Some Victorian public schools taking majority of students from outside designated zone

Parents are shunning their local schools for better options. See which top school in your area takes the most out-of-zone enrolments.

Some Victorian schools take up to 70 per cent of their year 7 students from outside their designated zones.

Some of Victoria’s top state schools take more than 70 per cent of their students from outside their designated neighbourhood zone, new data shows.

The Herald Sun can reveal that schools such as Doncaster Secondary College take 72 per cent of year 7 students out of the zone, with Camberwell High taking 64 per cent from other areas, Bayside P-12 66 per cent, Williamstown High 57 per cent and Thornbury High 53 per cent.

Overall, one third of year seven students across all state schools come from outside of their local school’s zone, according to information obtained through a Freedom from Information request.

All government schools in Victoria have a designated zone and children who permanently live in the zone must be offered a place. However, parents can choose schools that are not their designated local school, and they will be offered a place if the school has room.

The most accessible school with the highest results is Brentwood College, which takes more than half of its students from outside its zone, while second placed Auburn High takes 47 per cent, according to Better Education rankings.

Both schools are in the state’s top 100 for academic performance.

In comparison, Balwyn High, which is Victoria’s best performing non-selective state school, takes 340 students from its eastern suburbs zone, with only six per cent coming from wider afield.

School catchment zones near desirable schools can boost property prices, such as in Albert Park, by more than $500,000.

Brighton Secondary College and Williamstown High School are close behind, with parents having to splash $450,000 and $425,000 more on houses in those catchment areas compared to just outside.

However, the Herald Sun data shows there are some schools which take over 80 per cent of students from outside their zone.

These include Lilydale High (89.5 per cent), Rosehill Secondary College (88.7 per cent), Geelong High (88 per cent), Wheelers Hill (87.5 per cent), Heathmont College (82 per cent) and Wellington Secondary College (80.6 per cent).

According to department rules, schools offer places first to those inside the zone, then students with a sibling at the school, curriculum grounds and others in order of closeness of their home to the school.

Compassionate grounds also apply and are determined by a regional director, for instance taking in account an expulsion from another school.

Once students have been accepted and started at a school, they cannot be asked to leave because they move to live outside the zone.

A Department of Education spokesperson said: “every child is able to enrol at their designated neighbourhood government school or, if there is sufficient accommodation, at another government school.”

Students can find their school zones at findmyschool.vic.gov.au.

It was updated this year to reflect the 13 new schools and campuses set to open in 2023.