emmanuel College, a multi-denominational school with a Christian framework, includes a vast library, performing arts centre, computer centre with specialist labs, hospitality centre and arts and manual arts centres. A big hall hosts indoor sports and the school has basketball/netball courts, four volleyball courts and three badminton courts.
The college also has a heated pool, gym with personal training, a fitness studio and facilities for basketball, cricket, tennis, netball and volleyball. Rugby, soccer and hockey are played on the college’s ovals.
6. TRINITY LUTHERAN COLLEGE
$10,382.00
OP results: 5th of 36 schools
Suburb: Ashmore
OP students: 42
Students with an OP between 1-5: 16
Percentage of students with an OP between 1-5: 38.095 per cent
Students who completed Year 12: 67
Like its private school competitors, Trinity Lutheran College boasts an array of specialist facilities for students, including three large performance spaces, state-of-the-art IT labs and an advanced music and performing arts suite.
Other notable facilities include four sporting ovals, six tennis/basketball courts and rowing facilities, a gym, two heated swimming pools and a dance studio.
7. ALL SAINTS ANGLICAN SCHOOL
$10,030.00
OP results: 3rd of 36 schools
Suburb: Merrimac
OP students: 154
Students with an OP between 1-5: 62
Percentage of students with an OP between 1-5: 40.260 per cent
Students who completed Year 12: 188
Another very well resourced school, All Saints Anglican School’s features include The Burling Centre for Scientific Inquiry, a large auditorium, electronic learning centres and various purpose-built facilities for music, visual arts and more.
Sporting facilities include nine playing fields, practice areas, three tennis courts, ten netball courts, four basketball courts and two pools, included one which is heated.
8. ST ANDREWS LUTHERAN COLLEGE
$9,200.00
OP results: 24th of 36 schools
Suburb: Tallebudgera
OP students: 43
Students with an OP between 1-5: 6
Percentage of students with an OP between 1-5: 13.953
Students who completed Year 12: 81
St Andrews Lutheran College students access facilities for dance, music, theatre and business studies, alongside a scientific inquiry centre and covered outdoor learning space.
The school also has a range of sporting facilities, including three ovals, an indoor multipurpose centre and a basketball court.
The private school has flagged the construction of the Centre for Creative Industries this year, including areas for visual art, wearable art and technology, design, robotics, artificial intelligence, media and other pursuits.
9. KING’S CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
$8,668.00
OP results: 19th of 36 schools
Suburb: Reedy Creek
OP students: 71
Students with an OP between 1-5: 13
Percentage of students with an OP between 1-5: 18.310
Students who completed Year 12: 123
King’s Christian College has three campuses located at Reedy Creek, Pimpama and Logan.
The masterplanned Reedy Creek campus has a sports centre and gym, an industrial design and technology centre, library and an auditorium and amphitheatre.
Additionally, the school includes purpose-built home economics, art, dance, drama and music facilities and a trade training centre.
The Reedy Creek campus has volleyball courts, tennis courts, basketball courts and an indoor sports centre with two multipurpose courts and a weights room
10. RIVERMOUNT COLLEGE
$7,740.00
OP results: Unavailable/not listed
Suburb: Yatala
OP students: Unavailable
Students with an OP between 1-5: Unavailable/not listed
Percentage of students with an OP between 1-5: Unavailable/not listed
Students who completed Year 12: Unavailable/not listed
Rivermount College, a non-denominational Christian school, has facilities including a large library, community centre with a gym and indoor sports, a swimming pool, indoor and outdoor sports courts and playing fields.
Custom areas have been created for performing and visual arts, music and other pursuits.
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