School shopping: the inner-city Melbourne schools next to public housing towers that middle-class families avoid

Debney Meadow primary school is wedged between four public housing towers. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The Guardian

When Koreena Carlton sees a parent pushing a pram from her office window, she often grabs a brochure, rushes outside and introduces herself. “I will ask them how old their kids are, if they want to come check out the school,” says the principal of Debney Meadows primary school, in Melbourne’s inner north.

“The other staff do laugh at me quite a bit. I’m outside every single day – before school, after school. Any community event, someone from the school will be there. We are very active in trying to show people what we do.”