Brief

Four Sydney private schools join $500,000 parent‑income club

Wenona, Queenwood, SCEGGS and Mosman Church of England Preparatory School top the list, according to tax records released by a Greens senator.

By Felo News Desk · Published Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:52:05 GMT

Four Sydney private schools have median parental household incomes exceeding $500,000, the first to reach that level in New South Wales, the Sydney Morning Herald reported on October 6, 2026.

What happened

The schools – Wenona, Queenwood, SCEGGS and Mosman Church of England Preparatory School – entered the "$500,000 club" after tax office data showed median family earnings crossed the half‑million mark last year. The data, collected under the state’s Direct Measure of Income method introduced in 2022, is used to allocate government funding to schools.

What the reports add

The Herald noted that at Cranbrook the median rose to $485,000, a jump of $83,000 in two years, while fees for Year 12 students there now total $52,000. Across 14 schools, median parent income rose by $50,000 or more between 2023 and 2025, with schools such as Shore, Monte Sant’ Angelo and St Catherine’s also seeing large increases. By contrast, King’s College reported a median of $260,000, Pymble Ladies’ College $235,000 and Trinity $265,000.

What was said

Independent Schools Australia chief executive Graham Catt said the funding model is "needs‑based" and that government spending per student is about $26,140 in public schools and $13,550 in independent schools. Greens senator Penny Allman‑Payne, who obtained the data in federal parliament, warned that wealthy private schools “plunder billions every year from the public purse” while public schools remain underfunded.

How it came about

The Direct Measure of Income system began in 2022 to rank schools by parents’ earnings and adjust funding accordingly. Earlier Felo coverage on private‑school financing highlighted similar concerns about segregation and the impact of fee hikes on families.

Key facts

Median parental income at Wenona, Queenwood, SCEGGS and Mosman Church of England Preparatory School exceeds $500,000. (smh.com.au)
The data comes from tax office records collected under NSW's Direct Measure of Income method. (smh.com.au)
Independent Schools Australia says government spends about $26,140 per student in public schools and $13,550 per student in independent schools. (smh.com.au)
Greens senator Penny Allman‑Payne criticised the funding model as favouring wealthy private schools. (smh.com.au)