State Census Shows More Students Enrolling at WA Catholic Schools

More students than ever before are enrolled at Catholic schools in Western Australia, according to the state’s latest student census. Source: Catholic Education Western Australia.

Every year, the WA Government collects data relating to schools, students and staff throughout the state’s education systems.

The latest census data was collected during semester 2, 2023, and was released on Tuesday. It showed 81,736 students (Kindergarten to Year 12) were enrolled at the 162 Catholic schools – a 1.8 per cent increase compared to February 2023. The increase in students is across both new schools (511 students) and established schools (774 students).

The number of Indigenous students also increased, to 3590 students. Indigenous students make up 4.7 per cent of total enrolments in Catholic schools.

“I am encouraged by the continued strength of enrolments in Catholic schools, as more parents than ever before are benefitting from the choice of a quality, faith-based education,” Catholic Education Western Australia Executive Director, Wayne Bull, said.

“This is the largest increase in students since 2015 and is a sign of sustained growth in our system, with a 6.3 per cent increase in enrolments over the last five years.”

Emmaus Catholic Primary School became the newest Catholic school in WA when it opened in Dayton in 2023. St Marcellin Catholic College in Madora Bay will open for Pre-Kindergarten to Year 2 in 2025.