Ask RiotACT: Advice on High Schools in Canberra

You might want to keep an eye on our “Celebrating Canberra Schools” series weekly, which we just commenced today. I will be delving into many different schools each week, unearthing their unique features, cultures, and communities.

Lucy Baker said :

ABC 666 ran an item last week about fraud in the Deakin catchment, with wealthy parents faking residency through various means. The schools apparently aren’t investigating those families and are just letting it happen.

These neurotic, deceitful parents are appalling. What happened to sending your kids to the local school?

It’s worth also checking what special programs your kids might want access to at each school before deciding where to live. For example, the languages offered at each high school are different, and not all high schools have a gifted & talented or a specialist learning support unit. Both those high schools are equally good, so whatever you can get into based on where you end up living will be fine, unless you want a special program or particular language etc.

ABC 666 ran an item last week about fraud in the Deakin catchment, with wealthy parents faking residency through various means. The schools apparently aren’t investigating those families and are just letting it happen.

Spiral said :

I’m assuming you don’t currently have kids in that school, so unless you move into one of the few suburbs that are listed as in area for Deakin, then forget it.

The author has not yet moved to Canberra, so presumably she is asking us so she can move in a suburb that’s part of her kids’ future school catchment.

In Canberra there is a priority sequence for getting into public schools. In order (iirc) of:
1) The family lives In Area
2) The family already has a child attending the school
3) Others

Deakin is currently a very sought after school and is apparently struggling to find spaces for categories One and Two.

I’m assuming you don’t currently have kids in that school, so unless you move into one of the few suburbs that are listed as in area for Deakin, then forget it.

I don’t know how popular Campbell is.

The ACT Education Department (whatever it is called) will be very happy to help you. Give them a call.