The private schools proving affordable for middle-income families

With excellent results and assistance with fees, middle-income families aren’t being priced out of these top private schools.

Students from Genazzano FCJ College in Kew.

Middle-income parents are flocking to private schools, attracted by excellent results and assistance with fees.

Analysis by the Herald Sun shows even elite grammar schools have one third to almost a half of parents from the two middle-income bands.

These include Woodleigh School in Langwarrin, which costs $27,346 for year 12 but has 46 per cent of parents earning less than $130,000, according My School website data and ABS figures.

The cheapest of 100 top schools surveyed by the Herald Sun is Ave Maria College in Aberfeldie, which costs nearly $10,000 in year 12 and has 67 per cent of parents on middle incomes.

Others with similar fees and at least 50 per cent of middle-band-income parents include Balcombe College, St Columba’s College, Our Lady of Sion College, Beaconhills College and Oakleigh Grammar.

ABS figures show the highest quarter of household income band is more than $130,000, the two middle-income bands range from $129,999 to $39,000 and the bottom band is under $39,000.

Despite difficult financial circumstances, private schools have not lost students in the past two years, although international student numbers are down by 85 per cent.

Continued hardship provisions – although often dependent on financial data such as the value of the family’s house, bank balances and even jewellery – continue to help struggling families.

Some schools such as Ballarat Grammar have paid $3m or more in hardship provisions under Covid. Others, such as The King David School, forgo almost a quarter of fee income in targeted relief and discounting.

Leading schools such as Methodist Ladies’ College, Camberwell Grammar and Scotch College are also offering fee rebates of up to $1500 to offset the cost of home learning. Some schools are continuing to freeze fees. Yarra Valley Grammar is keeping its fees at 2020 levels.

Peninsula Grammar is giving 15 to 20 per cent off tuition and a refund on the transport levy, principal Stuart Johnson has said.

Trinity Grammar is allowing some parents to continue paying fees up to five years after their children have completed school. Picture: Mark Stewart

Some schools, including Alphington College, Wesley College and Trinity Grammar, are also partnering with financial companies such as EdStart to allow parents to continue paying up to five years after their children have completed school.

Jim Miles, executive director of Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, said Catholic schools “aim to remain as affordable as possible”.

Michelle Green, chief executive of Independent Schools Victoria, said Covid restrictions on travel had “left some parents with increased disposable income, making fees more affordable for more parents”.

Originally published as The private schools proving affordable for middle-income families