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 of Education and Training’s Enrolment in ACT Public Schools Preschool - Year 12 policy (the “Enrolment Policy”). (NOTE: this policy is currently under review. Please follow link to transitional policy arrangements)
You may find the FAQs for Priority Enrolment Areas 
(34kb) helpful. (Revised Version coming soon)
2. Policy
The schedule of PEAs has been based on the Enrolment Policy. PEA boundaries are reviewed annually to ensure there is an acceptable balance between expected student enrolments and school capacities. Most boundaries will remain unchanged from year to year, while others may vary (for example, due to population changes).
ACT residents have priority for enrolment in ACT public schools. NSW resident students are welcome to apply for enrolment in ACT schools. Where demand by ACT residents for places at a particular school or college exceeds available places, students resident in NSW will not be considered. In these circumstances NSW residents will have the opportunity to apply for a place in another ACT school.
The Early Childhood Schools at Isabella Plains, Lyons, Narrabundah, O’Connor and Southern Cross (Scullin) do not have PEA boundaries. The relevant Early Childhood School boards will determine their own priorities for accepting students as required, so parents/carers need to discuss enrolment directly with the school.
For any out of area enrolments, families will need to contact the school of their choice for enrolment details and to discuss the availability of placement with the school principal. In general, under the Enrolment Policy, school boards determine their own priorities for accepting out of area enrolments. Due to capacity constraints, some schools cannot accept out of area enrolments.
Primary School PEAs apply to Preschool to Year 6 enrolments. Out of area enrolment at a primary school that is located in a high school’s PEA does not guarantee enrolment at that high school. Similarly, out of area enrolment in a high school that is located in a college’s PEA does not guarantee enrolment at that college.
The College enrolment policy (Clause 8.3) includes specific criteria for the prioritisation of student placements.
3. Schedule of PEAs
The PEA information below shows arrangements for enrolments for the 2012 school year.
A summary of the PEA changes made for each year is available in the following document.
Summary of Priority Enrolment Area (PEA) changes for 2011 and 2012 and prospective changes from 2013 
(121kb)
| 3.1 PEAs for 2012 |
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| To find your local school refer to the linked PEA maps by region. PEA information is also provided for each suburb and each school. |
| PEA Maps |
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Primary School PEA maps Gungahlin |
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High School PEA maps Gungahlin |
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College PEA maps Colleges |
| Suburb summary |
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The following information shows the schools which serve each suburb. Some parts of some suburbs cannot access all the lists schools (refer to relevant maps for more detail). (under development) |
| PEA descriptions by school |
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The documents provide information about school or college linkages with suburbs or parts of suburbs) Primary Schools |
For assistance to identify your local school, you may wish to contact DETSchoolPlanning@act.gov.au or call (02) 6205 4865. This is for information on PEA boundaries only. Any issues about entry requirements should be discussed with the school concerned.
4. Potential PEA changes under consideration by the Department
|
Potentially Affected Schools |
Potentially Affected Suburbs |
Description of Potential Changes |
Potential Timing |
|
Aranda, Macquarie and Maribyrnong Primary School |
Bruce |
In addition to existing PEA arrangements, residents of the suburb of Bruce may be given priority enrolment status at Macquarie or Maribyrnong Primary Schools. |
2013 |
|
Majura, North Ainslie and Lyneham Primary Schools |
Downer |
In addition to existing PEA arrangements, residents of the suburbs of Downer may be given priority enrolment status at Lyneham and/or North Ainslie Primary Schools. |
2013 |
|
Majura and North Ainslie Primary Schools |
Hackett |
Residents of Hackett may be given priority enrolment status only at North Ainslie Primary Schools. |
2013 |
|
Future Bonner Primary School and Amaroo School |
Bonner and Forde |
The first stage of the new primary school in the suburb of Bonner is expected to open in 2013, with the full school operating in 2014. Bonner residents will be given priority enrolment status at the new school. Residents of some or all of Forde may also be given priority enrolment status at the Bonner school in addition to their existing priority enrolment arrangements. |
2013 |
|
Future Coombs Primary School and Duffy Primary School |
Coombs and Wright |
The new primary school in the suburb of Coombs is expected to open in 2014. Residents of the suburbs of Coombs and Wright may be given priority enrolment status at the new school in Coombs in addition to their existing priority enrolment arrangements. |
2014 |
