Revealed: The Territory schools with the biggest enrolment growth

THE NT News has worked out which schools have experienced the biggest enrolment growths in the past five years. Is your school among those at the top?

Good Shepherd Lutheran College students Hollie Harvey, Jessie Gilder and Casey Dunlop. The school had the biggest enrolment growth between 2013 and 2018. Picture: Glenn Campbell

PALMERSTON and rural schools have experienced a boom in enrolments, according to a new data analysis.

The NT News found the top schools to experience a significant increase in enrolments between 2013 and 2018, using data from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA).

Rockhampton Downs School near Tennant Creek topped the list with an increase of 311 per cent, a growth of 28 students to a total 37 students.

MacKillop Catholic College was close behing with an increase of 217 per cent, a growth of 477.4 to 668.4 students.

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Good Shepherd Lutheran College had the biggest jump in student numbers in the Territory, a growth of 589.5 students to a total 1260 students (88 per cent).

Good Shepherd Lutheran College principal Rachel Boyce explained the quick growth was due to merging with St Andrew Lutheran College in 2015, the school’s third campus.

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“We are all very happy with the growth of Good Shepherd in the past five years,” she said.

“It is wonderful to know that parents within Howard Springs, Palmerston and Leanyer regions consider Good Shepherd as an effective and meaningful educational option for their child.

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“There is a strong connection with our parent body, which instigates great trust — this enables us all to grow together and provide the best possible opportunities for every one of our students.”

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Australian Bureau of Statistics data revealed Palmerston South had a population growth of 878 between 2017 and 2018, with Johnston experiencing the biggest increase of 500 people.

Palmerston’s fastest growing schools are:

MacKillop Catholic College: growth of 217 per cent

Palmerston Christian School: growth of 39 per cent

Bakewell Primary School: growth of 37 per cent

See the full list here

Rural and remote NT’s fastest growing schools are:

Rockhampton Downs School: growth of 311 per cent

Watiyawanu School: growth of 115 per cent

Barunga School: growth of 111 per cent

See the full list here

Darwin’s fastest growing schools are:

Alawa Primary School: growth of 54 per cent

Henbury School: growth of 49 per cent

Milkwood Steiner School: growth of 42 per cent

See the full list here

Alice Spring’s fastest growing schools are:

St Joseph’s Catholic Flexible Learning Centre: growth of 86 per cent

Larapinta Primary School: growth of 46 per cent

Bradshaw Primary School: growth of 46 per cent

See the full list here

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