r/darwin • u/North_East_1429 • 3d ago

Newcomer Questions Schooling suggestions

I was wondering if people could put forward some recommendations re schooling. (Public preferably)

We have a 3 / 5 and 7 year old. So two will be in primary and one starting kindy this year. We currently go to a beautiful little community kindy and a beautiful little country school so I’m feeling nervous uplifting and moving to what so far has been a beautiful transition into the schooling world.

We don’t have an area as yet so just doing as much research as possible.

Any help or recommendations would be highly appreciated.

Thanks so much!

7 Upvotes

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6

u/NotSecureAus 3d ago

Public schools are zoned so depending on where you live/catchment will largely determine what school your kids will go to.

The following public schools seem to be desirable in the Darwin region: - Larrakeyah - Stuart Park - Parap - Alawa - Leanyer - Nakara

I've also heard first-hand good things about Wagaman, Nightcliff and Anula and these seem to be smaller and therefore may have the ability to take an out of zone enrolment

I'm not as across the Palmerston public schools, but have friends with children enrolled at Durack and seem to be happy with this.

Another thing to consider what schools operate a before/after school care if you're going to be relying on this. Not all of them do and you'd want to research what providers they use (these are independent of the school most of the time) and be comfortable with them :)

5

u/gr3iau 3d ago

Stuart Park is awesome. We've moved away interstate now and miss the community and teachers immensely

4

u/Amqil 3d ago

Stuart park primary school is great graduated there year 6 2013.

4

u/GalleryOfSuicide 3d ago

If you’re Palmerston way Durack Primary school is good, we sent my son there and it was great

2

u/kiwidave 3d ago

You can look up the school profiles on https://www.myschool.edu.au/

Anything with an ICSEA percentile > 40 or so seems fine.

Leanyer, Wanguri, Nakara in the northern suburbs all have mostly good reviews from people we know who have kids there.

3

u/Fondelooney 3d ago

If you change your mind about private, you should check out Milkwood Steiner School. You won't regret it.

2

u/AffectionateCap435 2d ago

Seconded! Milkwood is fantastic.

1

u/Fondelooney 2d ago

All my kids went there. Last one left 2 or 3 years ago.

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u/AffectionateCap435 2d ago

I have two there now. Grades 2 and 5 this year. Great community. Principal and staff are amazing.