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

Best

6079 Smith on 07/08/2025 - 14:24

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.
- 19
- azero on 07/08/2025 - 22:48
  
  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.
  
  3
- Checkmate3023 on 07/08/2025 - 22:30
  
  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)
  
  1
- [Deactivated] on 10/08/2025 - 01:30
  
  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.
  
  1
  - Muppet Detector on 10/08/2025 - 16:52
    
    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.
    
    1
- jv on 07/08/2025 - 14:41
  
  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…
  
  -2
  - 6079 Smith on 07/08/2025 - 14:47
    
    That doesn't directly benefit you financially tho does it ?
    
    0
    - jv on 07/08/2025 - 14:54
      
      Yes it does…
      
      It impacts my savings and investments for later on…
      
      -6
- [Deactivated] on 09/08/2025 - 17:17
  
  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.
  
  -2
  - Muppet Detector on 09/08/2025 - 18:47
    
    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.
    
    1
    - [Deactivated] 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
      
      1
      - Muppet Detector on 10/08/2025 - 17:29
        
        @[Deactivated]: 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.
        
        1
The Wololo Wombat on 08/08/2025 - 11:48

As a deputy principal of a private school, I have a lot more freedom to make decisions that align with the best interests of the whole school community. This often means consequences - including suspension and expulsions - for students who, even after several chances, continue to put the learning environment or (worse) the safety of staff/students at risk.

Unfortunately, my state school colleagues in a similar position don't have this freedom - even repeated extreme incidents rarely result in expulsion due to bureaucratic overreach (imo). It also means that students who ARE expelled from private schools end up in the public system.

In my view, all schools should be safe environments that build character, both private and public. Individual students who harm this nurturing environment, and refuse to grow themselves, need to have a place where they can go, where they can get the support they need. Thus, we need more special/behaviour schools for those that don't meet the behaviour standards of mainstream schools.

I could go on to speak more about the cultural elements that feed into this issue… permissive parenting/a lack of boundaries, an over focus on individual rights over collective right + individual responsibility, disunity of thought around ‘good character’…but perhaps in another post! Unfortunately, I would never send my child to a state school - their academic and character development is far too important to risk.

P.S. I prefer the term 'independent' school. We don't have truely 'private' schools in Australia.
- 19
Danstar on 07/08/2025 - 14:09

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.
- 13
JimB on 07/08/2025 - 15:58

"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).
- 13
OwMeKnees on 07/08/2025 - 16:32

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
- 10
- V2L on 08/08/2025 - 15:09
  
  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
  
  18
- [Deactivated] on 09/08/2025 - 23:53
  
  I’m yet to hear:
  “I grew up where people shot up daily and smoked crystal meth and I turned out alright”
  
  2
  - Muppet Detector on 11/08/2025 - 10:18
    
    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…
    
    1
    - V2L on 11/08/2025 - 16:02
      
      it was so rare they made a movie about it.. haha
      
      3
    - [Deactivated] on 11/08/2025 - 16:52
      
      Got to give people hope, I agree
      
      0
- amsaini15 on 10/08/2025 - 06:46
  
  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.
  
  2
sumyungguy on 07/08/2025 - 14:12

If you can cash flow the private fees I expect you won't regret it.
- 9
- [Deactivated] on 10/08/2025 - 01:27
  
  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.
  
  4
  - 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.
    
    0
joka on 07/08/2025 - 14:37

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.
- 8
Checkmate3023 on 07/08/2025 - 17:08

Westbourne Grammar

Is this any better then the schools around you?

honestly Westbourne is not the best i mean if your going to pay 30k pa might as well pay for the bus and send them to Essendon Gramma or Baccers Gramma

western suburbs of Melbourne

Public schools in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne are 'fairly' terrible so i would lean to private sounds like your in the Point Cook/Hoppers/Werribee region so Heathdale Christian College or Mount St. Joseph Girls’ College is probably your best bet for private school not to far away and i dont think they are overly priced but i could be wrong.

the only 'good' public schools that arent selective are the ones with 'loads of Asians' Braybrook College, Bayside etc as they tend to have a culture of study and discipline with the expectation of tutoring and high marks installed in their mentality - the Primary schools are actually not bad but high schools are shocking.
- 7
- Save Medicare on 07/08/2025 - 19:13
  
  I've got a bunch of mates from med school who were from west side… All of them went to MHS.
  
  0
  - Checkmate3023 on 07/08/2025 - 22:27
    
    All of them went to MHS.
    
    Melbourne High is a 'selective' public school, selective public schools are public schools are 'two' different things but the media like to mix them together
    
    1
- azero on 07/08/2025 - 21:22
  
  Thanks, heathdale is impossible to get into unless applied years ago to be in the waiting list.
  
  Baccers also has a waiting list. Got Westbourne because I applied a few years ago - essentially as a backup. Mainly because it had very good good naplan and vce results. Should have tried Heathdale, but too late now.
  
  Is there any particular reason why westbourne is not good ?
  
  0
  - Checkmate3023 on 07/08/2025 - 21:55
    
    Is there any particular reason why westbourne is not good ?
    
    I wouldnt send my kids there, so i wouldnt recommend it to anyone else - things 'might have changed' they certainly have improved on ATAR results from checking recently.
    
    There are a lot of good girls schools in the west but not near you - Ave Maria and St Columba's College both not overly expensive (not cheap either) but very good schools
    
    if your daughter isnt able to get into a selective public school i'd consider some of the schools ive mentioned in my comments
    
    Ballarat Claredon you might want to consider but it might be far but it is the best school in the state with the most kids getting over 90 ATAR
    
    https://www.schools-360.com.au/academic-results-hsc-vce-atar…
    
    (set the filler to >90) it will give you the answers you seek - NAPLAN doesnt mean shit no one cares it is how the kids perform in their VCE that determines if they get to Uni and what courses they can 'realistically' apply for
    
    If you applied the >90 filler you will see Ballarat, Baccers, Heathdale Christian College, Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School are the best performers in the west if your spending >30k pa you want to send them to these schools - in the end your talking close to 200k from year 7-12 you might as well get the best for that $
    
    4
    - azero on 07/08/2025 - 22:42
      
      Makes sense, thanks
      
      2
    - Muppet Detector on 11/08/2025 - 10:34
      
      In Qld at least, a lot of our uni's have whatever they call their version of a "Guest Program".
      
      It generally works by letting kids with specific school grades attend uni for a semester whilst they're still in school.
      
      If the student passes that subject, they get automatic acceptance into the uni into whatever degree that subject was part of.
      
      Only other requirement was that you graduate yr 12. Your ATAR score doesn't matter.
      
      Here's one example from Griffith. Presumably other unis in other states offer something similar.
      
      https://www.griffith.edu.au/apply/undergraduate-study/high-s…
      
      0
      - Checkmate3023 on 11/08/2025 - 10:45
        
        @Muppet Detector: I havent been at Uni for over a decade now - but we had programs that you could get into similarly
        
        I went to La Trobe we had a program called SALT which made acceptance into particular courses much easier but it was 'mostly' general degrees ie Science, Arts, Business etc
        
        The top course are the most sort after - Medicine, Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Audiology, Speech Pathology, Law/Commence, Law Business etc there is almost 'no way' into thise courses without solid results in VCE (over 90) or via a pathway ie GAMSAT and/or high GPA at Uni.
        
        in addition to those mentioned above to clinical psychologist which is also a 'great' profession you need to be in the top 5% of your psychology undergradate degree making the other 95% of students left with a overly non-specific degree on its own.
        
        Now there is nothing wrong with degrees like Nursing, Teaching etc these all lead to decent professions that pay fairly well but if we are talking the very top of the pyrimide you need to accept it is very difficult and thus is why very rich people send their kids to schools like Wesley etc
        
        0
        
        Muppet Detector on 11/08/2025 - 11:25
        
        @Checkmate3023: Griffith doesn't work how you describe, so if other unis offer this, perhaps they don't either?
        
        Read the link before you write it off, think it's too hard or is severely restricted.
        
        Medicine, law, engineering etc, certainly possible at Griffith. Definitely not limited to "teaching and nursing" degrees.
        
        There's 40 odd subjects to choose from. Thus, if you think you may like engineering for example, choose a subject that's included in the engineering degree.
        
        And I can say with absolute certainty that if you pass the subject, you receive automatic entry into your preferred degree as long as your subject is part of the degree you choose.
        
        These places are offered before ATAR results are even published and before first round offers go out, so definitely not reliant on Grade 12 results or ATAR score (note need to be eligible to apply for ATAR score to apply for the program, but don't need the score to get a spot in your preferred degree).
        
        And don't need to be "top" students either, only need a B in subject at school to apply, have a look at the link.
        
        Another bonus is that all you have to do is pass the uni subject, apart from that, the actual grade doesn't matter.
        
        Whilst course is recognised as completed, the grade isn't recorded on your transcript so it never affects your GPA.
        
        All of mine had guaranteed entry into at least one degree whilst others were still fretting about their yr 12 exams, far less ATAR results. If nothing else, at least it's a decent plan B in case you don't get the marks you want or accepted into another uni of your choice.
        
        Being offered a guaranteed place doesn't mean you have to accept it. Can just use it as back up incase Plan A didn't work.
        
        Meant that instead of being stressed whilst trying to prepare for your final exams, you can just take a breath and cruise through iykwim.
        
        Could even be Plan C. If something happens and your eventual Atar isn't high enough or you want a different degree, get into whatever degree you can because you can always transfer to your desired degree for semester two.
        
        If you're academically able, it's certainly not a bad back up plan and at least you've got your foot in the door without bridging courses or whatever if your final atar isn't what you were hoping.
        
        Mine all did this, but also Math C and second language cos these also increase your atar if you're after other unis.
        
        0
        
        Checkmate3023 on 11/08/2025 - 11:29
        
        @Muppet Detector: Honestly sounds 'pretty' good, i i finished my mastered 12 years ago and im not going back ever my kids are little but when they get closer to High school i will look into things more seriously
        
        i wouldnt send any of my kids to any of the none-selective public schools in the west - ill note i went to a non-selective public school in the west
        
        0
  - Plasma on 08/08/2025 - 12:04
    
    McKillop, Thomas Carr?
    
    0
- lunartemis on 08/08/2025 - 06:14
  
  One of my teacher friends works at St Albans secondary and he says it is one of the better public schools; he worked in 5 different public schools and saying this school is good enough for him to retire at
  
  0
  - Checkmate3023 on 08/08/2025 - 10:27
    
    One of my teacher friends works at St Albans secondary and he says it is one of the better public schools; he worked in 5 different public schools and saying this school is good enough for him to retire at
    
    the Irony is St Albans was a 'terrible' area when i was growing up dangerous af
    
    However i think a lot of vietnamese moved to St Albans and 'made it their own' now they are 2-3 generations in, the area now is booming housing going for over $2m becoming the norm. (also you get some amazing Banh Mi inthe area)
    
    the viets like a lot of other asians have taken over the schools and are 'generally' well behaved and have a 'hard working and have a pro-study' mentality' - they also have no issue with Tutoring and doing extra work on weekends and after hours. - the culture respects and applauds high achievers
    
    They still 'respect' teachers so it wouldnt suprise me if St Albans has improved similar to Braybook has - i do think the 'brightest' of them end up at schools like Melbourne High and Mc Robs as their parents push them to get into selective schools but the ones that dont make it can often still be good students
    
    I did my Tutoring in year 12 with a lot of Viets in Footscray they were socially not the best but they all had the goal to become doctors,dentists, physiotherapist, Lawyers etc all courses requiring >90 scores - being around people with 'this' academic mentality can only be good for academic success - i still remember my Tutor being dissapointed if i told him i didnt get an +A on a sack or a test he was brutal but looking back i respect it.
    
    3
Cheap Gamer on 08/08/2025 - 06:18

Overpriced and has temporary benefits. I grew up with a lot of private school kids who had coaching. Sure it got them over the line into prestige courses, but the relentless grind without that help forced many to drop out. Most of them have unremarkable and disappointing careers now. Plenty of parents just wanted the bragging rights of private schools, or they were pressured to support their religion.
- 7
Chewy2221 on 08/08/2025 - 09:42

We have a quiet child who lacked confidence but was encouraged to apply for selective school. Best decision ever. He met kids at that school who have become lifelong friends. He excelled academically & has built a rewarding life for himself as an engineer. We definitely could not have afforded private school at the time. Good luck with your deliberation.
- 6
voo123 on 09/08/2025 - 16:08

Top private schools in West

1st : Penleigh and Essendon Grammar (Essendon),
Overall State score : 98

Tuition Fees
Prep: approx 27k
Year 7: approx 34k
Year 12: approx 36k

2nd: Bacchus Marsh Grammar (Bacchus Marsh and Aintree)
Overall State score: 97

Tuition Fees
Prep: 7.3k
Year 7: 13.1k
Year 12: 14.7k

3rd: Westbourne Grammar (Truganina)
Overall State score: 97

Tuition fees:
Prep: 18.7k
Year 7: 24.3k
Year 12: 26.3k

4th: Southern Cross Grammar (Caroline Springs)
State score : 95

Tuition Fees:
Prep: 10.3k
Year 7: 12.9k
Year 12: 14.5k

5th: Heathdale Christian College (Werribee)
State score: 94

Tuition Fees:
Prep: 7.6k
Year 7: 11.2k
Year 12: 12.2k

Top Public Secondary Schools in West

Suzanne Cory High School (Werribee), *Selective exam requirement
Ranked 1st in west
State score : 100

Alamanda K-9 College (Point Cook)
Ranked 2nd in West
State score: 94

Williamstown High School (Williamstown)
Ranked 3rd in West
State score: 91

Overall public+private ranking in West:
1st Suzanne Cory High School
2nd Penleigh and Essendon Grammar
3rd Bacchus Marsh Grammar
4th Westbourne Grammar
5th Southern Cross Grammar
Tied 6th Heathdale Christian College and Alamanda K-9 College
8th Williamstown High School

What I would do?
I would strive to get my kid into the public selective school Suzanne Cory. It is the cheapest and best option. If she is the truly academic type, she’ll make it. I would base myself within the Alamanda school zone as backup and lead-up into the entrance exams for Suzanne Cory.

If she makes it into Suzanne Cory, thats great. Its not too onerous to commute across to Werribee.

If she doesn’t make it, you still have Alamanda as a great back up, with Westbourne as the superior private alternative.

Best of luck
- 4
DanTheMan10 on 08/08/2025 - 01:28

As someone who has attended both public (selective) and a private (GPS) school, I personally found the experiences and network I got at a private school were priceless. I was supported in all aspects of school life including academics and sport by teachers who I felt cared, unlike the public school system. Obviously the tuition is expensive, but maybe even sending them during the latter part of their high school journey may be very beneficial for them. YMMV
- 3
- Hangryuman on 08/08/2025 - 09:31
  
  I went to both public and private high schools -
  
  While I was attending my rural small town public high school, one guy was killed driving underage when he braked overtaking on loose gravel and overturned - a rascal accident for an otherwise nice guy
  
  After attending my city private high school, two of my schoolmates committed suicide - apparently feeling not good enough as a result of demanding fathers expecting them to become high achievers. Another was stood down for unethical work practices, again seeking to follow his very successful father. My best friend from that school is now a suicidal alcoholic.
  
  0
bobbified on 07/08/2025 - 17:03

Is it too late to try for the selective schools? They'd be similar to private schools without the $30k/year fees!
- 2
- Save Medicare on 07/08/2025 - 19:11
  
  mac rob is only year 9+ i think, and kind of competitive to get into
  
  1
  - pyramid on 08/08/2025 - 10:18
    
    9 to 12. Selective exam for this year is finished and students are sent offer letters for year 9 2026.
    
    0
  - bobbified on 08/08/2025 - 19:20
    
    Yes, you're right. I mistakenly thought selective schools were the same as NSW where they start in Year 7.
    
    0
Wiadro on 07/08/2025 - 21:17

PUBLIC ALWAYS

eshay lads
- 2
- Ciderfizz44 on 10/08/2025 - 23:45
  
  I own franga
  
  0
Powershopz on 08/08/2025 - 00:08

Save your money.

If you have the means to rent in a better area - that's potentially a better use of your money and look at the inner west/north west for alternative schools. Huge pain to move but will save you significant cash in the long run.

Thought about semi-private schools with much cheaper fees?

Save your money that you would have spent on private school and invest in other things - buy them a good reliable car when they're 18, pay for their university degree, private tutors or other things. You'll get a lot more bank for your buck and have them far more setup for success than a private school would.
- 2
Morphio25 on 08/08/2025 - 11:05

One of the main things you get out of private school are the connections your child makes with other children, and what the parents do for a living. As they say it's not what you know, but who you know.

I work in a place where the employees I support make in excess of $350K+ - their kids all good to private schools. The one that are nearing completion already have fantastic tertiary study opportunities lined up and the relationships they've made with other kids and their parents over the course of their schooling means they'll end up with high paying jobs once they finish their studies. Of course that doesn't extend to every child in private schooling, but certainly the ones I've observed fall under this umbrella.

At the end of the day though, all schools teach the curriculum. The teachers that teach schools all have the same degree from whatever university they graduated from.
- 2
- john_conner on 08/08/2025 - 13:02
  
  Something tells me that the elite parents won’t be doing any favours for non-elite parents’ children.
  
  So if the child hasn’t already got it made, private school isn’t going to change that.
  
  Also do we really want to teach our kids that making the “right friends” is more important than hard work and determination? More likely outcome is that regular parents will spend all their money trying to help their kids “fit in”, and receive mediocre grades (who needs to study anyway, it’s about who you know!!!) to be cool.
  
  2
  - V2L on 08/08/2025 - 15:13
    
    the real world is about who you know rather than what you know. I wouldn't want my kids to miss opportunities by not learning this
    
    7
    - amsaini15 on 10/08/2025 - 06:52
      
      Agree 100%. Gone is the saying that you only need hard work and determination, you do need connections, good overall development to survive and thrive in today's world.
      
      1
Emcaljoe on 08/08/2025 - 17:37

Is she a self motivated studier and can find like minded people easier? Public works if she is that type as teachers tend to figure out the spectrum of academic levels quickly if she's in that group.

In my experience (teacher), the absolute decider is the attitude of the student towards education. They block out the white noise and in many cases succeed in spite of the crap. SEAL programs about 40km from our place of residence allowed 2 of my kids to succeed, particularly in the case of my daughter who's now a doctor… but she had a plan from about year 3, very driven.Teachers and the school account for a percentage of success, but it's not the main driver in my experience. My other son has gone to the dark side and is learning the ropes of financial advice and my youngest is in the last year of a carpentry apprentice, already doing extra TAFE.

To the OP? Back your daughter in. Teachers will back her. NAPLAN is bullshit…years 10, 11 and 12 count if you want to enter tertiary education, but still not decisive in your kid's future education. She'll work it out and will get the assistance she needs, regardless of where she goes. And one of her biggest assets will be your attitude to education… and you give a shit? That counts!
- 2
- azero on 09/08/2025 - 00:18
  
  makes sense thanks
  
  0
harley on 09/08/2025 - 08:23

We were in the same area as you. Before the kids reached primary age, we moved to a suburb with the best public high school we could find where we could afford to purchase a house. We rented for a year first before we bought. The house prices here have gone up way more than our old place because of the good schools, and if we gave it a few more years, we may not be able to afford the move. Parents tell us they move here because of the schools and their kids are doing so much better than before.
- 2
- azero on 09/08/2025 - 11:14
  
  We weren't that lucky :) , anything except for a 2 br unit were out of reach in good zones when we built the house.
  
  1
  - harley on 10/08/2025 - 08:12
    
    I used this website: https://bettereducation.com.au/school/Secondary/vic/melbourn… and then checked Domain for the best school with house prices that were in our price range. We decided to move in the middle of renovating the old place as a forever home. Kids say they miss the old place: larger renovated house and land, but we say we moved for the good schools, for your future.
    
    0
atwilliams on 09/08/2025 - 14:45

Having 2 kids who have now finished their schooling, whether it is "worth it" or not, to some degree depends on the kid. Yes, we all want to give our child the best start in life, but I suggest having a long hard think about whether you feel the kid has character to take advantage of the extra opportunities that private schools bring. If you feel they are not likely to "put in the effort" or just unlikely to excel at anything (nothing necessarily anything wrong with that), then it will be a missed opportunity and you could / should use the money to benefit your family in other ways.

One of my kids (even at age 11) was clearly showing us that they would take advantage of a private school and did so. The other showed gave no sign (at age 11) and ended up not really taking advantage of the opportunity. I love them both, but in hindsight, the 2nd child probably shouldn't have gone to private school.
- 2
renster72 on 09/08/2025 - 14:54

Any Catholic / Christian Schools around? Better discipline than public and cheaper than private/
- 2
chulbul on 10/08/2025 - 22:11
Mostly you pay for these two reasons (and only these two reasons)

To keep your kid away from unwanted crowd

Your kid will get that specific environment and classmates

Nothing else matters.

Education level and quality has nothing to do with school type - very good public schools are there beating privates.
- 2
- JimB on 11/08/2025 - 12:15
  
  I disagree that it's only solely the above two reasons and Education level and quality has nothing to do with school type.
  
  You forgot that the teachers are not all the same.
  
  I know a few teachers.
  
  If you're a good teacher, would you want to work at a public school dealing with little shits who can't get expelled and their entitled parents OR would you rather work at a independent school where the school can effectively discipline their kids and also get a higher salary?
  
  0
  - chulbul on 11/08/2025 - 17:14
    
    Slightly different view, with all due respect mate, neighbourhood matters in first place.
    
    Def the teachers not wanna stay in a school where kids are not being "ok" for them to teach peacefully.
    
    More for areas where public schools are as classy in terms of teachers, infra and quality, the reason to choose a Pvt school comes down to choosing community for your kids future.
    
    High school buddies have more chances of becoming colleagues or business partners compared to others.
    
    0
lunartemis on 08/08/2025 - 06:36

I have worked in public, catholic, and private schools across 21 years of my teaching career and the behaviour of kids have got worse especially in public schools. Teachers spend more time controlling the behaviour in the class instead of teaching the contents. HOWEVER, when it comes to year 7, they are about the same behaviour-wise because students come from different primary schools. So you can enrol her in the local public school to see how she goes.
As for NAPLAN results, some schools make exemptions for low academic students (to not sit the tests) to boost their results.
- 1
- Hangryuman on 08/08/2025 - 09:37
  
  I agreed with other TAFE teachers that we typically spent 80% of our limited class time dealing with behavioural problems - it only takes one difficult or troublesome student to totally disrupt a classroom and any planned 'teaching' for that class time. And that was 'adult' education - mostly over 18
  
  I heard from high school teachers that they fear actual physical assault from high school students.
  
  And recently I read that female teachers now typically overhear sexually suggestive comments like 'she's rapeable' from 'boys' wanting to impress their fellow students.
  
  0
  - Protractor on 08/08/2025 - 09:56
    
    Long handled cattle prod
    
    -1
- JimB on 11/08/2025 - 12:01
  
  I think that is my main gripe about some public schools.
  
  The teachers are fine and kids who are smart and hardworking ought to achieve success at any school, public and private, however in the real world, it's difficult for hardworking kids to learn when 'Teachers spend more time controlling the behaviour in the class instead of teaching the contents'.
  
  This is due to some parents thinking their kids can do no wrong even when the teacher raises the behaviour of the child with the parents. The teachers unfortunately do not have the right to discipline the child anymore.
  
  If a teacher contacted my parents about my behaviour towards my teacher, I would have got a belting. And rightly so too.
  
  0
Carmen Sandiego on 08/08/2025 - 10:04

In my experience with public for yr7&8, and then private from 9-12, as well as having studied to becoming a HS teacher (I'm not now but, know people in that field);
* It heavily depends on what subjects she'll enjoy taking in year 7/what she enjoys studying now honestly - the private I graduated from is more known for their Arts and sports so it worked out for me better than girls who weren't into that so much
* Private schools have more networking opportunities but, it starts to matter less post university
* Is she a self motivated studier and can find like minded people easier? Public works if she is that type as teachers tend to figure out the spectrum of academic levels quickly if she's in that group

Good luck!
- 1
lunartemis on 08/08/2025 - 12:50

If your dauggter is academically hig, consider a school that offers the SEAL program for acelerated class
- 1
drick on 09/08/2025 - 22:48

If you have kids who are self-driven and eager to learn, then i'd say go to a good public school.
If you feel your kid or kids have needs outside what extra tutoring can offer then i'd recommend going private.
- 1
The General on 09/08/2025 - 23:55

One bit benefit of Private schools is they will remove (expel) students that are a distraction to other students.
Public schools it is near impossible to remove them. Only if they commit crimes will they get removed.

Given that troublesome students are usually distractions, this is a big plus. Of course it will vary from school to school though.
- 1
[Deactivated] on 10/08/2025 - 01:49

I would also consider sending my children to a boarding school overseas. Switzerland, US, Japan, some EU countries or even China (mainly to instil a sense of competition in their education for China) and then pursue an IB instead of an ATAR.

I’ll need to perform further research but I’m not ruling it out. I haven’t got the highest level of faith in:
Australia’s teachers and Australia’s education system in general.
But education in itself is very dependent on the individual but also on the parents and the school system.
- 1
- Muppet Detector on 11/08/2025 - 05:03
  
  Over on Whirlpool forums there's a poster called St. Barth.
  
  He's all over that, guiding two of his own through it all at the moment. Been doing it for years and years, I think his kids are getting towards the end now? (At least one is preparing for college applications).
  
  But he seems to be a wealth of knowledge about all the international education, schools and boarding etc.
  
  1
- sumyungguy on 10/08/2025 - 09:42
  
  Perhaps Léman Manhattan in New York City or Collège du Léman in Versoix; boarding schools who offer IB
  
  0
  - [Deactivated] on 10/08/2025 - 21:30
    
    Even Aus schools offer IB (some private schools in yr 11-12 instead of an ATAR) but like anything, depends on the student.
    
    0
    - sumyungguy on 10/08/2025 - 21:37
      
      Yeah I know, I was mocking the bargain website member talking up sending their imaginary offspring to international boarding school when likely they wouldn't have enough cash flow to do it here. I knew a boarder whose parents were based in Hong Kong but because they worked for Cathay Pacific they could fly their offsrping backwards and forwards at minimal cost.
      
      1
      - [Deactivated] on 10/08/2025 - 22:02
        
        @sumyungguy: I respectfully disagree.. knowing the value of money and spending it wisely isn’t a necessity just for the poor and not just for the privileged elite/wealthy.
        
        That and the cost of living in Australia is exorbitant. I like to think ozbargain is for everyone. The wealthy can learn what is reasonable and what not to waste money on and not be taken advantage of and the less fortunate as well. Everyone loves a bargain.
        
        I also value everyone’s perspective (even different states have different views on this particular topic).
        
        The cost of boarding school in some countries might be exceptionally cheap in comparison to some of the most expensive schools in Australia.
        But I don’t know. There’s also an assumption that the private sector do a better job (for some things). But there’s also an assumption that being surrounded by intelligent people fosters intelligence (I’ve met some real dumb Fwits that boasted about going to a selective school… it’s been at least 15 years… let it go… you’re still a trash human being and you didn’t “make it”)
        
        I also don’t pretend that I could do a better job of teaching my child than a teacher.
        Which is where boarding may come in.
        
        But then they don’t get the same socio-cultural upbringing from simple things like chats around the dinner table…
        So some values may get lost…
        There’s always a trade off..
        
        I guess it just depends on what families value for their kids.
        
        A lot of variables and plenty of time to plan.
        
        0
- serpserpserp on 10/08/2025 - 20:50
  
  Yeah that sounds like a thing normal people can afford
  
  0
  - [Deactivated] on 10/08/2025 - 21:28
    
    Probably cheaper than alot of schools in Australia.
    Quality of education can be quantified.
    1x way ticket to China is definitely affordable for most parents.
    Child aces mathematics… the only pitfall is then your child sounds like this:
    
    YouTube
    
    0
amsaini15 on 10/08/2025 - 06:55

Try getting your child into selective first. If not possible and If you can afford, spend on quality education through Private School. You will be happy for overall development of your child later. It's worth it.
My son spend Yr 7-10 in public school and is now studying in private (Sydney) and I can see the difference it has made. There is no substitute for top notch education.
- 1
- ferry594 on 10/08/2025 - 11:46
  
  Absolutely this. Selective beats out any private school (if you're looking at purely academic marks) any day of the week.
  
  0
  - [Deactivated] on 10/08/2025 - 21:29
    
    But I’ve also seen the selective students are clueless about life and social skills…
    
    0
    - ferry594 on 11/08/2025 - 06:58
      
      Sure but anecdotally if you look at the average selective school student, and the average private school student, the selective school student would IMO have a higher/ better outcome, and would have the greatest "increase" relative to where they started.
      
      Any idiot can go to a private school given enough money, the same can't be said about selective schools.
      
      0
Joxer on 10/08/2025 - 08:15

Private schools, from my experience, do not offer better education, just a different kind with connections. I.e. you are in a different more affluent world.

So it depends what your kids want to do when they grow up and whether you want them to be amongst "high society" or not.

It is also no point to put them in a poor private school because they're in the same lower socio-economic class and therefore won't make those Lovely high end connections.

That's really what school and then uni is about. The curriculums of schools are otherwise very similar in the basics. I find staying away from negative peers applies in all schools and you'll find teachers can be good or bad in both.
- 1
- amsaini15 on 10/08/2025 - 10:08
  
  Only that there are too many negative peers in public school and Teachers are not bothered about discipline. Teenage years are delicate and child can easily fall prey to wrong culture. Again why a very good teacher stay in public school when they can get more $$ at private school. I won't expect a private school teacher to be bad as they will be easily spotted and taken out. Private school depends upon quality education and good culture and won't compromise on it by having bad teachers.
  
  1
  - boirganz on 10/08/2025 - 22:56
    
    Discipline is very much school-dependent.
    
    Private schools dont compromise by booting out their problem students and making the public system deal with them - who arent allowed to boot them out because even shit kids deserve an education.
    
    But the kids in private schools? Just as bad an influence as public as a broad generalisation. There's been incidents of rape and sexual abuse and misogyny in both public and private schools. Parenting is the difference to how your kids end up being - not schools.
    
    0
    - amsaini15 on 11/08/2025 - 22:08
      
      We are again to be blamed if we put our child which has a bad track record. Why don't we name and name such school to hurt them where it should hurt most? As parent we stay quite and don't actively give feedback.
      May be I am fortunate my son goes to the school where they have good discipline and are able to reaolves issues quickly.
      I agree with Parenting is important but what if your child is bullied in school daily, does not have support of teachers with no punishment for offenders and suffer from mental issues in their life? It's not worth it. I am happy to take risk at private school.
      
      0
Zondor on 10/08/2025 - 14:40

It all depends on the schools in your area. There are craphouse private AND public schools it all depends.
- 1
Felixrising on 10/08/2025 - 21:01
The ChatGPT summary:

Top 5 biggest influences on a child’s academic & life success (based on large studies)

Parenting & home learning environment – high expectations, reading/talking daily, curiosity, emotional stability.

Teacher quality – great teaching accelerates learning far more than school sector.

Child’s mindset & self-regulation – motivation, persistence, growth mindset.

Socio-economic resources – access to safe study space, tech, nutrition, enrichment.

Peer group – friends who value learning and have positive aspirations.

Public vs private school matters far less than these factors once background is accounted for.
OECD PISA Reports (2000–2022)

International comparisons show socio-economic background and parental engagement strongly linked to outcomes.
- School sector (public/private) has minimal independent effect once background is controlled. https://www.oecd.org/pisa/publications/

Australian LSAC (Longitudinal Study of Australian Children)
- Tracks children over many years; highlights parental expectations, home learning, and SES as key predictors. https://growingupinaustralia.gov.au/research-findings/annual…

Anecdotally, none of my private school university alumni I'm in touch with think their private education helped them much in their careers - certainly not the old boys type connections they made at the time.

Personally I would always move to a good neighbourhood with schools that do achieve well. Almost all of the inner city schools within 5 to 8km of the CBD rank very well within the state and some of the public schools are in top 1 or 2 positions year after year. Ultimately the engagement of the parents is never going to be substituted by paying big money for a private school. Don't work long hours and think your money is going to replace you as a parent. A good public school always offers excellent value for money and can let them achieve at a high level, I see it more of a case of the school supports them to achieve as well as they can and doesn't get in their way. Private school teachers I know have anecdotally horror stories of parents being totally absent and placing all blame for poor child behaviours onto the teacher, when this is really blame shifting for parents who don't understand the commitment and engagement they bring has such a large long term influence on their children.
- 1
colossus on 11/08/2025 - 12:56

If it is within your means, and it's obviously a valid consideration, why not start your child at private school and see if the school meets her needs and your desired outcomes.

Moving to a better suburb is a valid suggestion. If private school doesn't deliver what you want, you can move and she can return to the public system.

In summary, starting at an independant school does not have to be for all her schooling if it's not working.
- 1
- CharlieSheen on 11/08/2025 - 18:04
  
  It'll come down to their kids aptitude at the end of the day. I went through public school and turned out perfectly fine (at least I like to think so) but I know plenty of private school kids that became druggies, losers, prisoners, failure to launches, etc. If your kid has the aptitude for it- selective school is obviously the best.
  
  1
  - MrMarket on 12/08/2025 - 16:30
    
    I went to one of the worse public school with gang fights and all that, I have enough smarts and my parents discipline to keep away from those people and just go to school, study get the grades and move up in life and the rest is history, applied the same discipline to my kids and sent them to public school.
    
    2
    - CharlieSheen on 18/08/2025 - 10:08
      
      Yea, in my opinion if I were to ever have kids I'd rather put them through the public system and pay for extra tutoring and sport. I did Kumon through primary school, despite getting a lot of hate, in retrospect I did quite enjoy it whilst I was there. If my kids did have the apptitude for it as well, I'd want them to take entrace exams for going to a selective school too.
      
      0
Nugs on 12/08/2025 - 11:19

"in the news for fights, knives… the whole lot." that is the only bit I'd be worried about.

we have 3 adult children who are now all at uni.
one went private from years 6 thru 12 on a discounted fee structure, the other two went public under the ignite program (maybe SA only?)
I saw no real value in the money we spent, only 'nice to haves'
.
- 1
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
- 0
- JimB on 07/08/2025 - 15:49
  
  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
  
  4
  - sumyungguy on 07/08/2025 - 16:09
    
    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
    
    4
    - JimB on 07/08/2025 - 16:22
      
      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.
      
      3

Public or Private Secondary School

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