But Catholic systemic schools have recorded a net loss in students on last year while Independent schools are largely at capacity.

Taken last month, the figures show stronger overall enrolment growth in government schools – at 3.2 per cent, compared with non-government schools, at 0.5 per cent. Within the non-government sector, Catholic schools have lost 1 per cent of enrolments over the year, or 130 students, while independent schools have gained 2 per cent, or 276 students.

The February enrolment snapshot shows a 2.2 per cent increase in enrolments, compared to an estimated general population growth rate of 1.5 per cent, according to ACT Education Minister Shane Rattenbury.

He said he was pleased to see the trend towards government high schools continue for a second year this year after the ACT became the only state or territory to have a majority of students enrolled in non-government high schools five years ago.

In 2011, government high school enrolments dropped to 9569 while non-government high school enrolments rose to 9720 over the same period. This meant that 50.4 per cent of all ACT high school students were being educated privately and this majority share continued until last year.

But in 2015, public high schools clawed back a slim majority share and this year, the figures grew even stronger with government high schools enrolling 10,258 students compared with 9835 in private high schools.

This means the government sector is now at 51 per cent of enrolments. But the ACT continues to have the lowest rates of government school enrolments across Australia, with the national government school enrolment rate at around 62.5 per cent according to the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures.

Mr Rattenbury said the new figures remained positive news for local government schools. "This suggests that more parents are choosing to send their children to public schools, knowing that their child will get a high quality education from preschool through to year 12."

But the Association for Independent Schools said the enrolment figures actually showed that independent schools in the ACT were at capacity as their numbers were largely static and most schools had to juggle waiting lists.

Association's executive director Andrew Wrigley said the issue did not relate to parental choice on government or non-government education.

"This is a reflection of the fact that most independent schools are basically full and can not absorb the total number of students who want to enrol. We have seen around 2 per cent growth on last year and some schools are really struggling to accommodate that demand."

The Catholic Education Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn could not be contacted for comment on Monday as to reasons why it had lost 1 per cent of its market share over the past year. The past five census results have seen numbers steadily increase.

Mr Rattenbury noted the census data showed some obvious pockets of acute demand, particularly the Gungahlin region, which saw an increase in enrolments at many schools.

"This is to be expected given the substantial development in the area and the number of new families moving in. The needs of this region are growing and the Government is actively planning for future education needs," he said.

As at 17 February 2016 there were 73,467 students enrolled in Canberra schools, an increase of 1550, or 2.2 per cent, since February 2015.

Government schools accounted for 61 per cent of total enrolments from pre-school to Year 12, with 44,834 students enrolled in Canberra public schools.

Non-government schools accounted for 39 per cent of total enrolments, with 28,636 students enrolled.

There were 2174 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled across the ACT, an increase of 92 students, or 4.4 per cent, since February 2015. Of these, 1739, or 80 per cent, were enrolled in public schools.

There was a 1.9 per cent increase in students accessing special education programs at either mainstream or specialist schools, representing 4.1 per cent of the student population. Of all students with special needs, 72.1 per cent were are enrolled at public schools.