Brisbane school catchment zones – how important are they for home buyers and investors?

For many families with school-aged children planning to relocate to Brisbane, the choice of school is often the top priority. The type of area or home they want to live in follows closely behind.

For families seeking an excellent public school education for their children, the school catchment zone can be a make-or-break factor when buying a home. For investors, buying a property within a school catchment zone of a highly ranked public school can drive demand and attract premium prices. According to Domain’s 2023 National School Zones Report, nine of the top 10 secondary schools and seven of the top 10 primary schools with the highest annual growth across the combined capitals were located in Brisbane. 

In this article, we explore Brisbane school catchment zones and key factors to consider when looking for the best public schools. 

What is a school catchment?

In Queensland, a school catchment is a geographical area surrounding a state/public school, defining the zone from which the school draws its students. Each state school has its designated catchment area, ensuring that families living within these areas have guaranteed access to their local state school. This ensures:

1. Fair access to education: Catchments ensure that every child has the opportunity to attend a public school close to their home.

2. School capacity is managed: By defining specific catchment areas, schools can manage their student numbers more effectively, preventing overcrowding and ensuring resources are appropriately allocated.

How to find properties in school catchment zones

School catchment zones often cross neighbourhoods and suburbs, resulting in significant house price differences from one street to the next. This can explain why house prices in some school zones outperform those of the surrounding suburb.

Domain has a useful search tool that enables you to hunt for homes to buy or rent by school catchment area. You can also research Brisbane primary and secondary school catchment zones via the Queensland Government website EdMap.

High-achieving Brisbane public primary schools

According to Better Education, the following Brisbane primary schools were ranked as the top 10 Brisbane public primary schools in 2023:

High-achieving Brisbane public high schools

The following Brisbane public high schools were ranked among the top 10 in 2023 (source: Better Education):

Does location matter for private schools?

While private schools don’t use a catchment system, location is still a decisive factor for families enrolling their children in a private school.

Living close to school means living close to extracurricular activities and peers, supporting children’s social and emotional well-being and making it easier for them to participate in their community. Just like public school catchment zones, proximity to private schools can drive up property prices.

Top Brisbane private schools for 2023 are listed below (source: Better Education):

Understanding and checking school catchments can be crucial for planning your child’s state school education and ensuring you live within the desired school zone. If you need any assistance with school catchments or finding a home in a specific school catchment, feel free to reach out!

Sandra 

sandra@homescouts.com.au 

0419 992 873