New data has revealed the fastest growing schools in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs

The fastest growing schools, and those with the biggest decline in enrolments, in Melbourne’s east have been revealed.

Richmond High School is the fastest growing school in Melbourne’s east. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Eastern Melbourne’s fastest growing schools — and the ones going backwards — have been revealed.

An analysis of federal government data has revealed every eastern Melbourne region school’s student enrolment trajectory over the past five years — exposing where student numbers have risen and declined the most.

Richmond High School in Richmond is eastern Melbourne’s fastest growing school, with enrolments increasing by 576 per cent in the five years from 2018 to 2022.

Principal Dr Lars Andersson said Richmond High School was attracting a lot of new families. Picture: Tony Gough

Principal Lars Andersson said his school was attracting new parents because of their accelerated VCE programs, award-winning teachers and their community engagement.

“A lot of new parents are looking to move away from a more traditional type of schooling, so we are getting a lot of interest from the families in the area,” Dr Andersson said.

“Parents are looking for more such as our accelerated VCE program, our push towards the arts like our strong music program and the ways we are keeping students challenged and engaged.

“We have seen a lot of new students across all our year levels because of this.”

The second fastest growing school was Cheder Levi Yitzchok Inc in South Yarra with a 156 per cent change while Heritage College Knox in The Basin recorded the third biggest change with a 124 per cent increase.

Meanwhile, the analysis also highlighted the eastern Melbourne region’s schools in decline with St Anne’s School in Kew East recording a 55 per cent drop over five years.

Holy Saviour Parish School in Vermont South had a 51 per cent drop and Wantirna Primary School saw a 48 per cent decline.

The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority figures are the most up to date enrolment numbers that include all state and private schools nationally.