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

82norm on 07/10/2025 - 11:06

A tough one to choose, but if I’d invest in property. Don’t get me wrong a GOOD education gives you a head start and future opportunities, choices in life, but it’s not the be all to end all. But having a financial head start in life and being debt free young or assisting them where you can, there is no substitute. Not having financial burdens, able to afford the nicer things in life etc is what its all about. If your daughter is reasonable smart, switched on, she’ll survive and get through schooling.
Lastly, given that housing is out of reach for the younger generation, better to get a foothold now, before it’s too late (if not already).

Ask what your daughter wants. Is she academically gifted, mediocre. Will she make use of a good education, or piss it up the wall? Is the intent to get to Uni…after all that’s the primary reason for getting a private education.
- Muppet Detector on 09/10/2025 - 05:16
  
  Is the intent to get to Uni…after all that’s the primary reason for getting a private education.
  
  It's not actually.
  
  The primary reason for a private education is the covert curriculum, not the overt one.
pembajak-indo on 07/10/2025 - 11:14

i just thought you might ask wrong question at the wrong place… i dont see "bargain" will ever match with "private school"
E4xtream on 07/10/2025 - 11:23

+5

Been a tutor for ten years. Tutored children from the lowest public schools to elite private schools.

Private tutoring + decent school will always outweigh every other option, academically speaking.

If it were my daughter, I'd put aside 5 - 10k per year for private tutoring, then invest the money, sending her to the public school.

Kindly.
- p1 ama on 07/10/2025 - 11:44
  
  Been a tutor for ten years. Tutored children from the lowest public schools to elite private schools. Private tutoring + decent school will always outweigh every other option, academically speaking.
  
  Academically speaking, or your wallet speaking?
  - E4xtream on 08/10/2025 - 11:52
    
    Apologies to all for the late replies.
    
    Academically speaking. Many private school teachers are honestly far worse than a lot of those who teach at public schools. It's not necessarily to do with their knowledge level, but rather their attitudes at teachers. I had 2 students from a ~25K a year private school once who said that their English and Maths teachers refused to come to class the week before tests because they "didn't want to deal with answering all the questions" about the tests.
    
    While those were the most egriegious, there have been plenty of other instances where students in private schools could not get time during lunch/after school/ before school to simply talk to their teacher (not even 5 minutes). Whereas public school teachers are consistently more available to those students who seek them out. IMO, it's about ego. Also, this observation is also informed by many teachers I know who work as CRTs (substitute teacher) and who therefore experience a lot of different school environments.
- Jaduqimon on 07/10/2025 - 12:28
  
  But isnt private school plus tutoring even better than public school plus tutoring? All else equal
  - klaw81 on 07/10/2025 - 12:44
    
    +3
    
    Private schools don't magically make kids learn better. The quality of teachers might be better (depending on what they're being compared with) but that's not necessarily the case. The only thing private schools can guarantee is that their facilities are of a high quality, and that they can provide additional support and opportunities that public schools just don't have the resources to offer.
    
    There are plenty of studies that show the biggest factors in academic achievement are the attitude and aptitude of the child. Having a home environment that is safe and nurturing, and that encourages learning, is a major factor that will assist with the attitude, but you can't do anything about aptitude at all.
    
    All the tutoring in the world, private or public, will not help if a child isn't interested in learning, only goes to school to eat their lunch and hang out with friends, or is just plain unintelligent.
    - E4xtream on 08/10/2025 - 12:03
      
      This is mostly true. The only part I disagree with is "just plain unintelligent". No kid is like this (barring an actual medically diagnosed disorder). All children are intelligent and 95% of them are self driven.
      - klaw81 on 08/10/2025 - 12:32
        
        +1
        
        @E4xtream: The reality is that some kids just aren't that bright. It's rare, but absolutely true.
        
        Like most things, human intelligence sits on a bell curve - there are outliers on each end. Some are exceptionally gifted, and some unusually ungifted.
        
        E4xtream on 08/10/2025 - 12:56
        
        @klaw81: Absolutely true that human intelligence is on a bell curve.
        
        But I think that word 'intelligence' is too broad. Some kids are more 'book smart' than others, which I think is the type of intelligence you were referring to. But honestly, I can tell you that is mostly to do with their learning aptitude - how well they adapt and enjoy the schooling environment - rather than their objective measure of 'book smartiness' or intelligence. The truth is, the Australian curriculum is not challenging enough to really impose a major obstacle on any child.
        
        I hope I conveyed that semi-decently. Apologies if I didn't.
        
        ReaperX22 on 09/10/2025 - 11:17
        
        @E4xtream: The system is setup to be boring and functionally to skew you into certain facets of life, doesn't really encourage creativity and critical thinking, and is way outdated.
        
        It also doesn't cater for any neurodivergent kids who are just seen as 'lazy' or 'inattentive in class'. Sitting in a class of 30 kids and 1 teacher in their little rows is pretty.. Archaic. Interactive learning is a big portion of learning, and taking tests/performing well on tests are absolutely not a real world indication of a child/teens intelligence or ability to perform in specific roles… It just means you can remember a quote or information you've been told/read better than the person next to you.. Who may have a much higher EQ, and be a way better nurse/dr for example from that standpoint… Numbers aren't the whole story and as long as we base merit on test scores, we're limiting what a large number of individuals can achieve in their schooling/and their prospects for life.
        
        Also how are we still not teaching proper economics/taxes/life skills in schools as a baseline subject? Not an elective!? Relying on parents to teach kids how to manage money/do taxes is god awful and poor money management at a parent level is so easily passed down to their children.. (I'm a victim of this.. I'm an adult now so i have full control but impulsiveness created through childhood is hard to break!)
        
        At least early learning centres are taking leaps and bounds for daycare/interactive learning, and studies have shown the activity in a small childs brain and their ability to learn is sooo soooo massive and those first few years of life make a muchhhhh bigger difference to their long-term development than we assumed.. We assume babies are just dumb.. But they're taking in this whole new world and processing it and adapting so damn quickly.. Something we as adults could never do!
      - bargaino on 11/10/2025 - 02:47
        
        @E4xtream:
        
        (barring an actual medically diagnosed disorder). All children are intelligent
        
        That is like saying all kids are tall, except the ones with diagnosed dwarfism.
        There is plenty in between. Some kids just need a lot more time and effort to learn, and others pick it up in a moment.
  - sumyungguy on 07/10/2025 - 13:44
    
    Parents are expressing a clear preference. ABS Data on government and non-government students, staff and schools, reference period 2024:
    Over the five years to 2024, total student enrolments increased by 4.6%. Independent schools recorded the largest increase (18.5%), followed by Catholic schools (6.6%) and government schools (1.0%).
  - E4xtream on 08/10/2025 - 12:01
    
    -1
    
    Apologies for the late reply.
    
    Yes, Private school + tutoring is better. As long as you can keep the quality high on BOTH aspects.
    
    I, for example, am a great tutor. It's the feedback I've gotten from parents, students and even teachers at the schools where my students attend, when they see the improvement I have helped my studens to achieve. Coupled with my experience, I charge what I think is a fair rate for my services. But many parents find themselves in a position where they can just barely afford to pay for the school tuition and have little to no budget left over for private tutoring, despite the fact that they can clearly see that the school is not delivering enough on its own.
    
    Also, I've seen that expectation more from private schools:
    - of course your child should have private tutoring. I mean, you're already paying us so much money, surely you can afford a tutor or five.
    
    Basically, private schools tend to place the burden of compensating for their mismanagement back on the shoulders of parents. Not only encouraging, but quite often expecting them to make up for their own deficiencies. I've literally had teachers from private schools try to email me the class program, and not so subtly hint that I was on the hook to teach all of it to the pupil.
  - Muppet Detector on 09/10/2025 - 05:51
    
    I would go with this theory.
    
    You've got the academics and the socialisation aspects covered, so both the covert and overt curriculums.
    
    Mine went to private schools for the covert curriculum. I pretty much covered their overt curriculum needs via external tutoring of varying kinds.
    
    They all started Kumon Math, English and Kokugo at about five ish (or when they could sit at a desk with correct posture and concentrate for about five continuous minutes. I held that starting time off for one little fella who wasn't able to hold his pencil correctly at that time). (Common for Japanese kids to start as young as two).
    
    They had mostly completed the entire program(s), by the start of high school (G12 is about level J 200. Math goes up to level 0 200 and English went up to L200, so both into university levels.
    
    (I owned three franchises for about 13 years, so my kids studied these programs for free :) )
    
    Then they went to Northshore Development on Saturday afternoons and Japanese school on Saturday mornings during primary school during school term only.
    
    We supplemented this with private tuition as required (if we weren't able to help), usually to help them move ahead of curriculum as opposed to remedial purposes, particularly for the science subjects and second language). (Though all of them were completely useless at Biology no matter what anybody did, go figure. Nailed Physics & Chem though).
    
    All but one of them started uni before they had completed all their high school subjects. The other one just didn't want to start early, she was content to just take a lighter study load and just cruise around doing other kiddie centric stuff instead.
    
    One was two years into an Engineering degree when he graduated high school at 15 3/4. (It was compulsory that he be enrolled in at least English - not allowed to accelerate completion of that).
mini2 on 07/10/2025 - 13:33

There are independent schools that are in the mid-teens price range, and they aren't bad either.

Meriden isn't a bad school; they've been on a spending spree and handing out scholarships like free candy to kids that I know have been offered a spot at North Sydney Girls or Ruse.

More importantly, how does your kid feel about this, and where are her besties heading off to?
edisonAU on 07/10/2025 - 14:29

Which public high school are you zoned in? If you tell us, it would help us giving better advice.

"SMH HSC 150th ranking" is slightly misleading, as a lot of them are fully selective, partially selective or private schools. What you need to see is to see the ranking of the comprehensive public high schools that does not have selective classes. You will find there would not be many of them. So your local public high school could be pretty good.

Private schools normally get higher rankings because they provide scholarships to very high achieving students, so that they can drag the school scores up. So, this may give you a wrong perspective that private schools have better education, and made you think that your local high school is not good.

My son goes to Baulkham Hills HS which is fully selective. Contrary to what most people believe about selective school have better equipment/facilities, the school is actually quite run down, the building and equipment feels like coming from the 70s. Most students there have separate tutors as well.
hazzad on 07/10/2025 - 16:28

+3

From experience, a private school isnt going to make a kid do well or get a great career. If your kid has aptitude, self motivated and wants to succeed in life, a decent public school will do the job and save you several hundred thousands of dollars. Enough to invest in something to pass onto them later in life. We looked at private school for our eldest then ended up buying a investment property as a holiday house so that took private school right off the table for both kids. Both kids have done just fine. We have bought them up well, they have a good head on their shoulders and they reap the benefits of the investment now as well as down the track. My brother went the private school route for his kid for primary and secondary. What will be about 500k later she isnt academic at all and i see no benefit to her having gone the private school route. Also consider that private schools also heavily recommend extra curricular activates which will cost you a bomb.
- sumyungguy on 07/10/2025 - 16:36
  
  -1
  
  Textbook confirmation bias… largely unintentional and not that there's anything wrong with that
  - hazzad on 07/10/2025 - 18:20
    
    +1
    
    Sure if you think so. More than happy with my choices.
    - sumyungguy on 07/10/2025 - 18:26
      
      Neg away, but that's exactly what it is. Would love to hear from your brother.
- rezdo on 08/10/2025 - 07:31
  
  +1
  
  Your statement is correct and typical in my circles (engineer), the perception that private schools are better is hilarious, as I am yet to see evidence of such. The eliteism that comes from this perception is the very reason I never sent my kids to one. I have friends who are in business and they use their private school contacts for nothing more than networking, it's very transactional, and their success depends on calling on favours and supporting other alumini. If that is someone's objective, than by all means throw good money after bad. SoI see many work mates who sent their kids to private schools for them to all fail miserably, mediocre at best, and most waiting for their successful parents to fall of the perch so they can also "succeed".
  
  The time you spend building real friendships, encouraging learning, not overwelming with too much expectation, leading by example and investing in those experiences will produce the best overall results.
stickingly on 07/10/2025 - 17:19

-1

I know that to some people it is a live or die competitive sport, but the reality is that once people finish school no-one cares about what ATAR you got (that you had to spent $250k on fees and private tutoring to get).

What matters is that you get enough to get into whatever course you need to. The rest is details
squaredonut on 07/10/2025 - 17:25
I think I look at school choices and the options forward like some product choice

Private school - More strict conduct (doesn't mean you don't get into trouble, since as you see on the news private school kids can also be psychopaths). Chance to be around future famous people, whether they become politicians, actors, entepreneurs, it's an early networking exercise. Downside is that it likely doesn't end at the fees only, as other kids would also be wealthy, what they do out of school, what they buy or own, experiences they get (holidays etc).

Public school - is the school academically just poor, or are the kids or the area just bad? If kids are good no dramas, you can top it up with tutoring. If the kids are potentially a bad influence and you don't care about the private school networking side of things, the best option is to rent in a catchment with good reputation schools.

At the end of the day, personally to me, the most important thing when looking at schools is being around students who want to learn and not be a distraction.
- serpserpserp on 07/10/2025 - 17:29
  
  I know many boys who went to Scotch college in Melbourne and were a massive distraction
serpserpserp on 07/10/2025 - 17:28

What makes a private school elite OP?
- Jaduqimon on 07/10/2025 - 18:16
  
  Ranked in the top20 in the state
  - tenpercent on 07/10/2025 - 18:25
    
    What is the ranking based on? Median ATAR? Average ATAR? Other factors?
    - Jaduqimon on 07/10/2025 - 18:27
      
      +1
      
      The ranking is usually based on the percentage of entrants that scored band 6/top band in a subject. So if a school had 100 people sit a subject and 60% got top band they are ranked on that.
      
      The number one school has a 60% rate and top 20 usually in the 40s. My local public school is single digit.
      - tenpercent on 07/10/2025 - 18:33
        
        @Jaduqimon: What about a non-local public school?
        Look for public schools with similar rankings and metrics to the private school/s you are considering.
        Then rentvest and move into the local catchment for one of those better public schools.
        If your daughter doesn't have the aptitude to get into a selective school, then she most likely will need private tutoring to be one of those double digit band 6 students. Private tutoring is easily $5k - $10k pa or more on top of any school fees.
        
        serpserpserp on 08/10/2025 - 08:33
        
        @tenpercent:
        
        Private tutoring is easily $5k - $10k pa or more on top of any school fees.
        
        Yep. At $70 an hour it isn't cheap. That would be per subject too once you get to high school
        
        Muppet Detector on 09/10/2025 - 06:24
        
        @serpserpserp:
        
        At $70 an hour it isn't cheap
        
        One of mine charges $120 for some subjects through his tutoring business (but does volunteer 10 hours a week of his own time with disengaged youth). He does have a full time job, he just has a tutoring business as a side hustle.
SuperMick on 07/10/2025 - 18:06

+3

My son went to a public school up until the age of 11 or 12, a teacher from that school, contacted us for a chat. He said that he thought that my son should go to a private school, the best that we could afford. He went to one of the best in Perth, Christchurch Grammer. Where he learnt to learn, according to him. He now has a PhD in mathematics and a post doctorate in optimization. My wife and I struggled to keep both him and my daughter in private schools, but to us it was worth it.
- shaybisc on 07/10/2025 - 18:13
  
  Could have just got the books.
  
  "Learning How to Learn" by Barbara Oakley - A popular book (also available in a version for kids and teens) that explains practical tricks and cognitive science insights to master difficult subjects effectively.
  
  "Make It Stick" by Peter Brown, Henry Roediger, and Mark McDaniel - Focuses on evidence-based learning techniques such as retrieval practice, spacing, and interleaving that improve long-term retention.
  
  "How We Learn" by Stanislas Dehaene (and a related version by Benedict Carey) - Presents how the brain processes learning and memory, emphasizing the role of attention, motivation, and context in learning.
  
  "Ultralearning" by Scott H. Young - Discusses a self-directed and intense learning strategy to acquire skills effectively, emphasizing principles like meta learning and focused practice.
  
  Perplexity
  - serpserpserp on 08/10/2025 - 08:34
    
    +1
    
    Yeah I don't know many 11 year olds that will read those books
  - klaw81 on 08/10/2025 - 09:23
    
    Learning directly from books is only effective for a relatively small cohort.
  - jv on 09/10/2025 - 01:02
    
    +2
    
    Good luck trying to get kids to read those…
    
    My kids learn from listening to teachers, practising what they learnt and working with other students to help each other… (Oh, and from youtube…)
- infinite on 08/10/2025 - 11:37
  
  +1
  
  You two sound like amazing parents.
  
  Well done. Clearly the sacrifice was all worth it.
- jv on 09/10/2025 - 01:06
  
  +1
  
  Well done… It is worth the sacrifice if private school is a good fit for your child…
  
  We worked out in the last few years of primary school that private was going to be the best option and decided to make the sacrifice…
  
  We certainly have no regrets so far either and fingers crossed, our eldest is doing really well at uni in the course he wanted to do… Younger one is getting close to finishing too now… Looking forward to when we pay off the final term fees !!!!!!!
  - Crow K on 09/10/2025 - 15:46
    
    -1
    
    Maybe one of them can study sunk cost fallacy and try to develop a cure
Cluster on 07/10/2025 - 18:16

Don't buy a property for your child. It is likely she will not want to live where you select for her. In the future she may not even live in the same city as you, depending on work and other circumstances.

Invest the money instead and let her choose when she grows up.

And damn, $50k per annum for high school? That school had better guarantee gold plated grades for that price.
- tenpercent on 07/10/2025 - 18:34
  
  Don't buy a property for your child. …
  Invest the money instead
  
  Isn't buying a property for your child investing the money for them (in a particular asset class)?
  - nephilim on 07/10/2025 - 23:44
    
    +1
    
    I assume means to not put all eggs into a house, could easily keep 20k in a kids bank account to exploit the 500-1000 tax free threshold, plus put into a vanguard kids account and other avenues.
    Main issue is I feel like parents will end up using that cash
  - jv on 09/10/2025 - 01:07
    
    -2
    
    Isn't buying a property for your child investing the money for them (in a particular asset class)?
    
    Not when Jacinta keeps increasing land taxes…
Hangryuman on 07/10/2025 - 19:04

'my daughter is approaching high school age'

'give me the child until they are 7 and I will give you the adult'

your daughter has presumably already formed her personality by now so why not ask her ?

as someone who went to both public and private schools, I failed to learn how to study anyway

and in my old age realise I never learned from my parents how to study - frequent revisit to the material in small doses, rather than ignoring it most of the year then cramming a few days before (tho' that did work once)

single sex private schools may give false impressions of how to get rich - many parents are struggling aspiring strivers, and a number of my fellow students suffered either wastrel entitlement (now alcoholic) and/or suicided due to cold, demanding parents.

public schools may give impressions of lawlessness - I hear there are good selective and bad troublesome - again, ask around

I did like Waleed Ali saying 'sending your kid to private school was like buying a new BMW every year and driving it off a cliff'

I like the idea of investing the $60Kpa in an index fund (ASX IVV?) so when she graduates, there's a house deposit in the ready - that sounds nice … ;-)
- Jaduqimon on 07/10/2025 - 19:11
  
  +1
  
  Hey yes appreciate the insight.
  
  I went to a low tier gov school and ive seen so many kids go by the wayside because the teachers just dun giva sht. They hang with the wrong gang and lifes over for them. I know these can still happen in provate school but the chances are lower.
  
  I do acknowledge thar investing is the best route economically but even if i have a good investment portfolio for my kid but they get bad influence from their peers, then its all for nothing anyway.
  
  I dont even want my kid to be some hotshot rich person i just want them to be like me… honest working middle class lol.
  - p1 ama on 07/10/2025 - 21:49
    
    I went to a low tier gov school and ive seen so many kids go by the wayside because the teachers just dun giva sht.
    
    Man, just based on the way you write, are you sure it was the school and not you? I can't imagine a full-grown adult writing and spelling like a wannabe eshay.
- Raj09 on 08/10/2025 - 12:35
  
  Yep good points here man. Leave the money into an etf or put into nvidia and she will be grateful later for the step in life
Lit Homie on 07/10/2025 - 19:20

+1

The answer is invest 90% in house. I was born in 2000s and you don't understand how helpful it would have been to have a home. Less stress, more time spent on academic studies, better quality of life.

School is basic, and you get more connections from Uni than school should you continue the academic pathway. An average school if the child is willing can bring a top performer and a top school can have an average performance. Spend the money on house and tutors and you will be thanking me in 6 years

Also on a side note tell her that you have a house waiting for her if she gets a certain score and watch the motivation change
- serpserpserp on 08/10/2025 - 10:39
  
  +1
  
  Until she wises up and realizes that she is a single child and will get everything eventually
renster72 on 07/10/2025 - 19:52

+1

Any Catholic or Christian schools in the area? Much cheaper and offer more discipline
centrelink on 07/10/2025 - 20:46

I run my own busines that mostly needs a few hours a week. I thought I never work for someone ever again. Then came my son and I got a second full time job just to send him to a top elite school (assuming he gets in). Now I have to work full time + 5 hours a week… but somehow think the extra hours are worth it
- serpserpserp on 08/10/2025 - 10:40
  
  Post is confusing. Consider rephrasing
  - Muppet Detector on 09/10/2025 - 06:36
    
    Seriously?
    
    He had one job (his own business) where he worked about 5 hours a week.
    
    Never anticipated working for somebody else again.
    
    Somewhere his situation changed and he acquired a son whom he'd like to send to elite school.
    
    To realise this goal, he went and got a full time job working for someone else.
    
    Now he works 40 hours a week in that job and 5 hours a week in his own business.
    
    In his opinion, he thinks this decision is worth it for him.
Senatekill on 07/10/2025 - 21:07

-1

if you go to public school your daughter will be your son within 18 months and will certainly promote a palestinian flag rathen than an aussie flag
- Jaduqimon on 07/10/2025 - 22:33
  
  +1
  
  yes thats also a concern because the area I am in the local schools are ridden with students and family backgrounds that would fully promote that ideology.
Dogsrule on 07/10/2025 - 22:41

Very similar question here:

https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/thread/3w8y7qzz
Dogsrule on 07/10/2025 - 22:47

+1

OP - moving forward, capital is king. Labour will continue to be devalued with mass immigration and AI, wealth inequality will increase and class mobility will decrease.

Quite soon there will be 2 classes of people - asset owners and everybody else.

You don't want your daughter to be in the 'everybody else' class.
altomic on 08/10/2025 - 00:33

i went to a private school in Kew from prep to year 12.

based on my experience I sent my kids to the local state high school.

though for prep school I did send them to a lutheran prep school(it was close by and inexpensive - the associated high is expensive)

it's about the study environment you create at home.

my kids saw me doing my post grad for 4 years. part of the reason I did post grad was to show my kids that study is part of life - i.e. normalising it.

my eldest is at uni, my middle is going to uni next year, and my youngest (still in high school ) is already doing accredited uni subjects via a pre-entry program.

but if you have the money then feel free to do it.
tellhimhesdreaming on 08/10/2025 - 08:16
This thread has been a wild read for someone who doesn't live in a major city.

Two cents because why not:

As someone who grew up with less, I never wanted for schooling but I did for stability. Emphasise quality time with your kids to make them better well rounded people. Private schooling won't enable this, having more disposable income and spare time will.

Public school but encourage academic performance and have them take highest possible grades of classes (eg top maths, english etc) and reassess as you go depending on their emerging interests/focus. I would say Year 9/10 is when you have a chat about their own schooling ambition.

Emphasise that a good ATAR provides options, that's all.

Support any and all interests they may develop along the way, especially those that get them interacting with others or taking on responsibility.

Any investment you make don't tell them explicitly it's for them/their future.
Raj09 on 08/10/2025 - 08:52

Invest instead. University is more important than private school. Do some home-schooling as well
Ace26 on 08/10/2025 - 11:50

Speak to parents whose children attend the private school you’re considering, as well as those from Strathfield Girls (ranked around 100). You might even consider moving into that school’s catchment. I faced a similar decision and ultimately chose our local government school to avoid lengthy commutes. The school offered co-education, a wide range of subjects, and a diverse student mix. Three terms in, my child is enjoying it. I don’t have investment advice, but choosing the local option allowed me to invest the money saved from private school fees into other assets.
- tenpercent on 08/10/2025 - 21:22
  
  The school offered co-education, a wide range of subjects, and a diverse student mix.
  
  Some of those things could be a reason to avoid it.
  - Ace26 on 08/10/2025 - 22:02
    
    each to their own :)
Little77 on 08/10/2025 - 13:59

+1

To be honest, when you ask this question, you should go investment option. A private school education is more about the experience—it can't really be measured in monetary value.

It's like choosing between a Porsche and a Toyota. Both cars will get you home; the only difference is the experience. If you have enough money, you'll go for the Porsche without hesitation. If not, the Toyota is still a great option.

People spend money because of the feelings and experiences they seek, not because it's strictly 'worth it' in a financial sense.
quasio on 08/10/2025 - 14:33

I would say private school or similar, depending on career, it can be likely she'll want to move away for uni/work and come back at a later time? She may not need the house until very far down the line.

Paying for her uni as well will help with debt, i think as long as she's debt free it will help kick start her career.
OzBKP on 08/10/2025 - 14:54

Went through similar situation. We are in Sydney though.
Child could NOT get admission in selective school.
We moved home to get admission into a better public school - was ranked 7th in NSW at that time.
We did not regret the decision. Good environment for child where there very few BS students. Most of the students were there to "get into better university"
Child actually secured admission into top uni and preferred course.
Drakesy on 08/10/2025 - 14:55

It depends, are you around nice public schools, you may not have a choice.

My dad gave me a choice of private school but i had to put uni on hecs or public school but he covered uni.

You can guess which one i chose.
terlalu on 08/10/2025 - 15:24

My kid is only 2yo, and I've told him he's not even going to uni unless he gets a scholarship.
Haven't even considered sending him to a private school.
- tenpercent on 08/10/2025 - 21:20
  
  +1
  
  Have you heard of HECS?
- Muppet Detector on 10/10/2025 - 18:11
  
  ADFA pays your tertiary fees, gives you a very well paid job that works around your study whilst there (about $48k p/a atm), and gives you your first job after you graduate.
Pussqunt on 08/10/2025 - 22:14

What are her interests? As in, will it help her with her passions (learning, sports, art, etc )?

Are you already supporting her interests? Will the school help her achieve her goals?

She will only need a basic high school to be a nurse, teacher, tradie, business owner or engineer.

If your putting her in in yr 7, I doubt she will get much from networking. It will be about specific development. The kids know who comes late.

Also, be prepared for about an 8th of your tuition to be blown on Naplan prep in Naplan years. My girl did about a month's worth in year three…
georgev on 08/10/2025 - 22:50

Try selective school
GreyChris on 09/10/2025 - 09:07

I know some people whose parents paid for private school. Complete waste of time and money. Depends on the kid.
echelon6 on 09/10/2025 - 09:34

+1

Your daughter will hang out with the other kids whose families scrape to barely get in, defeating the whole point of private school. Humans tend to flock within their socioeconomic class.
PerthMan96 on 09/10/2025 - 13:38

good money vs risk of child growing up differently…
Ryno0 on 09/10/2025 - 13:46

I would say yes, unfortunately nepotism as well as networking play a big role in the outcomes of our future. Sending your child to a prestige school will allow her to network with individuals who comes from "well of" success/ rich families. I thihk that's the main positive that no one here is discussing.
- Ryno0 on 09/10/2025 - 13:47
  
  Be prepared to fork out more money for the activities these families involve themdelves in, or social isolation could occur.
ttt888 on 09/10/2025 - 13:47

You need to add another 15-20K for private tuition!!! and also if she is doing UCAT also extra $$$.

All the elite kids takes a lot of tuition.. ( Yeah there are tiny few geniuses who don't ) … So if your kids don't they can't compete to be the top 10-5% or whatever % you the kid can achieve..

Also add another 10K extra per year. You daughter going to elite private school will have elite spending habits to fit in.

So all up around 80-90K per year when in secondary school. :)

If I'm you.. and have plenty of spare $$ i will move to a suburb zone within an elite public schools. Your property price will appreciate more in the next 10 years and you save the money and pay for her private tution!
ttt888 on 09/10/2025 - 14:15

Also in Vic take VCE for eg.. top private school ( that sold education success, not the sporty elite private schools) and selective schools their SACs are much much harder. This is very advantageous come VCE time. Your kids will be pushed to go harder.

Of course if you have a genius kid. You put her in a crap gov't school (as long as don't mix with wrong bunch) she get RANK 1 for all her vce subjects and score super well in the exams. She can still be the top 1% easily.
dunster on 09/10/2025 - 15:26

Mate if she puts in the effort, there's a fair chance she'll nail a top ATAR. Our daughter went to a standard public school in Melbourne's north west and scored a 96.75. Use you hard earned for investment that you have more control over. Its ultimately up to them
tonka on 09/10/2025 - 16:09

Try in public school with a tutor. If gets into good classes and making friends with motivated kids and has a career plan should be fine. Financial stability of a home will help with tertiary education and allow kid to pursue their career passions rather than a purely practical education. Will also help with having a family when desired rather than when possible.
If the public school is full of generationally unemployed and crims move to private.
It's all about the peers, and single child wealthy families can also produce useless kids.
Focus now on getting them smart enough to get into the higher classes with the smarter kids.
geosta on 09/10/2025 - 17:20

+1

Having personally experienced both horrendously expensive private schooling and pretty mediocre public schooling as a highschooler, I can tell you the only real difference was opportunity and expectation.

It is entirely up to the student as to how much of the opportunity that private school can offer that they take advantage of, and also how they deal with the expectation that comes with being at said private school.

I absolutely hated being at the horrendously expensive private school and was infinitely more happy, and consequently successful, at the mediocre public school. One of the few friends I retained from my time at there, whose parents just wouldn't accept him not attending the school, was miserable for 6 years. To say thanks to his parents for a teenage-hood filled with bullying and pressure, when he finished his HSC with a result which did no reflect his intellect, enlisted in the army as a grunt and spent the next 15 years putting up his hand for every deployment he could.

In short, what does your daughter want? Have you asked her?
quanticism on 09/10/2025 - 17:27

Send her to a selective school.
Cyphar on 09/10/2025 - 18:54

I went to a high scoring private high school. My parents paid around $35k a year at the time (Graduated in 2004, so probably more now with inflation), and not a single person that has mattered in my career has ever asked what school I went to. None of what my high school was about has amounted to anything in my life with the exception of school events for graduates.

If you want to give your daughter the best chance, supplement a public school education with tutoring where she needs the help.
Oz em on 10/10/2025 - 04:06

They say now to send to your local average high school and then do private tutoring.

I would send to a top 10 public school.

Obviously you can afford the private school, what does she want?
Eeples on 10/10/2025 - 08:52

Where are her friends going ?
MrBillions on 10/10/2025 - 09:52

Education no doubt about that
Cluster on 10/10/2025 - 13:38

Every year when the top Year 12 students are announced, most of them are from an Asian background. The secret to their success? Cracking the whip on their child. For years. The key way to success is cram school after school hours. Sure, it may make your child miserable, but they'll be miserable with a great score.
- boirganz on 11/10/2025 - 11:53
  
  Exactly. And that’s only one very small indicator of success. A few years out from high school no one cares what mark you got or what school you went to or what you thought of Macbeth.
Excelsior on 10/10/2025 - 18:32

If there are no good/decent public schools in your catchment then send her to a private school - doesn't have to be the best of the best but at the very least one of the better ones. Don't gamble on sending her to the local crappy public school, sure she might keep a straight head and do ok but you wouldn't want to risk her mixing in with the wrong crowd or end up being unmotivated - the stats and VCE rankings don't lie IMO.

My 2c as someone who went to a good public school (above average), married to someone who went to an elite private school, and know a lot of people who went to schools ranging from one end to the other.
isidore12 on 10/10/2025 - 23:06
50k per year seems a very high fee for a private school

Catholic school, for example, would be much more affordable

You should search for schools further away from where you live

HSC will determine your daughter's university options, and likely her whole career
bigbadboogieman on 11/10/2025 - 09:46

Teaching them to catch fish > catching fish for them
boirganz on 11/10/2025 - 11:51

Absolutely the investment route. Dump it all in ETFs and help it grow.

Unless your local public school is really rough and your kiddo won’t do well there, or there is a specialist sport they’re trying to be elite in that’s done by the private school. Else it’s just a big waste of money.

If it helps, the key influences of their lifelong success etc happened already in their formative years. What you do now is just icing on the cake.

Private School Vs Buying Property/Investing for Kid

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