Private school fees in Adelaide: what parents can compare

Adelaide families often compare a small group of schools within a reasonable commute: the eastern and inner suburbs, the foothills, the north-east, the western suburbs and the southern growth areas. Because the city is compact, two schools with very different fee levels can be only a short drive apart, so a like-for-like comparison matters.

South Australian year levels change the comparison

South Australian schools start with Reception and secondary school begins at Year 7. Many Adelaide schools publish separate fees for the Junior School, the Middle School and the Senior School, so a Reception fee will not tell you what Year 10 to Year 12 will cost.

• Compare Reception with Reception and Year 7 with Year 7.
• Check whether the school publishes fees by year level or by section.
• Look for compulsory capital, building, technology and activity levies.
• Keep one-off application and enrolment costs separate from annual fees.

Plan for the SACE years

Fees usually rise through the senior years, and Years 11 and 12 can carry extra subject, excursion or program costs. If you are planning a move from a government primary school to a private secondary school, model that pathway from Year 7 rather than averaging one fee across every year.