Launceston's two colleges remain the top choice for students studying years 11 and 12, data from the Education Department shows.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This is despite the state government's commitment to an extension school policy, by funding and staffing high schools around the state to offer those grades for interested students.
The Education Department released the key data report on Tuesday, which is part of an annual release of figures including class sizes, teacher numbers, enrolments and suspension rates, among others.
The data shows that for senior secondary enrolments, Launceston College is the most popular college of choice, with 1375 students for 2020, along with Newstead College (573).
Last year, Newstead College's viability was thrown into question, after it was revealed that the school had suffered a 27 per cent decline of student enrolments.
However, Northern Tasmania's extension high schools in total have less enrolments than Newstead College.
There are a total of 261 students studying years 11 and 12 at extension high schools in the North.
In other news:
Port Dalrymple at George Town has the highest number of enrolments at 43. On the other end of the scale, Kings Meadows High School, which extended to offer years 11 and 12 in 2019, has only 1 student.
Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff said on Tuesday the data set was released in line with the government's policy on transparency.
However the Australian Education Union said the data revealed that the blanket approach to extension school policy was not working.
Tasmanian Education Union Tasmania president Helen Richardson said the data continued to support the union's position that a blanked ban did not work for all high schools.
"Where they are properly supported and funded, introducing year 11 and 12 in some regional schools, and some remote and isolated communities, has also seen great success," Ms Richardson said.
"The data continues to support the AEU's position that the blanket approach of extending every high school, including those in urban areas where colleges are within reach, is a waste of precious resources."
Ms Richardson said Tasmania's public college system was something to be proud of and they were centres of excellence that have produced great outcomes for students.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Send us a letter to the editor