SYDNEY'S top performing private school had gross income per student of nearly $40,000 in 2010, according to figures made available yesterday on the federal government's My School website.

Students at Sydney Grammar, the only private school ranked by the Herald in the top 10 performing high schools in NSW according to NAPLAN results, were supported by gross income of $39,348 in 2010, which included $3121 in federal and state government funding, $25,297 in fees and parent contributions and $10,930 drawn from other private sources.

"These new figures illustrate why we urgently need a new funding system" ... Angelo Gavrielatos. Credit:Jon Reid

One-quarter of this income was allocated to capital projects, with the rest used for recurrent operating costs.

Cranbrook ($33,557), SCEGGS ($29,132) and Ascham ($28,583) are among those private schools recording the highest amounts of gross income per student.