How to snag your child’s spot at your top school choice in 2023

As the deadline looms for high school applications, new analysis reveals Victoria’s top-performing public schools. See how your school compares.

The deadline is looming for parents to narrow down their top state school choices for their children starting high school next year.

Friday is the cut-off date for mums and dads to submit their three preferences ahead of the 2023 school year.

Analysis by the Herald Sun has revealed the top-performing public schools in every metropolitan region of the state and in regional Victoria to help mums and dads with their choices.

Parents will typically take into consideration the location as well as the academic performance of nearby schools when making their selection.

Parents have until Friday to submit their three preferences ahead of the 2023 school year.

Changes to school zones could also come into play, with boundaries in April redrawn to cope with demand and to reflect 13 new schools that were built across the state.

Malcolm Elliott, president of the Australian Primary Principals’ Association, said parents should have a very good reason for choosing a school that is not their local high school.

“Continuity is very important,” he said.

“There is a benefit for continuing with the cohort from primary school – people know and understand each other.”

Mr Elliott also suggested parents should talk to primary school teachers and ask for their advice about senior school selection.

Henry Grossek, principal of Berwick Lodge Primary School, said parents should take a school tour and “get a feel for the culture”.

“Ask your neighbours and friends about local schools and speak to any staff you know,” he said.

“Ask school staff how they are going to make your child feel safe and provide work that is stimulating and challenging. You also need to ask about support mechanisms.”

Mr Grossek said it was important to work out which local state schools took students from outside their zones and which ones only took students from their zone.

“If you don’t want your local school then it’s good to find one that has capacity and meets the needs of your child,” he said.

“It’s also good to involve the child in the discussion – don’t assume the school you went to years ago is still the same.”

A Department of Education spokeswoman said the state government ensured every child could attend their local high school, but parents were welcome to apply for schools beyond their residential zone.

“The transition from primary to secondary college is an exciting time for students and their families, and we’re making sure every Victorian family has a fantastic local high school close to home,” the spokeswoman said.

“Every student is ensured a place at their locally zoned high school, and families can choose to apply for a school outside this zone, with acceptances dependent on enrolment capacity at the desired school.”

The Herald Sun has compiled 2021 academic performance data of every public school and their independent counterparts in each metropolitan region of the state, along with your questions answered about how to secure your child’s place at your preferred school.

When is the enrolment preference cut-off?

Parents must complete their application form and submit it to their child’s current primary school by Friday, May 13 2022.

How do I choose my three state school preferences?

The Victorian government advises parents to research their local school or preferred school’s location before submitting an application.

A school’s location, academic performance and offerings of extra-curricular activities or specialist classes may also factor into a parent or carer’s decision to varying degrees.

Parents also had the opportunity to attend tours and open days at public high schools earlier in the year to help inform their decision.

Which school do I select as the first choice for my child?

The school you most wish your child to attend should be placed as the first preference on your application form.

How do I submit my preferences?

An application form requiring the child and parents’ residential details, as well as the child’s immunisation status (including their Covid vaccination status), must be completed and returned to their primary school by Friday.

The form requires parents to name up to three preferred government schools they would like their child to attend.

Even if they are applying for different schools, parents must specify which school is their child’s designated neighbourhood school, which is the campus closest to their residential address.

A digital version of the form can be downloaded from the Department of Education and Training’s website.

School students leaving school for the day. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Marshall

What if I want to send my child to a private or independent school instead?

Independent and private Victorian secondary schools oversee their own applications and admissions processes.

Parents should contact the school directly regarding application dates.

More prestigious schools advise parents to place their child on a waiting list soon after birth, or to register their interest several years before their child is due to start high school.

For example, Hawthorn’s Scotch College recommends parents apply as early as possible for the all-boys school because enrolments are offered based on how old the child was when their parents submitted the application.

Is the preference process the same for government-run selective schools?

The four state selective high schools in Victoria admit students from Years 9 to 12.

Parents and students who wish to attend Melbourne High School in South Yarra, the Mac. Robertson Girls’ High School in Melbourne, Nossal High School in Berwick or Suzanne Cory High School in Werribee must also submit their application with up to three preferences by Friday.

A school I want to apply for is outside my residential zone. Can I still choose it as a preference?

Parents are permitted to apply for a school that sits outside their residential zone, but students who live within the residential zone of that school will receive first preference.

The school should offer your child a place if there is enough room to accept all students who apply.

How do schools determine which students are offered a place?

Offers at each state high school are determined by the secondary schools themselves based on the above preference system.

In the case of a school only having limited spots, the school will prioritise siblings of students attending that state school, even if the sibling applying for a spot lives in a different address outside the residential zone to when their older sibling was accepted, before accepting other applications.

According to advice published by the state government, the priority order is:

The priority order of placement is:

1. Students who would be attending the school as their designated neighbourhood school

2. Students with a sibling at the same address who will be attending the school at the same time

3. Students who reside nearest the school in cases where the Regional Director has restricted the enrolment

4. Students seeking enrolment based on specific curriculum needs or preferences

5. All other applications in of how close the student lives to the school

How do I know which residential zone I live in?

A detailed map outlining every residential zone can be found here.

By inputting your residential address and filtering results by local government high schools, parents can see in which zone their residential address falls, as well as their designated neighbourhood school.

What are the school zones and have they changed recently?

Every suburb falls into a residential zone to allow each Victorian student to be assigned a local high school and to kerb demand for some schools.

Nineteen school zones were in April redrawn to reflect the creation of new government-run campuses and the changing demographics of Victorian regions and Melbourne suburbs.

The new zones come into effect for the 2023 school year.

For example, Parkdale Secondary College and Tulliallan Primary in Cranbourne North have been updated due to “demand management”.

What if I want to send my child with special needs to a specialist school?

Specialist schools are not split into school zones, but do fall into designated transport areas.

This means families who live in the designated transport area of the school may be eligible to receive help transporting their child to and from school.

The Find My School search tool specifies the closest specialist school to a family’s residential address and the type of disability support the school offers.

Parents should contact their preferred specialist school directly to find out how to apply.

Parents can select up to three state school preferences for their child.

I moved to an area to send my child to a particular school but zones have since changed. How does this change where we can apply?

The recent zoning changes may mean you now sit outside the residential boundary for some schools when applying for schools for 2023.

You must use the Find My School search function to determine your child’s current designated neighbourhood school and which zone your residential address is located in.

Parents can also call the Victorian School Building Authority on 1800 896 950 for advice.

When will offers to state high schools be released?

Parents will be notified about their child’s Year 7 placement offer on Wednesday, July 20 2022.

What if my child already attends a P-9 or P-12 school?

You do not need to submit enrolment preferences for your child’s school if they will continue to attend a Prep to Year 9 or Prep to Year 12 school.

You will need to make an application if you wish for them to attend a different school.

Parents should contact their child’s P-9 or P-12 school directly for information about their Year 7 orientation program.

What if I do not like the offer I have received for my child?

You can appeal a school’s decision not to accept your child by lodging a written appeal with the school by Friday, 29 July 2022.

Appeals most frequently occur if a child misses out on a place at a school that is outside their residential zone and there are not enough places at the school.

School principals or placement committees will consider the appeal by checking the priority placement order or on compassionate grounds.

Parents can escalate unsuccessful appeals to their local regional office where a panel of senior department staff weigh up the application.

What if I missed out on all my school preferences?

If your child is not offered a place at any of your three preferred schools, they will be automatically referred to the designated neighbourhood school specified on the application form.

Even if this designated school was not one of your top three choices, the Education and Training Reform Act states that every child has a right to enrol at their nearest state school and they must be offered a spot during the enrolment process.

I am happy with the offer I have received. How do I accept my child’s place at the school?

Your child’s Year 6 co-ordinator will contact you about the next steps you need to take to enrol in the secondary school.

Some secondary schools may also assist in the enrolment process by offering transition programs, such as arranging primary school students to visit their new secondary school or buddy programs that pair up older students with younger students.

What does my child need to do to prepare for starting Year 7 in 2023?

All government secondary schools will host a Year 7 orientation day (for Year 6 students) on Tuesday, 13 December 2022.

– with Sarah Arturi