The low-cost schools that rival expensive elite counterparts
Elite private schools with income of $100m and public schools getting by on $2m. See how your school compares and if it’s value for money.
Education
Don't miss out on the headlines from Education. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The wealth of Victoria’s elite private schools have been revealed.
New data on the My School website shows parents and taxpayers are keeping some schools afloat to the tune of more than $100m a year.
Several schools received nearly $20m in taxpayer dollars in 2019, before claiming millions more in JobKeeper payments.
One of the state’s wealthiest schools is Haileybury College, which received $124m in 2019, including $30m from taxpayers. The school, which has 4000 students, has $45m in capital.
Wesley College, which had a total net recurrent income of $114m for its 3145 students in 2019, received $14m from government in addition to the $97m it raised from fees, charges and parent contributions.
The school — in the spotlight after allegations of abuse and harassment by students were reported to police — also has $16m in accumulated capital.
Another top earner is Caulfield Grammar, which has an annual net income of $105m and capital reserves of $105m. It was given $18m in taxpayer money in 2019.
Other schools receiving generous federal and state funding include Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School, which got $19m, St Kevin’s College, which got $12m, Carey Grammar, which got $10m, MLC and Xavier which each got $8 million, Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar, which each got $7m, and Trinity Grammar, which got $6m.
The Herald Sun last year reported that at least a quarter of the state’s 219 independent schools received JobKeeper.
THE LOW-COST SCHOOLS THAT RIVAL EXPENSIVE COUNTERPARTS
Private schools costing as little as $3000 a year are getting academic results to rival their costly elite counterparts.
Altona, Broadmeadows, Cranbourne, Mentone, West Melbourne, Preston and Mulgrave all have affordable private schools that post top VCE results.
It puts them among some of Victoria’s most prestigious — and expensive — schools.
Sirius College in Broadmeadows, which charges fees of $3500 a year, led the way.
Its students posted a median VCE study score of 32 out of a possible 50 last year.
The result puts it on a par with far more expensive private schools such as Wesley College, where fees are 10 times higher.
Killester College in Springvale, which costs just $2500 a year, had a median VCE study score of 31.
Principal Sally Buick said the Catholic girls’ school, which has 965 pupils including many from non-English speaking homes, focused not only on academic success but also the growth of students.
“We are not just academic, we are also committed to helping students achieve their personal best,’’ Ms Buick said.
“We are very proud of what we do.”
Simons Catholic College in West Melbourne, with fees of $3500, was also a standout. It had a median study score of 31 — equal to Tintern Grammar, Geelong Grammar and Oakleigh Grammar.
Some of the state’s best academic performers were Jewish schools such as Beth Rivkah Ladies College — which had a median study score of 37 and charges of $4389 a year. Yeshiva College charges the same fee and had a median study score of 34.
St John’s College in Preston, charging average annual fees of $6360, had a standout score of 34 — the same as Melbourne Grammar, Caulfield Grammar and Xavier College, where fees are at least four times higher.
The all-girl Kilbreda College in Mentone, which costs $6176 a year, had a median study of 33.
Other schools with VCE median study scores of 32 and fees under $8000 include Sacred Heart College in Geelong, Ave Maria in Aberfeldie, Mazenod College in Mulgrave and St Aloysius in North Melbourne.
Top performers charging between $8000 and $10,000 with median VCE scores above 33 included Sacred Heart Hughesdale, St Paul’s Anglican Grammar, Waverley Christian College, St Columba’s Essendon, and Our Lady Sacred Heart College Bentleigh.
Our Lady of Mercy College, Heidelberg, had a VCE median study score of 32 with fees of $9474.
Principal Judith Weir said the school “strives to keep its fees as low as possible to remain as accessible as possible to families”.
Join the conversation
Child abuse material charges for primary school principal
Parents have been left “in tears” after they were told their principal was charged with possessing child abuse material.
Read more
Famous mum’s bold bikini pledge for her daughters
Chezzi Denyer knows life in the spotlight is hard, but has made a fearless decision for the sake of her daughters. Calling all mums and dads – take the Great Parent Survey here.
Read more