St Patrick’s College, Whitsunday Anglican: Mackay and Whitsunday’s most expensive private schools
Parents in the Mackay and Whitsundays region are forking out up to $10,000 per year for private education with a string of schools also charging thousands of dollars, promising top schooling. Now, the school fees, schools and principals can be named.
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It can cost parents an arm and a leg to send their kids to Catholic, Christian and independent private schools, with many families expecting a first-class education.
Read where it is most expensive to attend non-public schools, and where families can find a bargain.
Primary schools
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School
Principal: Bianca Morris
The primary school in North Mackay charges a standard fee of $1320 each year.
A number of levies increase the costs for students to attend the school including a $120 general, $80 maintenance, $130 resources, $100 technology, $384 school building and $120 parents and friends levy.
After all the levies are added, attendance costs $2254.
The school fees are accurate from the 2021 year.
The school fees are accurate from the 2021 year.
Mackillop Catholic Primary School
Principal: Allison Blakey
The school in Andergrove charges a standard fee of $1320 for students across the prep to year 6 cohort.
There is a primary school building levy of $384 applied per family per year, and a maximum $200 technology levy per family applied each year.
A $30 parents and friends levy per family per term also applies, totalling $120 a year, as well as a $170 materials and consumables levy per student applied yearly.
The school fees are accurate from the 2021 year.
Emmanuel Catholic Primary School
Principal: Geraldine Rostirolla
Emmanuel Catholic Primary School teaches students in their primary years before transitioning to the senior school Holy Spirit College.
Parents pay a total of $1320 a year for education at the primary school, with an additional $970.50 for curriculum, technology, building and parents and friends levies.
The school fees are accurate from the 2021 year.
St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School
Principal: Olivia Rostirolla
The primary school in West Mackay charges a standard fee of $1320 each year.
A number of levies increase the costs for students to attend the school including a $150 general, $110 maintenance, $100 technology, $170 parents and friends, and $384 building levy.
After all the levies are added, attendance costs $2274.
The school fees are accurate from the 2021 year.
St Mary’s Catholic School
The school in Bowen charges a standard fee of $1560 per student, with a number of levies on top of the initial cost.
A primary resources levy of $330, buildings levy of $360, and parents and friends levy of $100 increases the total cost to $2570 per student.
Family discounts are applicable for students, with families of two costing a total of $3900 and families of three or more cost $4762.
The school fees are accurate from the 2020 year.
St John Bosco Catholic School
Principal: Nicole Preitz
The school in Collinsville charges a standard fee of $1600 for students to attend.
A number of levies increase the costs for students, including a $384 buildings and $360 general levy.
Costs for attendance increase to $2308 per student, with a 50 per cent discount for the second family member also attending the school.
The school fees are accurate from the 2021 year.
High schools
St Patrick’s College
Principal: Janelle Agius
St Patrick’s College is one of Mackay’s most recognisable private schools.
The school will merge with Mercy College at the start of 2023, with St Pat’s currently only housing year 11 and 12 students.
School fees for the college begin at $2810 per year, with a number of levies also added.
A general, subject, college building, technology, and parents and friends levy increases the total cost to $4934.
St Patrick’s College does offer a family discount when multiple siblings attend the school, with 12.5 per cent (two students), 35 per cent (three) and 50 per cent (four or more) discounts available.
The school fees are accurate from the 2021 year.
Holy Spirit College
Principal: Alison Wales
Holy Spirit College in Beaconsfield began as Emmanuel Catholic College in 1983, before redevelopments changed the primary school to a senior college in 1996.
Until 2015, the school was years eight to 12, but changed to welcome year seven students.
Holy Spirit College charges families $4584 in annual school fees for students from year seven to 10, and then increases fees to $5189 for the final two years of schooling.
The school fees are accurate from the 2020 year.
Prep to senior
Carlisle Adventist College
Principal: Andrew North
Carlisle Adventist College’s fees change depending on the age of the student, with prep costing $2299, years one to three costing $2513, years four to six costing $2738, years seven to 10 costing $3042 and years 11 and 12 costing $3566.
Sport, ICT, text book, electives, and subject levies are added on from primary to senior ages, varying from $30 to $125.
The school fees are accurate from the 2022 year.
St Anne’s Catholic Primary School
Principal: John Ballinger-Oches
The school in Sarina charges a standard fee of $1320 each year for primary students, $2280 for lower secondary students and $2810 for upper secondary students.
A number of levies increase the costs for students to attend the school including a $384 primary or $524 secondary school building levy and a $100 technology levy.
Costs for attendance increase to $1804 for primary students, $2804 for lower secondary and $3334 for upper secondary students.
The school fees are accurate from the 2021 year.
St Catherine’s Catholic College
Principal: Luke Thompson
The school in the Whitsundays charges a standard fee of $1600 for primary students and $2400 for secondary students, with a number of levies on top of the initial cost.
A school-based levy of $932 for primary and $1216 for secondary students, and a building levy of $400 increases the total cost.
Overall, it costs $2932 for primary students and $4016 for secondary students, with siblings getting discounted fees.
Depending on the combination of students in primary and secondary school, the family discount ranges from $660 per student to $3357.
The school fees are accurate from the 2021 year.
Mackay Christian College
Principal: Dr Barclie Gallogray
Mackay Christian College teaches student across all year levels from prep to year 12.
Tuition is cheapest at the youngest age, with prep costing $2365 a year (including all levies).
Years one to three costs $2580, years four to six is between $3130 and $3355 (extra levies in years five and six), years seven to 10 costs $4490 and years 11 and 12 is $4915 per student.
Mercy College
Principal: Janelle Agius
Mercy College will merge with St Patrick’s College at the start of 2023, with the junior school housing students up until year 10 for now.
School fees begin at $2220 per year, with multiple levies added on.
A general purpose, subject, college building, fee administration, technology, and parents and friends levy bring the total cost to $3812.
St Patrick’s College does offer a family discount when multiple siblings attend the school, with 12.5 per cent (two students), 35 per cent (three) and 50 per cent (four or more) discounts available.
The school fees are accurate from the 2020 year.
Whitsunday Christian College
Principal: Mark Ogilvie
The school in Cannonvale charges a standard fee of $3600 for prep, $3790 for years one to six, $5180 for years seven to nine, $5370 for year 10, and $5510 for years 11 and 12.
Tuition fees also include all levies at the school.
Family discounts are applied, with the second student receiving $2200 off the fees.
Subsequent family members are not charged for tuition.
The school fees are accurate from the 2021 year.
Whitsunday Anglican School
Principal: Andrew Wheaton
Whitsunday Anglican School is a private school across all year levels.
The school in Beaconsfield is the most expensive private school in Mackay.
School fees start at $5959 for students in prep to year two, before increasing to $7528 for years three to four, $9148 for years five and six, $9566 for years seven and eight, $9775 for years nine and 10, and $11,082 for years 11 and 12.
Boarding fees are $16,088 for five days per week, or $20,777 for seven days a week.
A variety of levies are imposed, with each subject carrying specific levies between $0 and $695.
A curriculum levy is also added each year, varying from $473 to $1846 depending on the year level.
Sibling discounts apply for families, with 10 per cent off for the second child, 20 per cent off for the third, and 30 per cent off for the fourth and subsequent children.
The school fees are accurate from the 2021 year.
More Mackay school stories:
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- Major renovations ‘uplift spirits’ of two Mackay schools
- ‘Wipe that c***’: Violent Mackay high school fight
- Teacher claims racial targeting at Mackay school
- WATCH: Underbelly of Mackay high schools exposed
- Parents admit to owing $39k to prestigious Mackay school
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Originally published as St Patrick’s College, Whitsunday Anglican: Mackay and Whitsunday’s most expensive private schools
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