Some parents and students at six Queensland schools announced for closure had no idea of the decision until being informed by media.
More than 500 students and almost 100 staff will be affected by the schools' closures at the end of the year, after the state government deemed them unviable.
Nyanda State High School, Fortitude Valley State School and Old Yarranlea State School in Brisbane, plus Toowoomba South State School and Charlton State School in the Darling Downs and Stuart State School in Townsville will go.
Everton Park State High School and Wyreema State School were also earmarked for closure, but were saved by submissions from their school communities.
Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek says Wyreema was deemed to be in a growth area while Everton Park had increased its viability by offering to sell some land and increase public access.
He said staff at the other schools had been notified of the decision and information packs will go home to parents.
The government will also offer parents allowances of between $500 to $750 to move to a new school for 2014.
But it was little comfort for parents and students after the announcement on Tuesday, with some children at Fortitude Valley State School in tears.
Some parents didn't even realise the school was closing until media approached them for interviews.
Queensland Teachers' Union deputy secretary Kate Ruttiman says the lack of communication isn't good enough, particularly given the union, like many others, has had to hear about the announcement in the media.
"Those principals only found out an hour before the rest of their communities did that their schools would be closing," she said.
"You would think out of respect for those communities they'd have a little bit more notice."
Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mulherin slammed the closures as a cash grab, saying the government is more concerned about clearing prime real-estate areas than the school communities.
Mr Mulherin suggested the decision, initially expected in July, was delayed until after the federal election so it wouldn't negatively impact Liberal National Party candidates.
Mr Langbroek rejected the claims and said any money gained from the school closures would go back into the education system.
"I understand that these are very, very difficult decisions," he told reporters.
"We want to be there to support the teachers, the staff, the parents and students, of course."
But his comments are not washing with the communities of the closed schools.
"I can't understand it - none of the schools can," Toowoomba South State School P&C Association spokeswoman Caroline Bennett told AAP.
"We are still in shock, we are quite upset.
"Already I've rung around the schools nearby ... they all say they are full."
