New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows Australia’s school population continued to grow in 2025, with the Independent sector recording the strongest enrolment increases nationally.
According to the latest Schools Australia release, there were 4,155,019 students enrolled across government, Catholic and Independent schools in 2025, an overall increase of 0.7 per cent from the previous year. Independent schools were the fastest-growing sector, increasing enrolments by 3.4 per cent.
The sector now educates 715,386 full-time equivalent students, representing 17.2 per cent of the national student population.
Government schools remain the largest sector, enrolling 2,608,098 students, or 62.8 per cent of the total, while Catholic schools educate 831,535 students, accounting for 20 per cent of enrolments.
Independent Schools Australia chief executive Mr Graham Catt said the figures reflect a sustained trend of families seeking education options that align with their children’s needs and family priorities.
“Independent schools continue to grow because families are actively choosing them,” he said.
“Parents are looking for the right environment for their child – whether that’s a values-based education, specialist programs, smaller school communities or simply a school that aligns with their family’s priorities.”
The ABS data shows the Independent sector added 28,567 students in 2025, more than any other school sector nationally.
Mr Catt said the sector’s growth reflects its diversity and the range of communities it serves, including regional and remote areas, students with disability and those attending special assistance schools supporting disadvantaged young people.
“Most Independent school families are middle-income Australians who are making real sacrifices to prioritise their children’s education,” he said.
He also noted that Independent school students receive significantly less government funding on average than students in public schools.
“Families who choose independent schools are taxpayers too, yet they shoulder a much larger share of the cost of their child’s education,” Mr Catt said.
Victorian growth
The ABS data also highlights strong growth in Victoria’s Independent school sector.
Figures show almost 179,000 students are now enrolled in Independent schools across the state, an increase of 3.5 per cent in the past year. Independent schools now educate 16.8 per cent of Victorian students.
Independent Schools Victoria chief executive Ms Rachel Holthouse said the figures demonstrate the sector’s growing role in meeting the diverse needs of families.
“Victoria’s Education State would simply not function as it does today without the contribution of Independent schools and the families who choose them,” she said.
Ms Holthouse said Independent schools support a wide range of students, including those seeking faith-based education, specialist programs or tailored learning environments.
“Independent schools are not one-size-fits-all. They are faith-based schools, community-founded schools, specialist schools and regional schools,” she said.
Enrolment growth in Victoria has been particularly strong in Melbourne’s outer metropolitan growth corridors, including Wyndham, Melton, Casey, Whittlesea and Hume, where families are seeking schooling options close to home.
The state’s Independent sector has also seen rapid growth in special assistance and specialist schools, with the number of such schools rising by more than 150 per cent in five years to 32, now supporting almost 5,000 students.
The Victorian Government has also pointed to the ABS report as evidence of strong growth and investment in the state’s public school system.
Deputy Premier and Education Minister Mr Ben Carroll said the data confirms Victoria’s reputation as the nation’s “Education State”.
He said the report highlights enrolment growth in public schools, an expanding teacher workforce and significant infrastructure investment.
Victoria now has around 14,000 more registered teachers than in 2020, following a $1.8 billion investment to grow and support the education workforce, according to the government.
The state has also delivered 121 new public schools and more than 2,300 school upgrades as part of an $18.5 billion investment in public education infrastructure.
Together, government, Catholic and Independent schools educate more than one million students across Victoria, highlighting the role of all sectors in meeting the state’s growing education demand.
