School education in Australia is compulsory between certain ages as specified by state or territory legislation. Depending on the state or territory, and date of birth of the child, school is compulsory from the age of five to six to the age of fifteen to seventeen.[14] In recent years, over three quarters of students stay at school until they are seventeen. Government schools educate approximately 50% of Australian students, with approximately 50% in Catholic and independent schools.[5] A small portion of students are legally home-schooled, particularly in rural areas