Catholic Education plans high school expansion across south Canberra
The Catholic Archdiocese is exploring how to turn primary schools into high schools. It is also considering making St Clare's College coeducational to help ease capacity shortages.
St Mary MacKillop College in south Canberra has 2060 students. It turned away about 150 students this year.
Catholic Education is looking at expanding St John Vianney's Primary and St Jude's Primary. These would become year 7-12 colleges.
The system is also eyeing land in Denman Prospect to create a new primary or secondary college. Making St Clare's College coeducational could increase capacity.
St Clare's has 864 students against a capacity of 1200. However, families have threatened to leave if the girls school takes boys.
Any changes are unlikely before 2030 due to land release and construction timelines.
- 2060 students
- St Mary MacKillop enrollment
- 150 this year
- Students turned away
- 1200, currently 864 students
- St Clare's College capacity
- Denman Prospect Stromlo Reach development
- Location for new school
Why it mattersSouth Canberra families face waiting lists for Catholic high schools. The archdiocese's plans will reshape education options and possibly change the character of long-standing single-sex schools.
AustraliaCanberra parents seeking Catholic secondary education will see significant changes to school structure and availability over the next five years, while the St Clare's proposal could affect an established girls school community.
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