[YellowKittyGlenn]

I was reading the public school fees thread and saw the comparison of NSW, VIC and SA in the school fees, it seems NSW you can pay <$100 for a school year for 1 child. (not taking into account exursions, uniforms, camps etc).

It got me thinking why is there such a discrepancy in school fees between the states? Is it a state/federal government thing? funding problems, population variations (areas where there could be more under priviledged families or where there are less under priviledged families).

It seems odd to me that there is such a huge variation between states.

[FluffyOscar]

Yes I thought so too. I don't know why there's a difference, my DD's school is just your average public primary. It's in a good area, and most of the parents pay the fees. Still, $650 seems to be pretty steep in comparison to others.

[YellowKittyGlenn]

It's weird I looked a few private catholic school websites in my area just now and the one I went to in primary school is $385 for grade prep-3 then goes up and additional $50 for grade 4-5 then $690 for year 6 including the graduation jumper. All other the private schools where similar in pricing (in my area) and it seems that it can be much of a muchness when it comes to private v public in Northern Suburbs of Melbourne.

It's odd when you compare the states.

[FluffyOscar]

Are you saying that a Catholic primary school is $385 a year? Seriously, that is amazing! How do they operate?

[**Mel**]

Am from SA and (as I said in the other thread) amazed at the difference.

Though, we have very affordable and accessible pre-school/kinder, which seems quite different from NSW

[JRA]

Are you saying that a Catholic primary school is $385 a year? Seriously, that is amazing! How do they operate?

Because often a catholic school will receive as much govt funding as a state school, very different to a private school

[YellowKittyGlenn]

Yep, it's not a big school it's a "parish" school for a family the school fee is capped at $1550. It's not including uniform.

If I had a child in primary school the public school in the street behind me is $450 for prep and increased $50 per year, not including school uniform. So for me it would be cheaper to send said child to the school that is 10 minutes away opposed to around the corner.

Hmmm all very confusing.

[lsolaBella]

It will also be the area.

Our inner East Melb local Catholic is $900 per term for first child (includes all stationary, books, excursions) so $3,600 per year for first child and $50 per term ($200per year) extra for additional children.

[FluffyOscar]

Yes, I just looked up one of our local Catholic schools and the fees were charged by family. So if I had three children and didn't mind religious education, it would be more economical for me to send them to the Catholic school than to the state school next door.

Something's not quite right there.

[LynnyP]

A state public school gets most of its funding from the state government. Non state schools get most of their government funding from the Federal government. If you look at schools in, say, Epping Vic a public primary school gets about $6k per student from the State Government, a parish school there gets just over $5k per student from the Federal Government. Independent schools (non Catholic schools) get much less per student.