Pembroke School hikes Year 12 school fees to more than $34,900
Adelaide’s elite private schools have hiked fees above inflation rates, with parents now facing costs of up to $35,000 annually for their children’s final school years.
An elite Adelaide private school has raised its costs for year 12 to almost $35,000 next year with a fee increase greater than inflation.
Coeducational Pembroke School has advised parents of a 5.5 per cent fee increase for year 12 tuition in 2026, to $34,944.
The same fee also applies for students in years 10 and 11.
The fee hike – up from $33,120 this year – means Pembroke retains the mantle of South Australia’s most expensive private school.
Pulteney Grammar School, which is also coeducational, has advised its community that fees for year 10, 11 and 12 will rise by 5.5 per cent next year too.
Charging $33,074 for year 12 tuition, it is currently the second most expensive campus in SA based on fees made public so far.
That is up from $31,350 this year.
In a letter notifying the school community about the fee increase, Pulteney Grammar principal Greg Atterton said the board of the South Tce school considered “rising costs across staffing, facilities, ICT infrastructure and co-curricular programs”.
“The board is mindful of the financial pressures on our community and has strived to keep this increase as low as possible,” Mr Atterton said.
“Our commitment remains to provide an education where every student is known, challenged and supported; and to sustain high standards of learning, wellbeing and opportunity.
“Each year, the board of governors carefully reviews the school’s fee structure to ensure it continues to balance affordability for families with the resources required to uphold this commitment.”
The “measured adjustment”, Mr Atterton said, ensured the school could “continue to invest wisely in our people, programs and facilities while safeguarding the school’s long-term sustainability”.
The increase came after “a year marked by academic excellence, personal growth and community connection”.
St John’s Grammar, in Belair, also revealed its 2026 fees, with an increase of about 5.7 per cent.
Next year, parents at the school will pay $22,385 for years 10 to 12.
Other schools to release their fee schedule include Immanuel College ($25,020), Loreto College Marryatville ($22,845) and Saint Ignatius’ College ($22,483).
The school with the greatest percentage increase to be released so far is St Mary’s College.
Year 12 tuition there will cost $11,525 next year, up 8.7 per cent from the $10,600 it charged in 2024.
That followed a 8.1 per cent rise the previous year.
About 54,000 students are enrolled in independent schools across SA.
The Association of Independent Schools of South Australia (AISSA) says about 70 per cent of an independent school’s income is allocated to staffing costs.
About 52,000 students are enrolled at 101 schools under Catholic Education SA (CESA).
CESA has frozen fees at the majority of campuses for the past four years.
Originally published as Pembroke School hikes Year 12 school fees to more than $34,900
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