Gnowangerup District High School (4078)

School Overview

Gnowangerup District High School is an Independent Public School located 350 km south east of Perth on the traditional lands of the Goreng Noongar people. Established in 1908, the school now caters for a diverse cohort of students from Kindergarten to Year 10. Gnowangerup is a strong agricultural community with a vibrant town centre and a range of local industries, services, and sporting opportunities that contribute to the life of the school and its families.

Gnowangerup DHS is committed to providing a positive, welcoming, and inclusive environment where all students feel safe, supported, and valued. Staff hold high expectations for behaviour and learning, recognising the diverse cultural backgrounds and strengths of the student population. The school vision, We provide a positive and safe space where students grow into strong, educated and respectful individuals who live by our KOORT values, guides decision making and daily practice.

Gnowangerup District High School is a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) school with clear, consistent processes for acknowledging positive behaviour and responding to behavioural challenges.

The KOORT values underpin the school culture:
Kind- We care for and support each other.
mOOrditj- We are solid citizens who work together to improve our community.
Resilient- We overcome challenges, seek help, and adapt to move forward.
Try -We strive to improve ourselves by doing our best in all areas.

The school offers a range of evidence based programs to support student learning across year levels, including MultiLit literacy programs, Heggerty Phonemic Awareness, Ochre Education novel studies, Think Mentals, Origo Mathematics, Stile, and Inquisitive. These programs are selected to meet the academic needs of students and ensure strong foundations in literacy and numeracy.

Students have access to specialist teachers in Visual Arts, Physical Education, Digital Technology, Indonesian, and Library. The school also benefits from the support of an Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer, who plays a key role in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and strengthening cultural connections.

A wide network of external agencies supports the academic, social, emotional, and wellbeing needs of students. Services available to the school community include a Chaplain, Child Development Services (Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy), counselling providers, and mental health and wellbeing organisations such as Palmerston, Anglicare, Youth Focus, Headspace, and Great Southern Aboriginal Health.

The school enjoys strong community involvement, supported by an active Parents and Citizens Association. The P&C contributes to school initiatives and participates in a range of school and community events throughout the year, helping to maintain strong partnerships between families, staff, and the wider community.