Many parents jump through a lot of hoops to find the right school for their children. Making the right decision as to which school your child goes to can be hard, but it is also one of the most important ones you’ll make as a parent. When you make the right decision and choose one of the best schools in Perth, it sets them up for success or, at the very least, puts them ahead of everyone else. However, with so many schools in the city today, where do you start?
As a parent searching for a school in Perth, there are many factors you need to consider. You have the private vs. public school option, and then you also have to choose if you’re willing to send your children far away from home. If you decide on a school far from home, you need to make travel arrangements and factor in transportation costs. Plus, you also need to factor in additional needs and special interests.
Many Australians decide to send their children to a public school. In Perth, the majority of public schools are associated with a catchment area. In other words, your child will only be accepted if your permanent address is within that geographical area. Some people are lucky enough to have many public schools in their zone, but you still need to choose the best out of them.
While we don’t claim to be experts on education, we have managed to find a few schools which can arguably be termed as being amongst the best in Perth. If anything, this list should help put you on the right track to find the best school in Perth for your child.
Rossmoyne Senior High School
It is a public school that offers a co-educational environment right through till High School. Located on Keith Road in Perth, the school was initially founded in 1968 with around 2000 students from the year 7 to 12. Later in 2001, the school was named as the School of the Year by The Australian and was listed ahead of Methodist Ladies’ College in Melbourne, which happens to be an exclusive private school.
Rossmoyne Senior High’s students scored the highest in Tertiary Entrance Examinations of all government schools in WA. The school has a reputation for offering excellent music education. It also boasts of an excellent sports team which has, over the years, gained a reputation for having some of the best players.
In 2009, Rossmoyne had more students secure 99.95% marks in Western Australian Tertiary Entrance Examinations as compared to any other school. It is the highest rank, achievable, and the highest in the region.
Speaking of performance, the school has also performed very well in WACE school rankings and happens to be the best performer compared to all other state public schools.
Willetton Senior High School
It is located in Willetton, its around 12 kilometers south of Perth’s central business district and around the same from the Port of Fremantle. The school has been around since 1977, and what began with 77 students is now increased to 2410 students enrolled as of 2019. The school also employs 281 staff members making it one of the largest schools in the city.
The catchment area for the school encompasses Bull Creek and Willeton, both of which are shared with Rossmoyne Senior High School and Leeming Senior Highschool. So, if you happen to be living in this catchment area, then you’re already very lucky.
WSHS, as it is called, covers 1.1 acres of land and is located right next to Burrendah Primary School. There are seven main buildings in addition to many transportable buildings, some of which are very old. In 2008 the school received a $5 million upgrade, which included the addition of a new gymnasium and other facilities.
Later in 2014, the school underwent another renovation, which too cost several million dollars. All of these renovation projects were and continue to be aimed at providing facilities and making learning more comfortable while accommodating more students.
Churchlands Senior High School
Churchlands Senior High School is located in Churchlands, which is amongst the most prominent suburbs in Perth. It is a coeducation institution that currently enrolls around 2700 students, starting from year 7 right up until year 12. Since it was established back in 1962, the institution has been a torchbearer of excellent academic performance, sports achievements, and cultural education.
Churchlands Senior High School is also part of the Independent Public Schools program by the Education Department. The school joined the program in 2011, after which a school board was established with members who had business expertise. Later in 2014, the school launched its Churchlands Foundation with the goal of ensuring that the school is ready for the future.
Churchlands boasts of a multi-cultural student body, with people from five varying nationalities and various cultures well represented. The curriculum embraces both the preparation for TAFE and tertiary entrance as well as preparing students to become part of the workforce. The Alumni Association works to ensure that the school has a strong relationship with its alumnus, School Board, and the Foundation.
However, what parents will be most concerned about is the quality of education. Fortunately, Churchands Senior High School students have, over the years, received many awards, some of which are three Beazley Medals. In 2009 Churchlands was amongst the highest-ranked schools based on students who scored 75% plus in all four subjects. Earlier in 2008, Churchlands was the second-highest ranked school, again based on the number of students who got 75% plus in four subjects. All of which is proof of the fact that your kids will receive the quality education they deserve.
Let’s face it, finding the best schools in Perth is no easy job. Sure, there are many schools to choose from, but when it comes to quality education, you need to look hard to find one. Hopefully, the above list helps get you off to a good start.