Public or Private Secondary School

azero on 07/08/2025 - 13:57
Last edited 07/08/2025 - 14:45 by 1 other user

We are in the western suburbs of Melbourne and have a child attending secondary school next year.

She is currently in a relatively good public primary. We have 3 public secondary schools in a 4km radius but unfortunately zoned to probably one of the worst - NAPLAN in the red, in the news for fights, knives… the whole lot.

We were hoping that she'd get accepted to one of the other 2 as they took in out-of-zone kids last year - but we got rejected from both. Even the appeal wasn't succesful.

Our options are either move permently, rent a place for a few months in a zone to get her in, or else send her to a private school. She has a place offered at Westbourne Grammar - sort of a last resort. But we are not sure nearly 30K / year is worth it. Although it is not outside of our means - you can do a lot for that money to help a child.

If you were in a similar position in the past, what did you do and what do you think of your decision now ? She is the quiet/academic type - if that helps.

Education & Work

Comments

  • jv on 07/08/2025 - 14:06
    -6

    But we are not sure nearly 30K / year is worth it.

    It's worth it… It's just a matter of if you can afford it and what your priorities are…

    • Dr Phil on 08/08/2025 - 22:21
      +2

      Cheaper to move to a better area, especially if renting

      • jv on 08/08/2025 - 23:05
        -7

        Maybe cheaper, but then you compromise on your kids' education.

      • dufflover on 09/08/2025 - 13:23

        I've usually noticed it's the opposite, though depending where you are obviously. Houses in a "prized" school zone typically attracting a premium higher than 6 years of private school.

        • V2L on 09/08/2025 - 13:31
          +8

          but you keep the house and the next buyer also pays the premium

    • Ahan on 09/08/2025 - 07:19
      +2

      I agree. This is the kind of harsh truth some people are not willing to accept.

    • supersabroso on 09/08/2025 - 10:16
      +12

      I disagree, for education purposes, the average Aussie is better off spending $10k/year on tutoring. You'll get more out of your kid as it's 1 on 1. 8% of your taxes goes towards public education. This means that you already pay thousands of dollars every year for your kid to be able to attend a public school.

      Having said that, it depends on everyone's situation. If your kid really needs the step up, you're loaded and you want them to be a doctor/lawyer then yes, send them to private and pay for tutoring on top of that.

      Lastly, if you are concerned about knife fights and safety then yes, keep your kid away from that hell hole. It's not worth it if they get stabbed, you'll never forgive yourself. Safety always comes first, especially if you have a daughter.

      • jv on 09/08/2025 - 11:09
        +2

        I disagree, for education purposes, the average Aussie is better off spending $10k/year on tutoring.

        A tutor does not make up for a good education at a good private school. A good education is a lot more than that…

        • cille745 on 09/08/2025 - 12:23
          +7

          Biggest indicator for success is socioeconomic and attitudes towards study and that and comes from the parents.

          If you’re teaching your kids right - will ultimately have no difference on their marks anyway, with the added benefit of being able to interact with a greater variety of people, and survive in the real world without being coddled

          • jv on 09/08/2025 - 12:25
            +11

            @cille745:

            and comes from the parents.

            Very largely influenced by peers and teachers too, not just parents…

            In fact, in their teenage years, parents influence is very much diminished…

          • jv on 09/08/2025 - 12:26
            +2

            @cille745:

            If you’re teaching your kids right - will ultimately have no difference on their marks anyway

            Not true…

            Vastly different results from my kids peer group that went to public vs private and were all at the same primary school…

            • tenpercent on 09/08/2025 - 12:34

              @jv: Why did some of them go to public and others to private?

              • jv on 09/08/2025 - 12:36
                +3

                @tenpercent: Parents probably couldn't afford it.

                • tenpercent on 09/08/2025 - 13:27
                  +1

                  @jv: Is it possible the reasons they couldn't afford it also affected how they were raising/teaching their kids?

                  • jv on 09/08/2025 - 13:46
                    +2

                    @tenpercent:

                    Is it possible the reasons they couldn't afford it also affected how they were raising/teaching their kids?

                    Nah…

                    Just more likely they couldn't afford to pay a mortgage and private school fees… It's not easy, even with both parents working.
                    They got their kids to sit for the scholarship tests, but didn't get it, so went to the local public high school…
                    Problem is that all the kids not interested in an education or had issues with their parents also went to the same public high school, so not the best envrionment to learn in… Also, the teachers there were nowhere near as good as the ones at most of the private schools in the area…

              • Muppet Detector on 09/08/2025 - 13:25

                @tenpercent: Not every school suits every child at every stage of their education.

                One of mine left private for yrs 8-10 because he was accepted into the French Immersion program that was only available at one particular public school.

                All the others did attend private schools, but they weren't all suited to the same private school, so mine were actually spread across multiple schools.

            • alexdagr8 on 09/08/2025 - 17:05
              -2

              @jv: Send your kids to public school they said
              Here’s how our public school counterparts ended up:
              But I also don’t doubt they defected after broken promises by Albo and co

              https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/news/neonazis-marc…

              • alexdagr8 on 09/08/2025 - 17:11
                +3

                @alexdagr8: As someone that went to public and private and semi private schools in my formative years in NSW.
                And had family in selective schools.
                The differences were legitimately like night and day.
                In my personal opinion - if you can avoid it, do not send your kids to a public school in Australia unless it’s a selective school.

                • Muppet Detector on 09/08/2025 - 18:24
                  +1

                  @alexdagr8: I read an article yesterday claiming 1/3 of public school infrastructure (specifically rooves, walls, ceilings and gutters) are in very poor or poor condition.

                  Something like $250 million needed for each state each year just for maintenance, with some states already being close to $500 million behind in maintenance from previous years.

                  That's before considerations for other infrastructure such as power, water, wifi connectivity. Toilets. Play areas and equipment. Perimeter fencing. Pathways between buildings, other under cover areas.

                  If they're that far in the hole for things that most would think are pretty important, at what standards are other more consumable type areas being funded?

                  I mean presumably, the schools that have working toilets provide hand soap and toilet paper, don't they?

                  And I understand being environmentally conscious etc, but restricting things like air con in summer and heating in winter?

                  The example was that whilst temperatures were expected to exceed 35 C outside, top floor classrooms could turn on their air con's from 8:00am -10:00 am each day, whilst lower floor classrooms had to restrict their air con use to 8:30 - 9:30 each day as they had insulation benefits curtesy of the higher levels.

                  I'm thinking that whichever school you're considering be it private or public, might be a good idea to "check under the hood" to see what sort of a physical environment the school is providing now and into the future.

                  If public education is your preference and catchment zones apply, might be wise to cross your fingers and rub your lucky rabbits foot and hope that the school in your catchment zone is "one of the lucky ones".

                  I knew that some of the regional schools were struggling, whilst others seem to have hit the jackpot, but it seems like the rot is far more pervasive than what a lot of us probably realise.

                  • alexdagr8 on 10/08/2025 - 01:08

                    @Muppet Detector: Yes, do yourself a favour and look at websites that identify asbestos.
                    A lot of schools (especially public) still have asbestos and all it takes is that 1x tradie that dropped out of school to make it friable.

                    Separately, Wifi upgrades aren’t too much (provided the structured cabling is in place)
                    And most should last around 5-7 years before requiring another upgrade.

        • Purp on 10/08/2025 - 10:39
          -4

          Yeah, public school education of filth is why jv posts are so dumb.

          go private

      • athuntershill on 11/08/2025 - 13:01

        Tutoring will help your kids catchup or get ahead on certain subjects but does not create the best suitable learning environment on all fronts.

    • thirtysixd on 11/08/2025 - 09:56
      +1

      The education is not worth it

      Networking is the main benefit of private schools

      • jv on 11/08/2025 - 11:24
        -2

        The education is not worth it

        That is subjective…

        Better teachers, better facilities, better extracurricular activities, better pastoral support…

        • thirtysixd on 11/08/2025 - 12:28

          No lol

          Its quantitative

          Why do university students from public schools outperform those from private schools?

          • jv on 11/08/2025 - 12:55
            -1

            @thirtysixd: Yes lol

          • jv on 11/08/2025 - 12:56
            -2

            @thirtysixd:

            Why do university students from public schools outperform those from private schools?

            Because a much smaller percentage get through… The rest don't make it… You are believe misleading stats.

          • Ahyao17 on 11/08/2025 - 15:53
            +1

            @thirtysixd: What state's statistics are you looking at.
            Most selective schools in Australia are public schools, especially NSW.

  • Danstar on 07/08/2025 - 14:09
    +13

    Depending where your family and friends are.

    There are times I think, maybe I should've moved to a suburb with a great public school and saved the tens of thousands of dollars I've spent on private education.

    But the majority of my family and friends live within 15kms of me. So if I did move far away, I wouldn't have had the luxury of having family and friends close by.

  • sumyungguy on 07/08/2025 - 14:12
    +7

    If you can cash flow the private fees I expect you won't regret it.

    • alexdagr8 on 10/08/2025 - 01:27
      +3

      I have seen a few that regretted it… but their children were dopes - they were going to be a stain on society no matter where they were.

      • sumyungguy on 11/08/2025 - 18:36

        They may have regretted it but they were always gonna do it. Privately educated parents send their offspring to private schools, this persists for generations. Public school parents similarly send their offspring to public schools, but they may also become private school converts. Which means their family will go forward having changed lanes from public to private. Private school parents don't convert to public because their parents have pockets deep enough to cover fees for the grandchildren. There are always outliers and exceptions, but this is generally what happens.

  • 6079 Smith on 07/08/2025 - 14:24
    +18

    Personally I'd use the 200k you would have spent on private fees to move to a better catchment as you'll actually get some tangible return for that via improved house values. That said if there is a cheaper private or Catholic school I think that would be a better outcome than throwing a quiet bookish kid into a rough and tumble school.

    Shit as it is, that's the state of our education system these days.

    • jv on 07/08/2025 - 14:41
      -2

      as you'll actually get some tangible return

      Same could be said if your kids get into a course they otherwise wouldn't have got into…

      • 6079 Smith on 07/08/2025 - 14:47

        That doesn't directly benefit you financially tho does it ?

        • jv on 07/08/2025 - 14:54
          -6

          Yes it does…

          It impacts my savings and investments for later on…

    • Trying2SaveABuck on 07/08/2025 - 22:30
      +1

      Personally I'd use the 200k you would have spent on private fees to move to a better catchment as you'll actually get some tangible return for that via improved house values. That said if there is a cheaper private or Catholic school I think that would be a better outcome than throwing a quiet bookish kid into a rough and tumble school.

      its 200k over 6 years and honestly 200k isnt getting you into a much better area - although i'd agree if OP had like 3 kids it'd be worth it

      i do know people who have moved to be part of the McKinnon Primary School and high school catchment which is suppose to be a good school that is none selective but you have to live in catchment (strictly)

    • azero on 07/08/2025 - 22:48
      +3

      Not so simple, unless it is a unit or an apartment, average houses in good zones are about half a mil more than what my house is worth.

    • alexdagr8 on 09/08/2025 - 17:17
      -2

      But here’s the rub if you own a business, you can now pay for the private school fees and they’re now tax deductible.

      • Muppet Detector on 09/08/2025 - 18:47
        +1

        Ummmm, I think that's only if the school invoices tuition fees and building fund contributions separately.

        The tuition fees aren't deductible, but contributions to the building fund are because technically, they are voluntary.

        So a school decides they need $1000 total fees for the child. In an effort to help out those eligible for taxation deductions (such as small business owners for example), the school splits the invoice so that $500 is non deductible tuition fees and $500 is classified as building fund contributions.

        The expectation is that the child pays both the tuition fee and the building fund, even though the latter is technically voluntary.

        But what sometimes happens, is too many people wise up to this voluntary portion and decide to only pay the $500 tuition fees.

        So now the school is only getting $500 per student rather than the $1000 they actually want.

        Eventually, whoever is balancing the books starts paying attention and decides to remove that benefit for everybody, forcing everybody to pay the $1000 tuition fees with no deductible benefits on the $500 that used to be labelled building fund.

        One of the schools one of mine did this. A large number of the enrolments were from trade incomes. The school introduced the split invoice system as a "favour" to their parent body to help make the fees a bit more affordable, I suppose.

        Every now and then, one or two tradies might have a bad run, come up short and be excused from the "voluntary" component.

        Didn't take long before a lot of tradies started having a lot of consecutive tough times and abused the gesture to only pay half of the expected fees.

        Within two years they shut that right down and made no allowances for anybody if they ever experienced a rough spot.

        Fees due a term in advance to secure enrolment for the following term. School didn't even bother with a late fee. If fees weren't paid by due date, notice to leave and exit interviews followed soon after.

        • alexdagr8 on 09/08/2025 - 23:47

          I have seen some company directors create a “charity” (separate legal entity) to their business and fund a “scholarship” to disadvantaged children (their children or grandchildren) effectively getting a tax deduction for whatever money they fund.

          It’s basically how most within the ALP look like they’re giving back by “donating” to charity but it’s all a kickback to their mates

          • Muppet Detector on 10/08/2025 - 17:29
            +1

            @alexdagr8: I remember in Catholic primary school the kids used to do "Emu Walks".

            I can't remember if it was a regular scheduled thing or if we just did it after things like school sports day iykwim.

            But basically, the nuns would line up all the kids shoulder to shoulder on the edge of the school oval.

            Then we all started walking in line towards the other side of the oval and we had to pick up any rubbish that was on the ground in front of us as we walked.

    • alexdagr8 on 10/08/2025 - 01:30
      +1

      People don’t necessarily move to a catchment zone because of the schools (it’s one factor and schools change along with demographics) which is why a lot go private.
      Also each state is different when it comes to education.

      • Muppet Detector on 10/08/2025 - 16:52
        +1

        This is a good point.

        TLDR
        Just because a school has a good/bad reputation/good results now, doesn't mean it will a few years down the track.

        Something as simple as a change in school principal can turn a challenging school into one of excellence or bring an extraordinary school to its knees.

        My anecdotal story is from a private school setting but I presume something similar could happen in public.

        One school we attended had an absolutely brilliant head master. Naturally this trickled down to the staff, parents and students.

        For 12 years, this school was absolutely brilliant with exceptional and respected reputation and kicking all the right goals and delivering a desirable education to its students.

        Next principal came on board. Highly qualified, years of experience, multiple accolades etc. heavily screened pre employment etc.

        Within a year, staff and students were exiting en mass. Entire management and culture of the school changed, it no longer suited the student or community demographic, it became a very unpleasant place to be and lost significant respect and suffered harm to a previous exceptional reputation with other schools and the local community.

        Very soon, a long waiting list, that had one affect of the school being able to select their students based on their compatibility with the overarching environment to having no waiting list and begin to troll for any calibre of student that would attend because of the need to get bums on seats.

        Obviously, this meant that students who may have been excluded from other schools for undesirable or disruptive behaviour (for example) had a pretty good shot at gaining enrollment as the quality of the student became a secondary consideration to their ability to pay the fees.

        Naturally, overall behaviour declined as disciplinary practises became looser and not sufficiently enforced to encourage a different behaviour choice.

        School became too scared to discipline the kids incase they left the school and took their much needed money with them.

        Two or three years later, that principal and a few of his cronies ended up on the front page of the paper for months and months and in courts and under investigation for all sorts of alleged dodgy practises - nothing child abuse related as far as I know, nothing like that - more along the lines of forcing every kid to enrol in a math program either he or his mate owned, using funds designated for one purpose and redirecting them to some other unapproved purpose which incidentally also benefited his family or mate or something.

  • joka on 07/08/2025 - 14:37
    +8

    At least you'd know that you gave it your best shot rather than regret not paying 30k extra because of a personal view which you regret later in life. Of course its worth it.

  • 87percent on 07/08/2025 - 14:44

    Just so you know, a lot of public schools require you to be in the zone for a year before you can apply. Also, I’ve heard the in demand ones, actually door knock to check you’re living there

    • MITM on 07/08/2025 - 15:13

      Especially if OP has more than 1 child, moving nearer to the preferred school 12 months ago would have been a good idea.

    • JimB on 07/08/2025 - 15:49
      +4

      If you purchase, surely they can't deny.

      Renting, I'm not so sure.

      I think it's fair that they door knock, otherwise, you're gaming the system. McKinnon Secondary College already has 3,000 students! But I'm not sure if they are the ones that door knock.

      Or perhaps door knocking would reduce it below 3,000! lol

      • joka on 07/08/2025 - 15:51

        Yeh, I agree with you, I don't believe they send the kids out to do the door knocking.

        • Deebo Baggins on 07/08/2025 - 16:11

          the ones that door knock.

          If you open the door to Bryan Cranston in a McKinnon uniform, you'll know the game is up.

        • Muppet Detector on 09/08/2025 - 19:04

          Yeh, I agree with you, I don't believe they send the kids out to do the door knocking.

          Maybe they do if it's the seventh day…

      • sumyungguy on 07/08/2025 - 16:09
        +4

        Brisbane State High School's requirements for owned property, no genius enrolment hacks allowed:
        - unconditional sale agreement demonstrating fair market value, settlement notice or title deed
        - evidence that the property is the legitimate family residence (e.g. type, size and nature of the accommodation)
        - a current rates notice/s
        - a minimum of three current bills and evidence of payment (e.g. electricity, gas, internet, telephone) that demonstrate reasonable levels of usage
        - a current paid up home and contents insurance policy
        - a current paid up motor vehicle insurance policy
        - other evidence as requested by the Executive Principal

        • JimB on 07/08/2025 - 16:22
          +3

          That's comprehensive but if you were living there legitimately it wouldn't be hard to satisfy.

          However, if you just moved in, you may not be able to get a bill or rates notice immediately.

          • sumyungguy on 07/08/2025 - 16:29
            +2

            @JimB: You can just imagine how many hacks have been tried for them to need this policy; there's another 14 requirements and in some cases they may request a stat dec from both a parent and legal representative

          • ol mate on 07/08/2025 - 18:31
            +1

            @JimB:

            you may not be able to get a bill or rates notice immediately

            Brisbane City Council will send the first rates notice quite quickly, so they cna collect their "account establishment fee"

            Source: settled on a place recently, and the first rates notice was date stamped 2 business days later.

            Bills would be tough, but might be doable - most internet and phone (mobile - they don't specify) will charge the first month in advance. Not sure how someone just moving in will be able to provide a bill with reasoable usage though…

            • JimB on 08/08/2025 - 17:06
              +1

              @ol mate: Account establishment fee is such a rort.

              Never seen this from the 4 different councils that I’ve purchased in.

        • unwashed00 on 08/08/2025 - 16:37

          so the renter can go screw themselves?

          • sumyungguy on 08/08/2025 - 16:44
            +1

            @unwashed00: Renters get enrolled too; I was just using owner hurdles as an example. The genius hack for BSHS back in the day was to purchase a studio apartment which made the parents owners. But a relatively low-cost method is to move into the catchment in a rental for the qualifying period, gain enrolment, then move out the following year. It used to be that once you're in you're in; no idea if this is still the case today.

            • unwashed00 on 08/08/2025 - 16:49

              @sumyungguy: I'm just wondering what are the hurdles for renters, given ones for owners.

              The rent trick I was told by my old boss's wife back like a decade ago

              • sumyungguy on 08/08/2025 - 17:35

                @unwashed00: It’s an expansive policy document; renters have to substantiate their whole family is living in the rental property, not the enrolled student just living in a studio during the week and commuting back to the family pile in the outer ‘burbs every weekend.

        • alexdagr8 on 09/08/2025 - 23:49

          ”I’m moving to Queensland for the brilliant education prospects”
          Said no one, never.. (from a respectable city)

      • 87percent on 07/08/2025 - 16:21

        From what i was told, McKinnon IS one of the schools that door knock

        • JimB on 07/08/2025 - 16:24
          +1

          Would be 4,000 students if they didn't door knock lol

          To be honest, I wouldn't send my kids to McKinnon.

          Academic results are great but I think my kids would be lost in the system/get away with murder with a school population of 3,000 kids.

        • takezo on 08/08/2025 - 09:19

          They used to door knock under previous principal but no longer.

          As to the size of the school and getting lost, we used to think the same but the opportunities that are available for kids is very extensive. Lots of programs and opportunities for them to get involved in extra stuff.

          • samashed on 08/08/2025 - 10:53

            @takezo: We rented in the McKinnon area 6 months before ours started year 7. Walked into the office to enrol and was pretty much accepted immediately. Haven't had a door knock, or know anyone who did.
            20 classes for his year which I thought was massive, but our second is now starting in 2026 and apparently there will be 27 classes of year 7s.
            There are lots of opportunities for them there, and with the second campus that kind of splits up the school which allows them to keep an eye on them a bit more.

            • Muppet Detector on 09/08/2025 - 19:14
              +2

              @samashed: Holy sh@t!

              Do they need to "take a number" for when it's their turn on the playground?

              Considering how hard it is for public schools to discipline their students these days, that's an awful lot of kids to "keep an eye on" and have "toe the line".

              At least the private schools have access to effective and enforceable disciplinary measures.

              • alexdagr8 on 10/08/2025 - 01:36

                @Muppet Detector: Public sector it’s called “Scab Duty” they effectively have to clean the rubbish and pick up trash (just like you see the criminals on the highways in their prison outfits in America)
                Meanwhile in Australia our public school students have to worry about getting pricked by syringes as their punishment for perceived disobedience and get the same treatment as criminals in America.

      • The General on 09/08/2025 - 23:52

        If you are renting, then McKinnon Secondary will ask you to have a two year lease signed with you landlord. To prevent the fly in, fly outs.

        • JimB on 10/08/2025 - 07:42

          2 year leases are pretty uncommon but maybe the landlords are happy to accommodate for the right price

    • rdchristy2 on 09/08/2025 - 07:01
      +2

      @87percent
      Please check your facts before you state these claims and start rumours - this is definitely not true.

      Public State Schools across Australia:
      There is no minimum time you need to live in the area before your child can start school; residency within the catchment is the key factor.

      Could you imagine if a child was made to wait one whole year before starting at a new school after moving to their new house? That would be ludicrous.

    • Muppet Detector on 09/08/2025 - 19:03

      Just so you know, a lot of public schools require you to be in the zone for a year before you can apply.

      You made that up.

      If you reside in a public school's catchment area they cannot refuse your immediate enrolment regardless of their capacity.

      They can't make school compulsory and then refuse to enrol you.

      I don't think they even have special education units these days, do they? I think everyone's included and integrated into the mainstream classroom.

      Once upon a time there were special units that catered for VI, II, SLD, HI, maybe ASD, but I think they're just all dumped in together now with some allocated teacher aid time every now and then.

      Sure, there are some outlier examples where a child that has been designated as a disengaged learner may be excluded from some schools and directed to a school specifically for disengaged learners, but for the majority of kids, if they live in a school's catchment zone, they get to enrol the first day they live there.

    • Felixrising on 10/08/2025 - 20:45

      Where is this? Where did you hear this from? It's nonsense, if you are in catchment you are in catchment. Simple. What would the alternative be? You have to send your kids to the old school catchment for a year?

  • JimB on 07/08/2025 - 15:58
    +12

    "She is the quiet/academic type "

    "zoned to probably one of the worst - NAPLAN in the red, in the news for fights, knives… the whole lot."

    I wouldn't send my quiet/academic daughter there.

    "Although it is not outside of our means - you can do a lot for that money to help a child."

    It seems like you can pay for [private, catholic, renting or buying in good school zone], alternatively you can pay for therapy/tutoring. Seems like a pretty crappy school.

    We all have choices but personally I'd do whatever it takes not to send my daughter there (I'm not saying go private).

  • Duckie2hh on 07/08/2025 - 16:26
    -7

    Don't do it. Trust in the system and invest the $30k/year into ETFs. It would be a better result for your kid in the long run.

  • AustriaBargain on 07/08/2025 - 16:31

    Public for sure. Spend the saved money on sports and tutoring.

    • Muppet Detector on 07/08/2025 - 17:24
      -6

      You know that the two aren't mutually exclusive right?

      They can go to private school AND attend external curriculars and tutoring if you want :)
      :
  • OwMeKnees on 07/08/2025 - 16:32
    +10

    Save your money. A "Bad School" isnt going to get better by people taking their kids and putting them somewhere else.
    A big part of school is learning how to live in the real world. Private school isnt the real world its also not a magic way to avoid arseholes… they're just arseholes with money

    • V2L on 08/08/2025 - 15:09
      +14

      I went to a public school but they are not all equal. It's hard to do well when your peers are disruptive in class and your friends have no interest in studies. They can't retain good teachers and has less resources. If you can't get into a good public school then catholic/private are options

    • alexdagr8 on 09/08/2025 - 23:53
      +2

      I’m yet to hear:
      “I grew up where people shot up daily and smoked crystal meth and I turned out alright”

      • Muppet Detector on 11/08/2025 - 10:18
        +1

        There is actually a movie on You Tube which is apparently a true story.

        "From Homeless to Harvard".

        Kid effectively became homeless because mum was a drug addicted alcoholic and magic happened and they got through school and went to uni.

        So, now you've heard about one…

        • V2L on 11/08/2025 - 16:02
          +1

          it was so rare they made a movie about it.. haha

        • alexdagr8 on 11/08/2025 - 16:52

          Got to give people hope, I agree

    • amsaini15 on 10/08/2025 - 06:46
      +1

      You can't start training a kid for a real world at fixed defined age. Some public schools are so bad and they are not even close to anything real world. Every child needs kindness and perfect environment to blossom. So if you can afford always go Private school.

  • soan papdi on 07/08/2025 - 16:35

    But we are not sure nearly 30K / year is worth it. Although it is not outside of our means - you can do a lot for that money to help a child.

    IMO it is not, unless the school itself has a particular facility or subject that really suits your child. That said, if you don't want to move to another public school zone, try one of the other private schools like Southern Cross or Overnewton

  • Stealtho on 07/08/2025 - 16:40

    Our daughter just got a full time Teachers job at her private primary school she went to.
    Straight from year 12 to uni to work.
    Paid off for her lol

      • Stealtho on 07/08/2025 - 18:04
        +5

        Geez you are always looking for a loophole lol.
        Yes she went to the primary school then their high school, same private schools, finished year 12 straight into 4 years at uni, started the teachers job this year at the primary school straight from finishing uni last year.
        Got it.

        • Protractor on 07/08/2025 - 18:07
          -7

          Rrrriiiight, so hardly time to gather her thoughts.
          Loophole? LOL.
          It's almost half a lifetime journey at her age, from primary to job, dude.

          • Stealtho on 07/08/2025 - 18:12

            @Protractor: They all go to year 12 these days so another 4 years, did it from home to while working casual.

            • Protractor on 07/08/2025 - 18:13
              -1

              @Stealtho: Did uni at home?

              • Stealtho on 07/08/2025 - 18:24
                +5

                @Protractor: Yep started in Covid year, went a few times then never went back till graduation a month ago. Was only a 10 min drive away too.
                She timed it well got hex fees halved cause of covid, this year first years teaches wage went up $10k, now Albo dropped the hex debt by 20%, she also got a $8k scholarship from the school at end of year 12. Pretty much uni was free in the wash out lol

                • Protractor on 07/08/2025 - 18:28
                  -2

                  @Stealtho: It's funny how you hear lost of stories about covid being the end of the world for some parts of the community, but rarely hear about the winners.
                  Sounds like the ALP has done your family well. Don't let jv find out. They'll have a fk'niption.

                  • Stealtho on 07/08/2025 - 18:31
                    -6

                    @Protractor: Yeah owning a business Scommo was paying me big $$ to surf lol was good times, lucky I lived 5kms from the beach haha

                • Grunntt on 08/08/2025 - 10:54

                  @Stealtho:

                  She timed it well …
                  Pretty much uni was free in the wash out lol

                  Just don't let the Gen Alpha,Beta,Gamma (whatever it will be sometime in her future) hear about this else she'll be blamed for everything they don't have.

        • Antikythera on 09/08/2025 - 23:34
          +1

          holy shit. all that money for private education and university and shes gonna be earning a teachers wage?

          • alexdagr8 on 09/08/2025 - 23:57

            @Antikythera: Don’t worry, it was the tax payers money for a lot of it. Some teachers earn good money (a lot don’t deserve it but that’s life, while some do deserve it). Bottom line - we don’t live in a meritocracy.

            Just like we see a lot of Fwits get into senior positions in the workplace when they are woefully incompetent.

          • Stealtho on 10/08/2025 - 07:41

            @Antikythera: life is not all about money for some, stick to your maccas job

      • Muppet Detector on 07/08/2025 - 18:31

        I think you missed the point.

        Congratulations Stealtho, it is my understanding that it is very hard to achieve a full time permanent teacher's position straight out of uni, particularly in the private sector.

        • Protractor on 07/08/2025 - 18:32
          -3

          I think you missed the point.

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