By Alexandra Smith and Conal Hanna
Parent contributions top $500,000 a year at some NSW public schools, with 22 high schools earning more in voluntary fees than 1764 schools combined, new data from the NSW Department of Education reveals.
Just 1 per cent of schools made a total of $10,256,737 from parents in 2016, compared to $10,229,394 from 79 per cent of schools, a Fairfax Media analysis of the data shows.
New study: Popularity at high school could lead to unhappiness later in life.Credit: Bob Pearce
Sydney Boys' High, one of the state's top performing selective schools, raised $1,389,677 through voluntary fees and subject contributions in 2016, the data shows. The data does not include money raised from Parents & Citizens' Associations.
Other selective schools, including North Sydney Girls, Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly Campus and North Sydney Boys also raised more than $500,000 each, while highly sought-after schools, such as Cherrybrook Technology High and Epping Boys also received almost half a million dollars from parents.
Education academic Emma Rowe, from Deakin University, said parental contributions contributed to the growing inequity gap because schools in high socio-economic areas could boost their resources significantly through well-off parents.
"I think parental fees should be regulated because at the moment government policy discourages equity and that inequity will keep growing if you have parental fees that are uncapped," Dr Rowe said.
Dr Rowe, who recently published research that found the most popular public high schools and their strict catchments create a cycle of segregation, said parents were prepared to fork out for the best schools, even if that meant paying fees at "good" public high schools.
"I have found in interviewing parents for my research that choosing schools is one of the top stressors for families," Dr Rowe said.
"Often if you have the money, you can get the very best public school for free because parents spend their money on moving into catchments."
Parents told Fairfax Media there was pressure at some popular schools, such as Cheltenham Girls' High which has a waiting list, for voluntary fees to be paid in advanced or else risk their child missing out on a place. This year's contributions for year 7 at Cheltenham Girls' were $690.
But a spokesman for the Education Department said enrolments at Cheltenham Girls were not dependent on the payment of school contributions.
"All new Year 7 enrolments at Cheltenham Girls' High School are confirmed in August but parents are invited to contribute, if they choose, at the Year 7 Orientation Day in December," the spokesman said.
Financial contributions for Sydney Boys High for 2018 are $2347 for years 7 to 9, and $2461 for years 10 to 12. There is a $200 discount if they are paid in full on orientation day, according to the school's website.
The department's spokesman said schools could ask for contributions to "enhance educational programs being provided".
"The payment of school and subject contributions is voluntary and a matter of choice for parents at all NSW public schools," the spokesman said.
"There is no charge for students to complete the minimum requirements of the curriculum at any public school and student enrolment is not dependent on the payment of school contributions."
The data shows that voluntary fees raised more than $66 million for schools last year, with the average for a school being $30,000.