Mackay and Whitsunday richest and poorest schools for 2024 revealed

With the bigwigs raking in over $100m and others tallying a $2.2m total, the gap between wealthy and underfunded schools appears vast in the Greater Whitsunday region. See the list.

With the richest raking in over $100 million and the poorest tallying a $2.2 million total, the gap between wealthy and underfunded schools appears vast in the Greater Whitsunday region. See the list.

Mackay and Whitsunday’s richest school has raked in more than $109m in five years with the total income per student sitting at $17,029 in 2022, the most recent school funding statistics reveal.

An independent analysis of school financial records from the MySchool website have shown the massive amount of money some schools make every year, and how little some schools are forced to scrape by on.

The figures revealed Mackay North State High School in North Mackay had a higher gross income than any other school in the Mackay and Whitsunday region.

The school made a gross income of $109.1 million, according to financial records from the combined past five years.

The school’s income increased by 17 per cent between 2018 and 2022.

Mackay North State High School 2012 Anzac Tour group commemorating an Australian soldier at Quinn's Post Cemetery, Gallipoli. Picture: Contributed.

The region’s second richest school was Holy Spirit College, in Mount Pleasant, which had a gross income of $95.9 million.

Its total gross income per student in 2022 was $21,396.

The school with the third highest gross income was Proserpine State High School, in Proserpine, which made $92.5 million.

Its total gross income per student in 2022 was $18,011.

The figures include all fees, charges and parental contributions as well as State and Federal Government funding and any other private sources over the five years from 2018 to 2022, but do not include any deductions for capital works or debt servicing.

Holy Spirit College students preparing for the parade at Mackay Anzac Day Main Service, 2021. Picture: Heidi Petith

On the other hand, a host of schools across our region operate on a minute fraction of these schools resources, with these schools often based to educate children in remote towns.

Mistake Creek State School at Clermont had the lowest gross income of any school in the Mackay and Whitsunday region.

It made just $2.2 million over the five year period.

Its total gross income fell by 29 per cent from 2018 to 2022 while the total gross income per student in 2022 was $57,287.

Students at Mistake Creek State School.

Oakenden State School at Oakenden had the second lowest gross income of any school in the Mackay and Whitsunday region.

It made just $2.2 million over the five year period.

Its total gross income increased by 22 per cent from 2018 to 2022 while the total gross income per student in 2022 was $35,326.

Pinnacle State School at Pinnacle had the third lowest gross income of any school in the Mackay and Whitsunday region.

It made just $2.3 million over the five year period.

Its total gross income increased by 36 per cent from 2018 to 2022 while the total gross income per student in 2022 was $44,420.

Note that this analysis does not include special schools or schools that did not have complete financial data in MySchool for one or more of the five years.

RICHEST SCHOOLS IN MACKAY AND WHITSUNDAY

1. Mackay North State High School: $109.1 million
2. Holy Spirit College: $95.9 million
3. Proserpine State High School: $92.5 million
4. Mackay State High School: $86.4 million
5. Mackay Northern Beaches State High School: $77.9 million
6. Whitsunday Anglican School: $75.2 million
7. Mackay Christian College: $70.6 million
8. Mirani State High School: $67.6 million
9. Sarina State High School: $63.1 million
10. Eimeo Road State School: $61.4 million

POOREST SCHOOLS IN MACKAY AND WHITSUNDAY

1. Mistake Creek State School: $2.2 million
2. Oakenden State School: $2.2 million
3. Pinnacle State School: $2.3 million
4. St Lawrence State School: $2.4 million
5. Gargett State School: $2.4 million
6. North Eton State School: $2.4 million
7. Coppabella State School: $2.5 million
8. Clarke Creek State School: $2.7 million
9. Pindi Pindi State School: $2.8 million
10. Gumlu State School: $3.1 million

Originally published as Mackay and Whitsunday richest and poorest schools for 2024 revealed