One in five in disrepair with leaking roofs and cracked walls

Reports published by the department reveal that there are 21 schools in poor condition to receive scores below three in 2023, 16 of which are in regional Victoria.

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Of these, Ultima Elementary School, the state’s most dilapidated school, has since been closed due to lack of enrollment. Brighton Beach Elementary School, rated the state’s second-worst, has received more than $1 million in funding through various construction grant programs since 2023, when the report was compiled.

A Victorian government spokesman said the state had made record investment in school infrastructure for communities and maintained Victoria continued to be recognized as “the nation’s education state”.

“Our department and our schools work incredibly hard to manage their budgets and sustain schools across Victoria, and these five-year rolling facilities scores are only a snapshot of the school’s health,” a government spokesperson said.

A Department for Education spokesman said the 2023 snapshot was based on a five-year audit process and did not reflect the current situation of many schools.

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They said the department’s annual maintenance and compliance budget has increased sixfold over the past decade to more than $600 million for 2026, with more than half provided directly to public schools through programs targeting specific upgrade and maintenance needs, as well as Student Resource Package allocations.

“Once we receive the condition scores, the Department for Education works directly with schools to identify defects, prioritize them and then provide funding, guidance and support to resolve them to ensure schools remain safe and in good condition,” a spokesperson for the department said.

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