Most of Melbourne’s high-achieving public schools will remain closed to out-of-zone applicants for the 2027 school year, though a small number of top-performing institutions continue to accept students from outside their immediate boundaries. While strict enrolment management plans lock families out of schools like Balwyn High and McKinnon Secondary, seven schools—including Williamstown High and Princes Hill Secondary—currently maintain policies that allow for a mix of local and non-local enrolments, according to Department of Education data and school leadership.
Which schools remain open to out-of-zone students?
Seven schools across Victoria currently accept students from outside their designated enrolment zones. These include Williamstown High School, Melbourne Girls’ College, Ashwood High, Koonung Secondary, Doncaster Secondary, Princes Hill Secondary College, and the rural-based Charlton College. Each of these institutions recorded a median VCE study score of 32 in 2025.
Did You Know? Williamstown High School has seen a significant shift in local engagement, with over 90 per cent of families living within the school zone now choosing to enroll their children there, a sharp increase from the 30–40 per cent participation rate recorded 15 years ago.
Why do enrolment zones impact property and access?
The competition for spots in top-performing public schools often drives up local property values, with homes inside sought-after zones sometimes selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars more than comparable properties in neighboring suburbs. The Department of Education characterizes the management of these zones as a complex annual balancing act that must weigh school capacity against local demand. While the government maintains that every child has access to a world-class public school, the department is legally required to provide a spot for every student residing within a school’s designated zone, regardless of current capacity constraints.
What is the future outlook for open-enrolment schools?
Future access to schools currently accepting out-of-zone students may become more restricted as population density increases. For instance, Princes Hill Secondary College principal Trevor Smith stated he expects the school will likely accept fewer out-of-zone students in coming years due to rising housing density in the inner-north area. Similar pressures previously led to government intervention in 2020 at Melbourne Girls’ College, where a zone change sparked public backlash after families in nearby public housing were excluded from the catchment area.
Expert Insight: The tension between school choice and zone-based equity represents a significant policy challenge for the Department of Education. As housing density grows in inner-city suburbs, the trade-off between accommodating local residents and maintaining diverse, high-performing student cohorts will likely force more schools to adopt the strict enrolment management plans currently utilized by institutions like Balwyn High and Glen Waverley Secondary College.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all high-performing public schools in Melbourne closed to non-locals?
No. While many top-performing schools enforce strict enrolment management plans, seven schools—including Williamstown High and Princes Hill Secondary—continue to accept out-of-zone students.
What factors do officials consider when changing school zones?
The Department of Education manages school zones by balancing current student demand, school capacity, and the requirement to provide a place for all students living within a school’s catchment area.
How does the student composition at Williamstown High School compare to other schools?
Williamstown High reports that roughly one-third of its students are from within the zone, one-third have a sibling at the school, and one-third are from outside the zone. This distribution is similar to the current enrolment trends observed at Princes Hill Secondary College.
How do you believe the balance between local access and school choice should be managed as urban density continues to rise?
Worth a look