• Australian Bureau of Statistics

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22 March 2010Over the last ten years, the number of students in non-government schools rose eightfold compared to the number of students in government schools, according to these ABS findings.

The Australian Capital Territory had the highest proportion of non-government full-time students (43%) while Northern Territory had the lowest (26%).

Since 1999, the number of students in non-government schools rose by 208 500 students while the number of students in government schools rose by only 26,200 students.

Despite this, the majority of students in Australia still attend government schools with around two thirds of full-time students attending government schools in 2009.

Indigenous students

Indigenous student retention rates are increasing, but they are still lower than for non-Indigenous students. The apparent retention rate for Indigenous students from year 7 through to year 12 has increased by ten percentage points from 35% in 1999 to 45% in 2009.

By comparison, the same apparent retention rate for non-Indigenous students increased by 4 percentage points from 73% to 77% in this time period.

The Schools, Australia 2009 report includes a summary of the quality of Indigenous school student enrolment data for each state and territory education department and the non-government education sector.