NewsBite

Gold Coast’s fastest growing schools revealed

The Gold Coast’s fastest growing schools have been revealed - and they’re not the ones you might think. See the full list.

Phone ban in Queensland schools a ‘win-win for everyone’: Education Minister

State schools bucking a trend of declining enrolments dominate a list of the Gold Coast’s fastest-growing schools, new analysis shows.

Education Queensland figures show that enrolments at government schools dropped by about 1000 students in the 12 months between August 2021 and 2022.

Experts last year said the decline was likely due to demographic factors, with cashed-up interstate migrants believed likely to favour private education.

Analysis by the Bulletin of enrolments between 2018 and 2022 backs that contention up, with the number of children attending Catholic and private schools up 13.5 per cent over that time frame, compared with a 3.57 per cent rise for state schools.

But data shows the trend is not uniform across the city with a number of government schools – including many that are long established – continuing to grow rapidly.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at the official opening of Picnic Creek State School in September 2018. Picture: Richard Gosling
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at the official opening of Picnic Creek State School in September 2018. Picture: Richard Gosling

The fastest-growing school over the five-year period is Picnic Creek State School in Coomera, where numbers have soared from 268 in 2018, which was its foundation year, to 894 last year.

However numbers have also been rising fast at Palm Beach State School, which was founded in 1974.

Palm Beach State School Principal Scott Anderson has previously said that the school, located on Nineteenth Ave within earshot of the ocean, was referred to as “the best kept secret on the Gold Coast by our community”.

That secret now appears to be out, with enrolments at the school rising almost 40 per cent, from 547 to 763 in the five years to 2022.

“Parents choose Palm Beach State School because we are community focused and we ensure every student is succeeding,” Mr Anderson said.

“Each and every day our amazing staff create a positive, engaging and inviting learning culture with the expectation that all students can and will learn. Our staff continue to undertake professional development to refine their craft and be the very best educators they can be.

“Our goal is not only focusing on academic achievement, but also to boost our students’ personal and social capability while caring for their wellbeing. Our kids love coming to school!

“Given the growth of our school, I’m unsure if we can still say we are ‘The best kept secret on the Gold Coast.’ I do know that those who have discovered the secret are very glad they did.”

School principal Mark Peggrem at the opening last year of the new $25m junior learning precinct at Pacific Pines State High School. Picture: Tertius Pickard
School principal Mark Peggrem at the opening last year of the new $25m junior learning precinct at Pacific Pines State High School. Picture: Tertius Pickard

At secondary school level, numbers are up 35 per cent at Pacific Pines State High School, from 1482 in 2018 to more than 2000 last year.

Aiding the school’s continued growth, an impressive new junior learning precinct was opened last year.

The three-storey block, which was built at a cost of $25 million, contains science labs, robotics rooms, kitchens, collaborative learning spaces and a junior tuckshop.

At its opening, Principal Mark Peggrem said the building had been “future proofed” to handle ever-increasing student numbers.

In the independent sector, the fastest growth has been at King’s Christian College, in large part thanks to the opening of its Pimpama campus in 2015.

In percentage terms, the Silkwood School at Mount Nathan has the second-fastest growth in enrolments in the independent school sector, followed by Livingstone Christian College in Ormeau and Trinity Lutheran College in Ashmore.

GOLD COAST’S FASTEST-GROWING SCHOOLS

1. PICNIC CREEK STATE SCHOOL

2018 Enrolments: 268

2022 Enrolments: 894

Difference: +233.5%

2. KING’S CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

2018 Enrolments: 2472

2022 Enrolments: 3894

Difference: +57.5%

3. PALM BEACH STATE SCHOOL

2018 Enrolments: 547

2022 Enrolments: 763

Difference: +39.5%

4. PACIFIC PINES STATE HIGH SCHOOL

2018 Enrolments: 1482

2022 Enrolments: 2008

Difference: +35.5%

5. KEEBRA PARK STATE HIGH SCHOOL

2018 Enrolments: 803

2022 Enrolments: 1069

Difference: +33.1%

6. SILKWOOD SCHOOL

2018 Enrolments: 546

2022 Enrolments: 725

Difference: +32.8%

7. QUEENSLAND ACADEMY FOR HEALTH SCIENCES

2018 Enrolments: 331

2022 Enrolments: 431

Difference: +30.2%

8. CURRUMBIN COMMUNITY SPECIAL SCHOOL

2018 Enrolments: 86

2022 Enrolments: 107

Difference: +24.4%

9. LIVINGSTONE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

2018 Enrolments: 1050

2022 Enrolments: 1289

Difference: +22.8%

10. MIAMI STATE HIGH SCHOOL

2018 Enrolments: 1255

2022 Enrolments: 1540

Difference: +22.7%

11. MUSGRAVE HILL STATE SCHOOL

2018 Enrolments: 510

2022 Enrolments: 617

Difference: +21.0%

12. BROADBEACH STATE SCHOOL

2018 Enrolments: 947

2022 Enrolments: 1145

Difference: +20.9%

13. TRINITY LUTHERAN COLLEGE

2018 Enrolments: 1082

2022 Enrolments: 1307

Difference: +20.8%

14. COOLANGATTA STATE SCHOOL

2018 Enrolments: 184

2022 Enrolments: 219

Difference: +19.0%

15. ORMEAU WOODS STATE HIGH SCHOOL

2018 Enrolments: 1263

2022 Enrolments: 1485

Difference: +17.6%

16. LUTHERAN ORMEAU RIVERS DISTRICT SCHOOL

2018 Enrolments: 595

2022 Enrolments: 698

Difference: +17.3%

17. PIMPAMA STATE SCHOOL

2018 Enrolments: 732

2022 Enrolments: 849

Difference: +16.0%

18. A B PATERSON COLLEGE

2018 Enrolments: 1390

2022 Enrolments: 1598

Difference: +15.0%

19. MARYMOUNT COLLEGE

2018 Enrolments: 1225

2022 Enrolments: 1386

Difference: +13.1%

20. COOMBABAH STATE HIGH SCHOOL

2018 Enrolments: 1064

2022 Enrolments: 1197

Difference: +12.5%

keith.woods@news.com.au

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/gold-coast-education/schools-hub/gold-coasts-fastest-growing-schools-revealed/news-story/4f7050a4e9304a052ccca3b8b02f8b8a