Brisbane State High School, commonly referred to as State High, was established in 1921 and was the first state secondary school established in Brisbane. The school initially resided in the Normal School building on the corner of Adelaide and Edward Streets in the city, before moving to the current South Brisbane location in 1925. The coeducational secondary school now caters for up to 3000 students from year 7 to 12.
Brisbane State High School philosophy and values
“Schooling at State High is a happy and inspiring experience; a time and a place where every young person develops intellectually, personally and socially. Every student experiences rigorous learning, significant personal growth and the spirit that comes from belonging to something bigger than themselves.”
The school upholds public school values that everybody has the right to education and opportunities to excel regardless of personal circumstances. The school also has specific values regarding learning, excellence and respect.
Brisbane State High is committed to providing learning experiences across all aspects of life and expects all students to strive for excellence and respect others. The school offers students additional support via guidance officers, the school chaplain, a school-based police officer and youth health nurse and via the student representative council.
Brisbane State High School campus facilities
The Brisbane State High campus is split across two main campuses. The upper campus is the site of the original school buildings. It includes the library, computer blocks, mathematics rooms, science laboratories, manual arts complex and sporting facilities including a quadrangle, tennis court and oval.
The lower campus is home to the humanities department, language department and administration buildings. The school also has additional sporting facilities located in Carina (Fursden Road playing fields) and West End (rowing sheds) which are utilised for many of the extracurricular sporting activities provided by the school. State High also has a school museum that celebrates its historical memorabilia.
State High Extracurricular activities
State High encourages students to participate in extracurricular activities and provides a range of sporting and performing arts activities to help further develop student’s talents.
- The Instrumental Music Program includes strings, woodwind, bass and percussion. Students are invited to audition for a place in numerous ensembles and the symphonic band, big band and string orchestra. Students in the Instrumental Music Program range from beginner to advanced proficiency levels and regularly participate in public performances.
- Brisbane State High also allows students to express their love of dance by joining the State High Dance Troupe, which comprises the Junior dance troupe, Senior dance troupe, Boys hip hop crew and female Bollywood dance troupe. The dance troupes compete in several dance competitions throughout the year, including the Brisbane Eisteddfod and performances at numerous school events.
- Brisbane State High School is a member of the Great Public School’s Association of Queensland and the Queensland Girl’s Secondary Schools Sports Association, which allows students to compete in various inter-school sporting competitions.
- Sports available to students include AFL, badminton, basketball, chess, cricket, cross country, debating, fencing, football, gymnastics, hockey, netball, rowing, rugby, softball, swimming, tennis, touch football, track and field, volleyball and water polo. The school prides itself on its sporting prowess, boasting several past students who have gone on to be Olympic athletes.
Enrolment at Brisbane State High School
Like all public schools, enrolment preference is given to students who reside within the local catchment area.
The school can also enrol students under academic, sporting, and cultural (music and art) merit. Selective merit enrolments are offered to in-catchment prospective students before being offered to those residing out of the catchment area. The maximum student enrolment capacity is 3000 students.
Brisbane State High – at a glance:
- Address: 150 Vulture St, South Brisbane
- Phone: (07) 3291 4111
- Enrolment capacity: 3,000 students
- Years 7 to 12
- Co-educational
- Subject to local residential catchment for enrolling students
- Open Day: The school does not conduct high school open days, but offers regular school tours
- Two adjacent campuses
- Additional sporting facilities located in Carina and West End
- Member of the GPS (Great Public Schools) Association of Queensland
- Member of the QGSSSA (Queensland Girl’s Secondary Schools Sports Association)
- Merit scholarships available for –
- Academic merit
- Sporting merit
- Cultural Merit (Music or Art)
- Extracurricular activities include –
- Sporting –
- AFL
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Cricket
- Cross Country
- Fencing
- Football
- Gymnastics
- Hockey
- Netball
- Rowing
- Rugby
- Softball
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Touch football
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
- State High Dance Troupe –
- Junior dance troupe
- Senior dance troupe
- Boys Hip Hop crew
- Female Bollywood dance troupe
- Instrumental Music Program –
- Bass
- Big Band
- Percussion
- String orchestra
- Strings
- Symphonic band
- Woodwind
- Other –
- Chess
- Debating
- Sporting –
Why choose Brisbane State High School?
Established in 1921, Brisbane State High School has a long-standing reputation for academic and sporting excellence. State High upholds the public school values that everybody has the right to access education and opportunities to excel regardless of personal circumstances.
Providing learning experiences across all aspects of life, Brisbane State High encourages learning, excellence and respect for others. Guidance Officers, a School Chaplain and school-based Police Officer, a Youth Health Nurse and an active Student Representative Council offer additional support to all students.
The largest state high school in Brisbane, many families move into the State High catchment area to ensure their child’s place at the school. As places at Brisbane State High are highly sought-after, it is highly recommended that you contact the school a minimum of six months before the date your child is due to begin high school. Contact the school at least 12-18 months prior if you reside out-of-catchment or your child is pursuing a scholarship.
For further information about Brisbane State High School, please visit http://brisbaneshs.eq.edu.au/ or call (07) 3291 4111.
Photo credit: Sophie Rutter
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