Priority Enrolment Areas
1. Definition
Each public school gives priority to the enrolment of children living in its Priority Enrolment Area (PEA). This may be one suburb, part of a suburb, or a group of suburbs. In some instances certain suburbs may be included within the PEA of two public schools.
ACT public schools are non-selective. If a school has room available after accepting students from its PEA, it may offer places to students who live outside the area. This decision is made at the school level and is consistent with the Department’s Enrolment in Government Primary and High Schools 2004 policy. Enrolment at a primary school that is located in a high school’s Priority Enrolment Area does not guarantee enrolment at that high school. Principals make every effort to place siblings but this cannot be guaranteed.
2. Policy
The schedule of PEAs has been based on the Government Primary and High Schools, Preschools and Colleges enrolment policies.
ACT residents have priority for enrolment in ACT public schools. NSW resident students are welcome to apply for enrolment in ACT schools however given the demand for places in some areas parents/carers may not achieve their first preference.
Primary School PEA apply to K–Year 6 as preschoolers may be located within any preschool in a district under the preschool enrolment policy.
Under the primary and high school enrolment policy (Clause 5.2) school boards determine their own priorities for accepting out of area enrolments.
The College enrolment policy (Clause 8.3) includes specific criteria for the prioritisation of student placements.
3. Schedule of PEA
3.1 - PEA Details (information on suburbs or parts of suburbs by school)
Primary Schools 
(26kb) - High Schools (19kb) - Colleges (17kb)
3.2 - PEA Interactive Maps
(enables search by residential address to find a designated local school; enables search by school name to view PEA of a searched school)
Primary Schools 
- High Schools - Colleges
3.3 - Primary School PEA Maps
Gungahlin (642kb) - Belconnen (P-6) (865kb) - North and South Canberra (662kb) - Woden Valley and Weston Creek (551kb) - Tuggeranong (645kb)
4. PEA changes for some schools from 2009
New P-2 schools at Isabella Plains, Lyons, Narrabundah and Southern Cross will not be affected by PEAs. School Boards will determine their own priorities for accepting students as required. Parents/carers need to discuss enrolment directly with the school.
The new West Belconnen P-10 School will be operational from the beginning of the 2009 school year. Holt and Higgins Primary Schools will close at the end of 2008 school year.
Hawker and Weetangera Primary, West Belconnen School (746kb) (adds the suburbs of Scullin and Page to Hawker and Weetangera PEA; Holt and Higgins are included within the PEA of new West Belconnen School)
Ngunnawal and Amaroo Primary (909kb) (part of Ngunnawal, accessed by Paul Coe Crescent, will be moved from Amaroo to Ngunnawal Primary PEA)
Forrest and Red Hill Primary (662kb) (adds the suburbs of Kingston, Griffith, Narrabundah, Fyshwick)
Bonython and Richardson Primary (642kb) (adds the suburb of Isabella Plains)
Curtin and Hughes Primary (551kb) (adds the suburb of Lyons)
Belconnen and Melba High Schools (863kb) (revised due to the opening of the West Belconnen High)
Gungahlin High Schools (434kb) (part of Ngunnawal, accessed by Paul Coe Crescent, will be moved from Amaroo to Ngunnawal High PEA)
