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.
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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.
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.”
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%
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