Malabar Public School is one of many public schools that opened in the eastern suburbs of Sydney following the
Education Act of 1880.

In response to higher expectations from teachers and the local community, the school has undertaken a program of strategic changes in teaching practice to improve learning outcomes for its students, particularly in the basic skills of literacy and numeracy, but also in a diversified range of curricula and co-curricular opportunities for students. Successful changes have been institutionalised and sustained across the school K-6.

With increased educational success, the school has experienced a consistency in student enrolments, initially against the trend of declining enrolments in the lower eastern suburbs. The school is currently held in high esteem by its community and many of its enrolments stem from "word of mouth" recommendation from current parents. With accommodation a focus of concern, enrolments will require careful management for the foreseeable future. Within the current three year plan, the school will continue to place strong emphasis on strategic improvements in literacy and numeracy through enhancement of teaching practice and extended use of information and communication technology in teaching and learning. The school will continue to offer a diverse range of co-curricular activities, across all the KLA'S and will maintain Philosophical Enquiry lessons to embed and support the teaching of the Australian Curriculum literacy component - "Speaking and Listening". Another focus will be on the enhancement and development of sustainability education with a focus on working more effectively with our environment.