Private School Vs Buying Property/Investing for Kid

Jaduqimon on 06/10/2025 - 19:10
Last edited 06/10/2025 - 19:33 by 1 other user

As my daughter is approaching high school age, I am in the position to either send her to an elite private school which will costs about $50 - $60k p.a. all up. Or send her to local government high school which is mediocre in my area like ranked 150ish on the SMH HSC rankings and purchase a property or invest the money instead of paying the private school fees.

My thinking is if I send my daughter to private school, then chances are she will get a better education/being better all rounder and PERHAPS… do better in life and financially for herself later.

On the other hand from an economic perspective, I can't help but lean towards the government school + investing route as i have high doubts that the additional education or expected value if you will of the private school education will outweigh the investment returns of putting 50-60k away for her in investments., I.e. buying a property now while it's still "cheap" lol.

What are people's thoughts and opinions on this?

Should I give my daughter the best chance at education and empower her or just invest the money and give to her later?

Financial

Comments

    • nibblesh on 07/10/2025 - 09:48
      -1

      To add to this, the real barrier / bias coming from the above observation largely comes from minute behaviours / mannerisms. Things like tone, behaviour, accent, all play a very big factor into whether you get a good first impression or not.

      The people currently in charge can tell the difference between what they've heard/observed since their schooling days all the way through, and if you manage to sound/act the same as their preferred group, they will inherently like you more.

      So the main value of private schools is adjusting to these minute behaviours, picking up the accent etc, you also have the chance to meet the next suite of the countries' leaders. If you go to a mid level private school, probably not worth it. If you go to one of the best ones, or any in one of the best suburbs, your kid will likely go to school with the next CEO of Woolworths.

      • MessyG on 07/10/2025 - 13:36
        +5

        What you're actually saying here is that to be accepted in certain spaces, you have to change the way you think, and speak and behave and basically copy others until your own personhood is erased, so you can belong. And then once you reach those spaces, you must behave in that way, for the rest of your life. It's called masking. If people like you more because you've changed yourself to be like them, they don't like you, they like the mask. It's one of the big drivers behind loneliness.

        Much better to focus on what you enjoy doing and become a specialist in that field. Obviously be good to work with but pretending your way to the top just to be there for the sake of it sounds like a horrible existence.

        • Muppet Detector on 09/10/2025 - 03:23
          +1

          What you're actually saying here is that to be accepted in certain spaces, you have to change the way you think, and speak and behave and basically copy others until your own personhood is erased, so you can belong

          Not at all.

          They're showing you (the developing child), an alternative way to think and behave that you may not otherwise know about, just in case you do find value in those variables and do find yourself wanting to be able to engage in those spaces sometime in the future.

          That's what being a kid is about. Working out the kind of person you want to be and what sort of "space" you want to engage with.

          Kids are learning like sponges from their environment from the moment they are born (the non verbal part of the IQ).

          Socialisation is one of the key functions of accessing an education which in turn acts as a sorting hat for society.

          How can anybody make an informed decision if they didn't even know there was an alternative to what their current capital exposes to them?

          If you never try chocolate milk, how do you know if you like it or how to go about getting a glass if nobody has shown you how to do that?

          You don't have to drink the chocolate milk just because you know it's there, but you have more choices and opportunities knowing it exists and how to get it if that's what you decide that you may like when it's time to make those decisions.

          Much better to focus on what you enjoy doing and become a specialist in that field.

          And how does a kid know if they'll enjoy something that they either didn't know existed or how to access it if they decide they'd like to?

          Do you think Michael Klim would have become a champion swimmer if nobody ever gave him swimming lessons?

    • V2L on 07/10/2025 - 12:26
      +3

      depends on the industry. law/corporate yes, others like health, tech not so much

      • CrispyChrispy on 07/10/2025 - 14:32

        What do you mean?

        • V2L on 07/10/2025 - 15:47
          +3

          In healthcare for example no one cares or really knows what high school you went to, or uni even. there are elements of nepotism like anything else but the criterias for getting a job are much more structured and objective - the connections you make after secondary school matters much more and they are much more merit based where as corporate/law/senior management and c-suite etc are much more connections and network influenced where your 'old boys (gender specific term fully intended) network' may hold more value.

    • MessyG on 07/10/2025 - 13:33
      +13

      But…is that what SHE wants? To be at the highest level of leadership? To what end? What happens when you climb to the top? The neverending social contract of compromising your values to stay at the top…

      Meanwhile I went to to a private school, all of my cousins went to private schools whose legacy haunts the echelons of leadership and none of us are interested in those spaces because we know what they're like. Sure we all know people who know people and I guess we have good contacts but none of us actually use them. We all ran a mile. Success for most doesn't lie in being the best or the top or the richest, its in having healthy relationships and doing what you enjoy doing and financial security. Guide her toward that and she'll be fine.

      • klaw81 on 07/10/2025 - 13:50
        +2

        Well said - an excellent perspective worth considering.

      • Muppet Detector on 08/10/2025 - 23:54

        But…is that what SHE wants? To be at the highest level of leadership?

        WHO knows? But wouldn't it be better to achieve whatever it is she decides when she gets there rather than get to where she needs to decide and then have to settle for something else because she lacked the ability/qualifications?

        I'd rather my kid be able to be an "astronaut" (or whatever) and choose to be a sewer inspector than to want to be an "astronaut", but only be qualified to be a sewer inspector and spend the next 50 years of their life being miserable for 38 hours a week.

        What happens when you climb to the top?

        If that's the pathway she chooses to pursue, then that will be up to her to discover when she gets there, eh?

        Success for most doesn't lie in being the best or the top or the richest, its in having healthy relationships and doing what you enjoy doing and financial security. Guide her toward that and she'll be fine.

        All of that can exist together, even if "she" decides to be the "astronaut".

        IMO, Just because it's not something that interests yourself, doesn't mean you should set limitations on somebody else.

        What if that is what success looks like to her though?

        Their lives will be extraordinary if given the opportunity to follow their dreams, not be limited or restricted by dreams that belong to somebody else.

        Imagine if Michael Klim's parents (or relevant high performer), insisted that he only aim to be ordinary and denied him the opportunity to pursue what he really wanted to do.

  • thatonethere on 06/10/2025 - 20:03

    Sadly it is all a gamble. Goes to private school, you pay a fortune, she does well or gets bullied and all for nothing. Goes to public, save money, learns nothing as you can get away with it, all for nothing. Good luck!

    • jv on 06/10/2025 - 22:38
      +1

      Sadly it is all a gamble.

      Some things are more probable than others…

      • Hardlyworkin on 07/10/2025 - 09:01
        +10

        Like you using bold text where it isn't necessary?

        • jv on 07/10/2025 - 09:30
          -2

          It is necessary.

          • EitherWayUp on 07/10/2025 - 14:43
            +3

            @jv: You really aren’t a fan of public schools are you?

          • fredblogs on 07/10/2025 - 15:22

            @jv: Did you learn inappropriate use of bold text at a public school?

    • Muppet Detector on 09/10/2025 - 00:02

      Sadly it is all a gamble.

      True, but the good thing about education in Australia, is you can change your mind if a particular pathway you do choose turns out to be disappointing or unsuccessful.

      Whilst it is certainly ideal (in most cases) that your education is somewhat stable, in most cases, you can change schools after giving a single term's notice that you're leaving.

  • 87percent on 06/10/2025 - 20:12
    +1

    Could send her to public school for first couple of years, and then go for scholarships in year 9

    • 42 on 08/10/2025 - 08:15
      +1

      Can be traumatic to uproot a child with established social circle in a school to a new school where they don't know anyone

  • Stuj on 06/10/2025 - 20:16
    +1

    Why dont you ask Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale about school catchments

  • The Salt King on 06/10/2025 - 20:16

    It's all up to the parent but if you are really driven and so is your child homeschooling can trump private in terms of education. Private is largely networking not just for the childs future but also you from my experience.

    • MS Paint on 06/10/2025 - 20:45
      +1

      Private is largely networking not just for the childs future but also you from my experience.

      What?

  • Dollar General on 06/10/2025 - 20:54
    +7

    Elite private school = better quality cocaine available for parents and students

    • jv on 06/10/2025 - 22:39

      As opposed to better quality heroin at public schools ?

      • Dollar General on 07/10/2025 - 07:04
        +3

        Weed in public schools

        • jv on 07/10/2025 - 09:29
          -1

          Yes, their garden maintenance budget is usually lower.

        • Muppet Detector on 09/10/2025 - 03:38

          Nah, the kids in public still want the better quality cocaine, it's just that more of them probably have to steal it because they can't pay for it.

          • Dollar General on 09/10/2025 - 04:47

            @Muppet Detector: Maybe but those private school kids have it just to get through each day with due to their overbearing parents

            • Muppet Detector on 09/10/2025 - 06:48

              @Dollar General: Whilst their public school counterparts needit to get through each day to fit in with their gang banger mates and to avoid feeling hopeless and helpless as they contemplate their future prospects…. jk, but you did leave the opening…

    • MessyG on 07/10/2025 - 13:37
      -1

      Not to mention the dexamphetmine (so my kid can get straight As), to the methamphetamine (so I can be the top lawyer) pipeline.

  • JIMB0 on 06/10/2025 - 21:12
    +2

    I had a mate who's parents sent him to a prestigious private school. He ended up a bricklayer. Then there's people who went to public school and ended up as doctors and engineers.

    • Jaduqimon on 06/10/2025 - 21:40
      +1

      yes of course there are outliers but statistically speaking, there are far more bricklayers that went to public schools and doctors/engineers that went to private schools vs other way around. I am acknowledging that its not the be all end all but we have to admit, private school gives the best chance outside of selective schools.

      • JIMB0 on 06/10/2025 - 22:23
        +3

        Maybe it's because families that send their kids to private school are more likely to push their kids to become doctors and lawyers. It could be the case that if they went to a public school they'd end up doing the same.

        • jv on 06/10/2025 - 22:41
          -2

          more likely to push their kids to become doctors and lawyers.

          Maybe a small number of parents do, but more likely, it's the kids pushing each other to do better.

          Most kids that go to private schools want to do well…

          • klaw81 on 07/10/2025 - 12:09
            +3

            @jv:

            Most kids that go to private schools want to do well…

            Most kids who go to school - any school - want to do well. This is not unique to private schools.

            There are plenty of low achievers in private schools - having parents who can afford private school does not magically ensure academic aptitude, or even a good attitude towards education in general.

            • Muppet Detector on 09/10/2025 - 03:55

              @klaw81:

              Most kids who go to school - any school - want to do well

              I think the real question here is which kids are most likely to be able to "do well" ? (I prefer the phrase "achieve their true potential" rather than "do well", as that's quite a subjective (and possibly limiting or maybe unreasonable) descriptor).

              Not because of their inherent ability, intelligence or attitude, but because of the overarching environment in which they are expected to access their education.

      • Muppet Detector on 09/10/2025 - 00:16

        private school gives the best chance outside of selective schools.

        The right private school that best suits your child's needs does.

        I've seen some absolutely shocking private schools.

        I've seen great private schools that just weren't the right match for the kid and their family - thus a terrible choice.

        I've seen great private schools experience a complete turnaround because of a change of principal (and vice versa).

        The same is true for whichever fee structure or price point your chosen school has.

        Similarly, I've seen the same as above apply to public schools and to teachers whether they be in private or public.

    • jv on 06/10/2025 - 22:40
      +1

      Where not talking about the 1% to 2% cases though…

      • Crow K on 07/10/2025 - 10:03
        +5

        We're talking about all cases, jv, which includes the 1% to 2%

        Not that such an objection makes sense, you yourself were talking about the top 1% of jobs (later in this thread when referring to where the CEOs and PMs went to school).

    • michaelTito on 08/10/2025 - 16:02
      +1

      And the bricklayer kid earn more than those doctors and engineers.

      • JIMB0 on 08/10/2025 - 19:18

        More than likely. I went to public school and did a trade, saving my parents tens of thousands. I semi-retired in my mid-thirties, now I'm doing a bachelors degree full time.

  • p1 ama on 06/10/2025 - 21:17
    +10

    Should I give my daughter the best chance at education and empower her or just invest the money and give to her later?

    Not going to get into the private vs. public school debate, because only you are in a position to understand how much the impact of those fees are for you and your family. Obviously there are people in an income bracket where that amount of money is not a whole lot, and there are others who are saving every penny to be able to send their kid to a private school.

    There's no right or wrong answer here, but my only advice is that if you're having to make undue sacrifices to put your kid through private school, it's putting an unfair burden on your child.

    What I will say though, is that between a choice of empowering your child or giving your child better family memories (e.g. family holidays, unique experiences, exposure to real-world skills, a better childhood…etc.) vs. giving them money, I would always choose the former.

    All I will say is that I've never met a single person who has said that they wish their parents had not spent so much money on giving them a great childhood and great family experiences and that they wish their parents just gave them cash instead. Even if you don't end up spending that money on sending your kid to a private school, at least use it to take some family holidays, go somewhere special, perhaps take some time off work when they're young, get them involved in some hobbies / sports, send them on an exchange program…etc.

    Kids are only young once, and you only have a limited time where you all have enough time to spend with each other. Kid has the rest of their life to earn money, don't worry about it.

    • Jaduqimon on 06/10/2025 - 21:34
      +3

      Appreciate the insight.

      as a migrant child myself, my parents were poor so they had no choice but to send me to the local school. I feel like since I am in a position financially to provide private school education for my kids, I don't feel its right to send them to the same schools that I went to because my parents had no choice.

      And we are not making any undue sacrifices to come up with the tuition money. And I am not going to put pressure on my kids if they goto private school that they have to perform lol i know most asian parents will be like "i am spending 60k per year, taking 2 jobs to send you to private school so you better not waste it" but yeh nothing like that.

      • jlien on 07/10/2025 - 09:35
        +4

        Sad to say, but being able to afford to go to a prestigeous private school isn't just being about scraping together the tuition fee.

        It's about being comfortably rich enough that your child "fits in"

        • p1 ama on 07/10/2025 - 11:43
          +2

          Sad to say, but being able to afford to go to a prestigeous private school isn't just being about scraping together the tuition fee. It's about being comfortably rich enough that your child "fits in"

          It's not just about the child "fitting in", it's also about the pressure that the sacrifice puts on the child.

          Parents very often patronise their children or invalidate their feelings, but imagine what it would be like to know that your parents are potentially giving up their dreams and comfort for your education.

          I know of kids who have buckled under this kind of pressure. One, who was always grateful his parents spent so much on his education, said that he wished they had just spent it on themselves and their enjoyment instead. He told me that he acutely felt the sacrifices of his parents every time he sat an exam, and always felt guilty that they could not go on holidays or live a better life because of him.

          Personally, I wouldn't want to put that on my kids.

        • MessyG on 07/10/2025 - 13:38
          +2

          Yeah exactly. Will you be able to afford the designer clothes and ski trips? Do you know how to ski and if you don't can you afford tuition for her? The regular overseas holidays? Because it sticks out a mile and they don't want to know you if they can't smell money. It's a different kind of hell.

          • jlien on 07/10/2025 - 14:37

            @MessyG: Yes, unfortunately.

            A classmate of my daughter transferred to a "better" school in an afluent area. She ended up transferring back 2 terms later. Apparently she didn't integrate well and was bullied for being "poor", the teachers were not helpful at all.

            Of course this is only one side of the story, so I have no idea what actually happened.

          • Muppet Detector on 09/10/2025 - 00:19

            @MessyG: Not all private schools cost $50k a year.

            Just saying.

            • jlien on 09/10/2025 - 08:56

              @Muppet Detector: Yep there's a spectrum. Some cost as low as a couple grand.

              But the OP is specifically asking about a prestigious elite private school costing 50k/yr.
              Which you'll find tend to be overrepresented by wealthy families. As i said originally, it's not about being able to afford the tuition, it's about being able to fit in.

  • sumyungguy on 06/10/2025 - 21:18

    Don't know of a $60K girls school in Australia for day students… but anyway, can she gain entry at this point? Have you lodged an enrolment application already?

    • Jaduqimon on 06/10/2025 - 21:29
      +2

      the private school tuition fee itself is already 40k+, i am saying 60k including all associated costs, e.g. extra ciricular activities/excursions that comes with private schools etc.

      • sumyungguy on 06/10/2025 - 21:34

        Kambala is $48,828 for Year 12 but I doubt the compulsory levy is another $11K. These schools require enrolment at birth so if you haven't registered it may help to narrow your shortlist.

        • Jaduqimon on 06/10/2025 - 21:37
          +1

          i live in the inner west so looking at Meriden. which is like 43k p.a. year 12 and im budgeting like another 10 - 15k for other expenses like extra ciricular activities and any excursions etc.

          • sumyungguy on 06/10/2025 - 21:40

            @Jaduqimon: Meriden is $40,500 + $1,220; these schools don't offer international excursions every year

            • Jaduqimon on 06/10/2025 - 21:49
              +1

              @sumyungguy: yeh but if my daughter takes up an extra curricular activity like sports or some arts it would cost more and i think 10k budget is no unreasonable.

              • sumyungguy on 06/10/2025 - 21:50
                -1

                @Jaduqimon: OK I get it, you wanna spend $60K. Rowing is expensive if the school offers it.

                • Jaduqimon on 06/10/2025 - 21:51
                  +1

                  @sumyungguy: lol yeh i mean i said budget 50-60k so obviously i dont want to spend 60k unless i have to but 43k tuition + another 7k isnt that far fetched.

                  • sumyungguy on 06/10/2025 - 21:55

                    @Jaduqimon: Will you consider answering my initial question - do you have an enrolment anywhere?

                    • Jaduqimon on 06/10/2025 - 22:18

                      @sumyungguy: yes i have enrolled her in meriden and almost all of the better private schools in the area like MLC PLC before she started primary school

        • fredblogs on 07/10/2025 - 15:25

          In Melbourne only boys need enrolment at birth. There are more places available for girls.

      • Muppet Detector on 09/10/2025 - 00:28

        the private school tuition fee itself is already 40k+,

        They generally go up in the ballpark of 6% a year as well.

        extra ciricular activities

        This is an exceptional area to allocate funds and resources if a parent is able.

        How would a kid ever know if they liked something if they never had the opportunity to experience it?

        Never know which EC, turns into a valuable life long skill, a career choice or even a hobby in adulthood.

        And let's face it, some of them are just so darned fun!

        (How many kids do you know that would love to have sword fights (fencing) or shoot bow and arrows (archery)?

    • mini2 on 07/10/2025 - 15:56

      It adds up real quick - books, stationery, school bus, tech fee (can't BYO at most of these places, plus a bullshit amount of subscription that they don't need/use), uniform, footy boots, music lessons, etc. The first year was $11k, but it's better this year at $9k, as he didn't need a full wardrobe of uniforms; he just needed to top up.

  • zoombie on 06/10/2025 - 21:18
    +3

    buy her a house, the world will be a vastly different place by the time she enters the workforce. ai + robotics are coming.

    • jv on 06/10/2025 - 22:43
      -1

      ai + robotics are coming.

      So she has the choice to understand how to exploit the new technologies in her vocation, or be a slave to them….

  • tenpercent on 06/10/2025 - 21:27

    Or send her to local government high school which is mediocre in my area like ranked 150ish on the SMH HSC rankings

    You'll probably find the higher ATAR / HSC results in private schools also correlates well with additional spending on private tutors. So even if you go the expensive private school route, you should still factor in private tutoring (at the very least for 11 and 12, but probably 9 and 10 too, and possibly 7 and 8 depending on your daughter's abilities and independent work ethic).

    Another option is:

    • rentvest (assuming you own your house - I'm assuming you do if you're considering dumping $60kpa into private school fees) to get access to a better government school in a different catchment area (this is mainly to avoid mixing with riff raff peers); this might on its own create a loss (so consider if you can offset this with negative gearing) and you'll put some of the $50kpa - $60kpa to fund the loss, and
    • put some of it away for private tutoring, and
    • invest the rest for her future (whether that is in an investment property, or ETFs).
    • jv on 06/10/2025 - 22:44
      -4

      also correlates well with additional spending on private tutors.

      Very few of the kids use private tutors. In general, the teaching staff are better at private schools. That's why they get paid more…

      • Muppet Detector on 09/10/2025 - 00:43

        The problem isn't the quality of the teacher in a lot of cases though, it's the substandard quality of the entire Australian curriculum that's a larger concern.

        Our kids will be/are competing for jobs and uni places at an international level.

        They're not just competing for these things with the kid in the next seat or the next town anymore, they're competing with kids from all over the world now.

        Want your kid to be able to compete at an international level? Then you've got to provide your kid with the same education that their international counterparts are getting.

        Some school subjects should never be taught through a horizontal curriculum (as in Aust), at least some are best delivered via a vertical curriculum for the most competitive results.

        I provided access to a vertical curriculum via EC in subject areas I felt were essential (and I could).

        LOL, we can't even settle on any one method to introduce a child to reading! We seem to change our minds about even something that basic every time the wind changes.

        We even take programs that other countries discarded twenty years ago because of such poor outcomes, but hey, we thought that we'd give em a crack anyway and see if we achieved different results and outcomes.

        • jv on 09/10/2025 - 00:49

          LOL, we can't even settle on any one method to introduce a child to reading!

          My comments were more about private secondary schools, although I never explicitely stated that, that is what I was talking about.

          • Muppet Detector on 09/10/2025 - 00:53

            @jv: Yeah, I'm quite disillusioned with quite a lot of it.

            That was just one example that I thought was completely nuts.

            • jv on 09/10/2025 - 00:58
              -1

              @Muppet Detector: Another thing in liked about private was they religious classes are mandatory.

              Parents get to attend a class or two each year in the chapel and see what they do…
              It is very inclusive and kids of all religions attend and even those that are not religious… The theme is how they can be better people in the community, not about memorising the bible, but by focussing on what 'should be' Christian values.

              • Muppet Detector on 09/10/2025 - 01:17

                @jv: Your brave saying that here…

                I didn't object to the religious exposure either. It wasn't why I chose the schools I did, but I was on board with them being exposed to it whilst they were there.

                But out of my kids, only two ended up very religious. For the others it's humming along there in the background, but they don't attend church etc anymore and then I've got one who used to turn up to Friday night youth group for the free sausage sizzle - she was never buying into the whole religion thing!

                One of our schools was Christian and they went to chapel through the week and probably to church services at times too, and every term, their teacher chose a Christian church in the community that the class and their families had to attend as a one off.

                At that school, pretty much every family went to one church on a Sunday, a lot to the church associated with the school, but others went elsewhere if they wanted to.

    • MessyG on 07/10/2025 - 13:39
      +3

      Not to mention they actively encourage students who they think wont do well, not to sit the exam at all, or find creative reasons to move them on.

      • Muppet Detector on 09/10/2025 - 04:28

        That's a bit of a disingenuous generalization.

        It happens in public schools as well, especially for the students attached to SEU's.

        How many kids with a S&L disorder do you believe sit NAPLAN tests in public schools, for example?

    • leigh8904 on 08/10/2025 - 06:53
      +1

      You'll probably find the higher ATAR / HSC results in private schools also correlates well with additional spending on private tutors.

      More causality for that I suggest is grooming of the student cohort. I.e. enticement of high performing students to attend the school with scholarships and such. As well as:

      Not to mention they actively encourage students who they think wont do well, not to sit the exam at all, or find creative reasons to move them on.

  • Checkmate3023 on 06/10/2025 - 21:48
    +5

    As my daughter is approaching high school age, I am in the position to either send her to an elite private school which will costs about $50 - $60k p.a

    F—ken hell your options are over priced private school or shit public school

    Sure there are not over priced private schools or better public schools in your catchment

    i mean 60 grand pa!!!! you could pay a loan in a better area with that money and send them to the local school there

  • jjjaar on 06/10/2025 - 23:06
    +3

    How about you take your daughter to the various schools you’re considering and ask her how she feels about them?

    She might walk into one and love it, or might walk into one and hate it. She should have a say in where she feels comfortable.

    • Jaduqimon on 06/10/2025 - 23:10

      I have taken her to open days at various schools and she loves the private schools. for obvious reasons lol better buildings, rooms, pools etc…

      • samyall on 07/10/2025 - 08:12
        +1

        Does she have any other opinions? Where are her friends going? Commute? Special interests?

      • MessyG on 07/10/2025 - 13:40

        If she loves them, definitely send her to a cheaper one. It will be a lot easier on your family.

  • screensaver on 07/10/2025 - 02:37

    heres one with very good fees, its near me https://www.cpcs.nsw.edu.au/fees

  • stickingly on 07/10/2025 - 07:35
    +7

    My children went to public schools, got good results and are now doing well for themselves, but they had the motivation to do this, and didn't actually want to go to private schools. They have 0 regrets about this When I see a group of parents of kids who go to private schools the main topic of conversation always seems to be how much it is costing them.

    Not paying private school fees has contributed towards my healthy financial position and put me in a position where I am able to help my kids financially with other things.

    But it is about the kid in the end. If they are unmotivated it is much easier to fall through the cracks at some public schools, however a private school is not magically going to"fix" everything. The money you save can be used for extracurricular activities, tutors etc etc

  • kyogui on 07/10/2025 - 07:52
    +1

    Should have considered the options earlier not at beginning of high school.

  • Leiothrix on 07/10/2025 - 08:13
    +3

    Have you actually spoken to your kid about this?

    Private school will only help if the kid actually wants to learn.

    • pembajak-indo on 07/10/2025 - 11:18
      +1

      if the kid does not want to learn.. no school will teach them i guess

  • ForkSnorter on 07/10/2025 - 08:42
    +1

    There are good public schools in Australia. Just for example, in Canberra, there are usually 2 or 3 public schools in the top 5 every year (based on ATAR results).

    Gifted, intelligent people will be successful no matter where they go to school.

    It is only ordinary people of average intelligence that need to be coddled and pampered and given a massive head start in order to succeed academically and be successful in life.

    If you don't know that, you were probably coddled, pampered, spoiled and given a massive head start when you were young.

    • Jaduqimon on 07/10/2025 - 08:54
      +1

      which 2 schools that's in the top 5? in NSW, the top 50 is dominated by selective and private, there is 0 public schools.

      "It is only ordinary people of average intelligence that need to be coddled and pampered and given a massive head start in order to succeed academically and be successful in life."

      yes thats exactly the point. i don't know if my kids are of average intelligence, below average or gifted hence i am gona assume the worst and give them the "massive" head start

    • Muppet Detector on 09/10/2025 - 04:57
      +1

      Gifted, intelligent people will be successful no matter where they go to school.

      Gifted students only make up about the top 4% of the population.

      Furthermore, the general Australian curriculum does not cater for them. It is designed to meet the needs of the average child (with an IQ between about 85 & 115 which is approximately about 80% of the population).

      Just as a child who scores two standard deviations (or more) below average (100), learns differently to their average peers, so does a child who scores two standard deviations (or more), above.

      They learn differently and need different access and delivery to their education than their average same aged peers.

      Whilst those two standard deviations below are provided with a suitable curriculum in public schools, there aren't any such accomodations for the kids two standard deviations above in any Australian curriculum. This is mostly only provided for through some private schools.

      In fact, the class clown is more likely to be a gifted kid than one who falls within the average allowances.

      It is only ordinary people of average intelligence that need to be coddled and pampered and given a massive head start in order to succeed academically and be successful in life.

      As I mentioned above, the average child is one of the 80% of the population for whom the curriculum is actually designed.

      If you don't know that, you were probably coddled, pampered, spoiled and given a massive head start when you were young.

      Indeed.

      A person can be gifted, but that doesn't mean they are also talented.

      Their giftedness only indicates their potential to perform well, it's not an indicator of their actual performance.

      Those kids that are truly kicking goals, more than likely do have average intelligence levels because they're the ones for whom the curriculum is designed.

      Probably towards the higher end of the bell curve (or one standard deviation above true average being 100), but not as many gifted kids as you seem to assume. They're the ones most in danger of actually failing and/or dropping out by year 10.

  • ZippyRoo on 07/10/2025 - 09:21

    We moved suburbs when my son was in grade 5 so we can send him to a top ranked public school in Melbourne south east. Last year he was in Year 7 and everything was great, he made great new friends and most teachers' feedbacks were positive. This year he's in Year 8 and his behaviour took a complete turn, to the point now my husband and I are thinking of what to do next, like maybe send him to a different school next year. Everything seems to be a losing battle right now and we're still unsure what to do.

    My point is this is a continuous journey and you just have to work with your kids and be patient and guide them no matter what. It's not a decision that you make one-off for year 7 and that's it.

    • tenpercent on 07/10/2025 - 18:19

      This year he's in Year 8 and his behaviour took a complete turn

      Adolescence. Either his own and/or others at his school (e.g. bullies).

    • Muppet Detector on 09/10/2025 - 05:11

      Everything seems to be a losing battle right now and we're still unsure what to do.

      That is so disappointing for your son and yourselves.

      Has your son given any indication for why this may be happening? How about his teachers or school councillors?

      If you're stuck for an explanation or unsure of the best way to move forward, may I suggest that you take him to see an educational psychologist?

      Best wishes, this must be such a confusing time for your young man.

  • freekay on 07/10/2025 - 09:27
    +4

    Honestly, I’d go with the public school and invest the money.

    There’s not much real evidence that private school kids do better in life once you account for family background and parenting. What really matters is how engaged you are in your kid’s life, how much they read, and whether they grow up curious and confident. You can’t buy that with school fees.

    If you invested even half the money you’d spend on private school, say 25–30k a year, that could easily turn into a million-dollar head start by the time she’s an adult. That’s something she can actually use. A house deposit, or a business, or to have more freedom in her twenties.

    The only strong reason I can see for private school is the networking side of things. But the whole “networking” argument only really matters if you’re already in those social circles. Otherwise, it doesn’t translate into real opportunities and can even make your kid feel out of place.

    At the end of the day, mindset beats postcode. A grounded, curious, confident kid from a normal school will usually do better than a burnt-out, pressured one from a fancy school. So I’d pick the decent local option, stay involved, and let the money grow quietly in the background.

  • Porker on 07/10/2025 - 09:54
    +4

    We had the same dilemma and ended up buying an investment property in a good public school zone. At least this way we still get the asset.

    I went to public and had tutors, where my wife went to private as did my best friend. I wouldn't say any of us are ahead or better off than another

  • shaybisc on 07/10/2025 - 10:18
    +2

    Buy her a Bitcoin instead. By the time she finishes high school it will be worth a billion dollars, or nothing.

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