Kaniva State School No. 2531 opened in 1883 and continued with Grades Prep to Eight until Consolidation with eight other District Schools in February, 1953. The Kaniva Consolidated School opened in new buildings with 350 pupils in Grades Prep to Form 3. Increasing demand for a broader secondary education resulted in Kaniva High School being established in 1963 using the Consolidated buildings and Church of Christ Hall. The following year the High School moved into new buildings across the road and so from 1965 Kaniva had separate Secondary and Primary schools.

In the early 1980’s it was apparent that the Primary school required new buildings. A “Kaniva Consolidated School Buildings Project Committee” was formed and included representatives from the Education Department, Consolidated and High School Councils, Consolidated School Staff, Kaniva Shire, Parents Club and Welfare Groups. The reason for the diverse membership was that the possibility of a P-12 school was to be discussed. Investigation into P-12 followed, along with visits to other schools, however State Budget cuts resulted in this committee going into recess. In 1987 the committee was reactivated and it was finally decided to build the new Consolidated school on its present site. Consolidated students attended school in the new buildings (present Junior site) in December 1989.

In 1997 some $240,000 was spent at the Secondary College, restructuring rooflines and other external work. Additional work finished in 2001 saw the Secondary library removed and installed in the main building at a cost of $324,000.

During 2001 discussions were held regarding the possibility of an amalgamation of the two schools to form a P-12 College. Following a well-attended Public Meeting both the Kaniva Secondary College School Council and the Kaniva Consolidated School Council decided to investigate the P–12 proposal and a Kaniva P-12 Implementation Committee was formed with representatives from both school councils, staff from each school and the Department of Education. The P-12 school was seen to be the best option for the students of Kaniva and for the community. So education in Kaniva had come a full circle and from the 1st January 2002 students from Prep to Year 12 have attended Kaniva College. An Administration Block (including a staff lounge and offices) now forms an important link between the Junior and Senior site and their respective staff members.

Few schools have been so well serviced by Parent Organizations. The Kaniva Parents/Mothers Club and District Welfare Groups have now given the school substantial and continuous support for over 30 years.

The current school population stands at 233 (146 Junior and 87 Senior students). Due to the economic situation, numbers in recent years have declined, a trend that appears likely to continue into the foreseeable future.

During 1983 the schools celebrated 100 years of education in Kaniva. 1983 also saw the opening of a Sporting Complex and the construction of a Technical Facility.

At present, of the total 233 students, most are bus travellers which means they reside outside a 4.8 kilometre radius of the school. The bus service is reviewed annually.

In recent years, students from Kaniva College have entered a variety of career areas and today, many also go on to further education at the tertiary level.

The staff is fully qualified, and utilising VELS and VCE criteria, assess students through to the completion of Year 11. The Year 12 assessment is under the control of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) and includes some assessment by the staff. The VCAA has now also taken the major role in curriculum at all levels, and the release of the Victorian Essential Learning Standards has established expectations from Prep through to Year 10, and support documents are progressively being released to schools.

The College Council is implementing a continuing program of improvement and the grounds today are both attractive and functional. Grounds maintenance has been assisted in recent years with School Council working bees. One of the real highlights of 1993 in relation to the grounds was the win by the College in the Schools Garden Award, Regional Secondary section. This culminated in a helicopter visit by the judges, a commemorative tree planting, a book presentation in late October, and an end of year presentation in Melbourne’s Fitzroy Gardens. This outstanding achievement was replicated in 1995, when the Secondary College, led by the SRC and Council, again took off this Award, a tribute to the care we give to our surroundings.