The ACT government will build two new schools in Canberra's north, as Gungahlin's population continues to swell.
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A $47 million primary school in Throsby will open its doors in 2022 with capacity for 450 students and 132 pre-schoolers.
Coming online the following year, a high school in Kenny will cater for 800 students from years 7 to 10, though both campuses will also have room to grow.
The two schools will be built to "the highest standards of sustainability" and follow the same revamped design brief for "21st century learning" behind the ACT's latest public school, Margaret Hendry, the government said.
The local community will also have input into each school's final design.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Education Minister Yvette Berry brushed off suggestions the new schools were arriving too late - following some community concern about a classroom squeeze in in the north.
"Gungahlin is one of the fastest growing regions in Australia," Ms Berry said.
By 2028, the government expects 2500 extra young people to live in the area.
As demographics changed, Ms Berry said the government was working hard to understand future demand in both new and old suburbs.
In Tuesday's upcoming ACT Budget, a further $3.5 million will be earmarked over the next three years for planning and projection work across the ACT, focused on the city and its inner suburbs as well as Belconnen, Woden and Molonglo.
A primary school at Denman Prospect is already set to open in the rapidly growing Molonglo Valley in 2021 as planning also begins on a high school for the area.
The government has also commissioned the Australian National University to conduct a $500,000 review into its school demand modelling.
Contract documents for the review acknowledged the government's current model could not plan adequately for school infrastructure in light of population growth and a recent upswing in the popularity of public education in Canberra.
Elsewhere, transportable classrooms will be trucked into Hawker Primary, Gungahalin College and Lyneham High, which was slightly over capacity at last year's school census.
Places at Franklin Early Childhood School and Gold Creek will also expand in the coming years.
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Sherryn Groch
Sherryn is a journalist at The Canberra Times, with a special interest in education and social affairs.
Sherryn is a journalist at The Canberra Times, with a special interest in education and social affairs.
