Altona P-9 College will enrol students up to year 12 by 2021, the state government announced on Friday.
Under the plan, the school will be able to accommodate students enrolled in year 10 from next year, year 11 students from 2020 and year 12 students from 2021, Altona MP Jill Hennessy said.
The extra school years will be accommodated on the current school site.
Altona P-9 College was formed from an amalgamation between Altona West Primary School and Altona High School (later Altona Secondary School) about 10 years ago.
Ms Hennessy said the school had plenty of room for senior students to stay on, with space for more than 300 additional enrolments.
“Altona College is a great local school,” she said.
“The time is right to give local students the ability to complete their secondary education at this school.
“Our government is investing in schools in Altona and Point Cook so students and their families have the facilities they deserve.”
Principal Julie Krause said she was ecstatic.
“My staff were beside themselves,” she said.
“I told them this afternoon after school. They’re absolutely ecstatic. There were massive cheers and they were all – particularly our secondary teachers – very excited about what the future holds for the college.”
The college currently has 315 students.
Education Minister James Merlino said the Education Department and Victorian School Building Authority would work with the college on transition arrangements.
“Expanding Altona P-9 to include years 10, 11 and 12 gives senior students the extra option of staying on to complete their schooling,” Mr Merlino said.
From next January, the school site will be home to a new early years hub, partly funded by the government.
The state has contributed $1.6 million to the Altona Early Years Hub while the council will contribute about $5.6 million.
More than 198 places will be available at the hub, which will offer childcare for children up to six years, three and four-year-old kindergarten and maternal child health services.
Friday’s announcement follows $53 million allocated in the 2018-19 state budget for the new Point Cook South Senior Secondary School set to open in 2020.
