Ryan Catholic College revealed as Townsville’s richest school

North Queensland’s richest school in terms of gross income over a five-year period has been revealed, and it will come as a surprise to some.

2 min read

June 25, 2024 - 5:00AM

Townsville Bulletin

Students from Ryan Catholic College, a popular combined, co-educational, primary and secondary school in Townsville.

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North Queensland’s richest school in terms of gross income over a five-year period has been revealed, and it may come as a surprise to some.

The most recent school funding statistics reveal that Ryan Catholic College in Kirwan raked in more than $176.2 million over the period with the total income per student sitting at $19,918 in 2022.

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

According to financial records from the combined past five years, Ryan Catholic College’s income increased by 25 per cent between 2018 and 2022.

Townsville Grammar School U17 rugby team captain Ned Smith on his way to scoring a try against Townsville Brothers earlier this year. Although it ranked third, it had a higher total gross income per student of $25,180 in 2022. Picture: Cameron Bates

College Acting Principal for years 7-12 Shayne Harrison said he was fortunate that the principals, board and the wider Townsville Catholic Education Office had had “very good vision and been strategic in its implementation”.

“Our Technology Centre is the latest jewel in the crown.”

Mr Harrison said there was an overwhelmingly position atmosphere at the school.

“We’ve got a great and very experienced core group of staff and we’ve been pretty active in trying to support the younger teachers who often struggle coming into the teaching profession,” he said.

“Our work in this area has done a lot to put our facilities to good use.”

Kirwin State High School is very highly regarded, both academically and on the sporting field. Picture Supplied

The region’s second richest school was Kirwan State High School with a gross income of $146 million over the same period.

Its total gross income per student in 2022 was $16,704.

The school with the third highest gross income was Townsville Grammar School, in North Ward, which made $140.7 million.

Although it ranked third, it had a higher total gross income per student of $25,180 in 2022.

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 2018 to 2022.

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.

Pimlico Voices from Pimlico State High School. The highly regarded state school had an income of $124 million in the five-year period ending 2022. Picture: Shae Beplate

Hinchinbrook Christian School at Ingham had the lowest gross income of any school in the North Queensland region.

It made just $1.1 million over the five-year period.

Its total gross income fell by 24 percent from 2018 to 2022 while the total gross income per student in 2022 was $47,101.

Prairie State School east of Hughenden had the second lowest gross income of any school in the North Queensland region.

It made just $1.8 million over the five year period.

Its total gross income increased by 28 per cent from 2018 to 2022 while the total gross income per student in 2022 was $87,876.

Maidavale State School at Airville had the third lowest gross income of any school in the North Queensland region.

It made just $1.9 million over the five year period.

Its total gross income increased by 36 per cent from 2018 to 2022 while the total gross income per student in 2022 was $150,307.

RICHEST SCHOOLS IN NORTH QUEENSLAND

Ryan Catholic College: $176.2 million

Kirwan State High School: $146 million