CensusAtlas

Parkes · Federal Electorate

Education & Qualifications in Parkes

How far people went at school, the qualifications they hold and what they studied.

Far fewer people have finished high school in Parkes than in most other areas, with only 37% completing Year 12. This means many locals rely on trade qualifications and practical skills for their daily work. While university degrees are less common here, the area has a strong network of schools and a growing number of people finishing their studies.

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📍 Parkes, Federal Electorate

Where Parkes sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

13.1% —

All federal electorate areas, 2021. The marker is Parkes — lower than 86% of areas.

Parkes13.1%
Rest of NSW 17.8%
New South Wales 27.8%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

Only 37% of residents finished Year 12, which is far below the New South Wales figure of 58.9%. This rate has risen by 4.6 percentage points since 2011, though Year 10 remains a common stopping point for 29% of the population.

Completed Year 12

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37.0% ▲ +14.3%

Lower than 89% of federal electorate areas.

Share of people whose highest year of school is Year 12 or equivalent.

Highest year of school

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In Parkes, the largest group is Year 12 at 43%, followed by Year 10 (34%) and Year 9 or below (16%).

Year 12 37.0% Year 10 29.0% Year 9 or below 14.0% Year 11 6.5%

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

University degrees are uncommon in Parkes, with only 13.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, far below the national figure of 26.3%. Instead, trade certificates are the most frequent qualification, held by 33% of residents.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

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13.1% —

Lower than 86% of federal electorate areas.

Share of people aged 15+ whose highest qualification is a bachelor degree or above (incl. graduate and postgraduate).

Highest qualification level

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In Parkes, the largest group is Certificate III / IV at 47%, followed by Bachelor degree (24%) and Advanced diploma / diploma (17%).

Certificate III / IV 33.0% Bachelor degree 16.7% Advanced diploma / diploma 11.7% Postgraduate degree 3.9% Certificate I / II 2.5% Graduate diploma / certificate 2.4%

Field of study

What people studied.

Those with qualifications in Parkes most commonly studied engineering and related fields (13.8%) or management and commerce (13.6%). Health (10.2%) and society and culture (9.1%) are also frequent fields of study.

Schools

Schools in the area and how many children they serve (ACARA).

Parkes has among the highest number of schools per 1,000 children and one of the largest counts of schools within 3km. Most students attend government schools (73.1%), though the typical school is small with an average of 164 students.

Schools within 3 km

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156

Higher than 98% of federal electorate areas.

Schools serving the area — within 3 km of small areas, or inside larger ones. A measure of access (catchments overlap, so don't add it across areas).

Average school ICSEA

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893

Lower than 99% of federal electorate areas.

Enrolment-weighted average ICSEA — an index of socio-educational advantage, centred near 1000 (context, not a quality ranking).

Schools in and around Parkes — hover a marker for details. Open the full map →

Schools serving Parkes

156 schools — 25,203 students, average ICSEA 893.

By sector: Government 114 · Catholic 31 · Independent 11

By type: Primary 96 · Combined 38 · Secondary 22
St John's Parish School, Cobar Catholic Primary 48.6 km 114 941
Cobar Public School, Cobar Government Primary 48.9 km 228 849
Cobar High School, Cobar Government Secondary 49.0 km 214 865
Hermidale Public School, Hermidale Government Primary 91.1 km 13 874
Girilambone Public School, Girilambone Government Primary 93.8 km 14 915
Louth Public School, Louth Government Primary 99.0 km 8 923
Bourke-Walgett School of Distance Education, Bourke Government Primary 108.8 km 47 993
Bourke Public School, Bourke Government Primary 108.8 km 145 702
Bourke High School, Bourke Government Secondary 109.1 km 134 714
St Ignatius' Parish School, Bourke Catholic Primary 109.4 km 90 826
Koinonia Christian Academy, Bourke Independent Combined 110.2 km 3 —
Brewarrina Christian School, Gongolgon Independent Combined 119.8 km 30 756
Nyngan High School, Nyngan Government Secondary 130.1 km 144 845
St Joseph's Parish School, Nyngan Catholic Primary 130.4 km 114 956
Nyngan Public School, Nyngan Government Primary 131.0 km 131 765
Marra Creek Public School, Nyngan Government Primary 138.0 km 8 974
Brewarrina Central School, Brewarrina Government Combined 151.2 km 122 652
St Patrick's Parish School, Brewarrina Catholic Primary 151.4 km 37 770
Carinda Public School, Carinda Government Primary 179.8 km 18 1,017
Quambone Public School, Quambone Government Primary 184.3 km 8 826
Tottenham Central School, Tottenham Government Combined 186.5 km 71 930
St Mary's Parish School, Warren Catholic Primary 192.6 km 127 1,014
Warren Central School, Warren Government Combined 192.9 km 228 783
Enngonia Public School, Enngonia Government Primary 195.2 km 11 600
Trangie Central School, Trangie Government Combined 220.4 km 167 852
St John's Parish School, Trangie Catholic Primary 220.4 km 30 823
Weilmoringle Public School, Weilmoringle Government Primary 224.3 km 5 —
Euabalong West Public School, Euabalong West Government Primary 224.7 km 15 759
Wanaaring Public School, Wanaaring Government Primary 230.0 km 7 851
Coonamble Public School, Coonamble Government Primary 233.1 km 186 701
St Brigid's Catholic Primary School Coonamble, Coonamble Catholic Primary 233.4 km 191 941
Coonamble High School, Coonamble Government Secondary 233.5 km 161 733
St Joseph's Primary School, Walgett Catholic Primary 238.1 km 134 879
Walgett Community College - High School, Walgett Government Secondary 238.4 km 83 677
Walgett Community College - Primary School, Walgett Government Primary 238.5 km 97 672
Gulargambone Central School, Gulargambone Government Combined 242.4 km 104 693
St Therese's Community Parish School, Wilcannia Catholic Primary 249.7 km 25 740
Wilcannia Central School, Wilcannia Government Combined 250.0 km 65 673
Lake Cargelligo Central School, Lake Cargelligo Government Combined 250.4 km 227 858
St Francis Xavier's Primary School, Lake Cargelligo Catholic Primary 250.5 km 41 909
St Joseph's Parish School, Condobolin Catholic Primary 250.8 km 116 956
Condobolin Public School, Condobolin Government Primary 251.0 km 256 848
Condobolin High School, Condobolin Government Secondary 251.4 km 205 834
OneSchool Global NSW - Condobolin, Condobolin Independent Combined 251.4 km 43 978
St Augustine's Parish School, Narromine Catholic Primary 252.4 km 87 993
Narromine High School, Narromine Government Secondary 252.7 km 223 787
Narromine Public School, Narromine Government Primary 252.9 km 237 832
Narromine Christian School, Narromine Independent Primary 253.4 km 177 946
Ivanhoe Central School, Ivanhoe Government Combined 255.5 km 29 747
Goodooga Central School, Goodooga Government Combined 261.6 km 28 629
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Gilgandra, Gilgandra Catholic Primary 267.5 km 148 1,006
Gilgandra Public School, Gilgandra Government Primary 267.7 km 198 815
Gilgandra High School, Gilgandra Government Secondary 267.7 km 185 849
Lightning Ridge Central School, Lightning Ridge Government Combined 267.8 km 311 790
Tullibigeal Central School, Tullibigeal Government Combined 271.4 km 33 958
Eumungerie Public School, Eumungerie Government Primary 271.9 km 11 879
White Cliffs Public School, White Cliffs Government Primary 273.3 km 17 873
Burrabadine Christian Community School, Dubbo Independent Combined 275.2 km 215 996
Lincoln School, Dubbo Government Secondary 280.6 km 14 695
Macquarie Anglican Grammar School, Dubbo Independent Combined 281.4 km 664 1,040
Yawarra Community School, Dubbo Government Combined 281.9 km 50 867
Dubbo College Delroy Campus, Dubbo West Government Secondary 282.0 km 468 804
St Pius X Catholic Primary School Dubbo, Dubbo Catholic Primary 282.4 km 183 963
Dubbo West Public School, Dubbo Government Primary 282.5 km 293 772
Dubbo Public School, Dubbo Government Primary 283.8 km 520 972
Mian School, Dubbo Government Combined 284.0 km 24 706
Dubbo North Public School, Dubbo Government Primary 284.3 km 276 850
Central West Leadership Academy, Dubbo Independent Combined 284.5 km 158 1,072
Dubbo College Senior Campus, Dubbo Government Secondary 284.7 km 651 929
Dubbo South Public School, Dubbo Government Primary 284.8 km 570 911
St Laurence's Catholic Primary School Dubbo, Dubbo Catholic Primary 284.9 km 211 1,043
Tooraweenah Public School, Tooraweenah Government Primary 284.9 km 23 947
Dubbo College South Campus, Dubbo Government Secondary 285.3 km 687 864
St Mary's Catholic Primary School Dubbo, Dubbo Catholic Primary 285.6 km 429 1,003
Orana Heights Public School, Dubbo Government Primary 285.8 km 614 900
Dubbo School of Distance Education, Dubbo Government Combined 286.3 km 183 888
Buninyong Public School, Dubbo Government Primary 286.3 km 436 787
Dubbo Christian School, Dubbo Independent Combined 287.8 km 671 1,049
St John's Catholic Primary School Dubbo, Dubbo Catholic Primary 288.0 km 409 998
St Johns College Dubbo, Dubbo Catholic Secondary 288.1 km 941 1,004
Warrumbungle National Park Environmental Education Centre, Coonabarabran Government Combined 289.6 km — —
Pilliga Public School, Pilliga Government Primary 292.6 km 18 747
Wambangalang Environmental Education Centre, Dubbo Government Combined 292.6 km — —
Gwabegar Public School, Gwabegar Government Primary 293.8 km 21 694
St John's Catholic Primary School Baradine, Baradine Catholic Primary 297.7 km 43 951
Baradine Central School, Baradine Government Combined 298.1 km 101 785
Wongarbon Public School, Wongarbon Government Primary 300.9 km 42 973
Collarenebri Central School, Collarenebri Government Combined 304.6 km 68 625
Ballimore Public School, Ballimore Government Primary 306.3 km 13 923
Burren Junction Public School, Burren Junction Government Primary 308.5 km 36 969
Mendooran Central School, Mendooran Government Combined 312.6 km 91 889
Rowena Public School, Rowena Government Primary 317.0 km 20 944
St Lawrence's Catholic Primary School Coonabarabran, Coonabarabran Catholic Primary 317.5 km 146 959
Coonabarabran Public School, Coonabarabran Government Primary 318.3 km 200 856
Coonabarabran High School, Coonabarabran Government Secondary 318.5 km 298 898
Binnaway Central School, Binnaway Government Combined 330.2 km 44 815
Dunedoo Central School, Dunedoo Government Combined 343.2 km 152 893
St Michael's Catholic Primary School Dunedoo, Dunedoo Catholic Primary 343.4 km 48 970
Namoi Valley Christian School, Wee Waa Independent Combined 347.4 km 128 936
Wee Waa Public School, Wee Waa Government Primary 347.6 km 79 720
St Joseph's Primary School, Wee Waa Catholic Primary 347.6 km 118 961
Wee Waa High School, Wee Waa Government Secondary 349.1 km 181 853
Bullarah Public School, Bullarah Government Primary 362.1 km 24 887
Menindee Central School, Menindee Government Combined 364.9 km 74 760
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Coolah, Coolah Catholic Primary 366.9 km 31 996
Coolah Central School, Coolah Government Combined 368.0 km 148 896
Mallawa Public School, Moree Government Primary 370.9 km 11 874
Narrabri West Public School, Narrabri Government Primary 373.9 km 232 889
Mungindi Central School, Mungindi Government Combined 374.3 km 66 795
St Joseph's Primary School, Mungindi Catholic Primary 374.3 km 47 957
Narrabri High School, Narrabri Government Secondary 375.9 km 420 864
Narrabri Public School, Narrabri Government Primary 376.4 km 267 823
St Francis Xavier's Primary School, Narrabri Catholic Primary 376.8 km 300 1,000
Mullaley Public School, Mullaley Government Primary 377.3 km 28 922
Bellata Public School, Bellata Government Primary 390.6 km 17 913
Boggabri Public School, Boggabri Government Primary 393.2 km 96 908
Sacred Heart Primary School, Boggabri Catholic Primary 393.4 km 21 983
Fairfax Public School, Maules Creek Government Primary 405.0 km 3 —
G S Kidd Memorial School, Gunnedah Government Combined 409.2 km 35 881
Gunnedah High School, Gunnedah Government Secondary 410.2 km 438 820
Gunnedah South Public School, Gunnedah Government Primary 410.3 km 533 902
Carinya Christian School Gunnedah, Gunnedah Independent Combined 410.8 km 231 965
Gunnedah Public School, Gunnedah Government Primary 410.9 km 175 785
St Xavier's Primary School, Gunnedah Catholic Primary 411.1 km 366 996
Curlewis Public School, Curlewis Government Primary 411.2 km 77 833
St Mary's College, Gunnedah Catholic Secondary 411.3 km 411 976
Moree Christian School, Moree Independent Combined 413.4 km 126 1,002
Moree Secondary College, Moree Government Secondary 413.7 km 369 771
Barwon Learning Centre, Moree Government Combined 413.9 km 7 —
Moree East Public School, Moree Government Primary 414.0 km 230 689
Moree Public School, Moree Government Primary 414.3 km 432 862
St Philomena's School, Moree Catholic Combined 414.7 km 336 952
Garah Public School, Garah Government Primary 418.6 km 14 933
Tibooburra Outback Public School, Tibooburra Government Primary 419.6 km 4 —
Carroll Public School, Carroll Government Primary 429.1 km 46 987
Willyama High School, Broken Hill Government Secondary 434.7 km 570 903
Broken Hill North Public School, Broken Hill Government Primary 435.0 km 206 864
School of the Air, Broken Hill Government Primary 435.0 km 120 985
Morgan Street Public School, Broken Hill Government Primary 435.9 km 290 960
Sacred Heart Parish School, Broken Hill Catholic Primary 436.3 km 190 990
Broken Hill Public School, Broken Hill Government Primary 436.7 km 162 881
Broken Hill High School, Broken Hill Government Secondary 436.7 km 411 892
Alma Public School, Broken Hill Government Primary 436.7 km 255 875
Boomi Public School, Boomi Government Primary 436.7 km 7 770
Burke Ward Public School, Broken Hill Government Primary 438.2 km 200 858
Railway Town Public School, Broken Hill Government Primary 438.5 km 124 868
Pallamallawa Public School, Pallamallawa Government Primary 440.4 km 21 857
Gravesend Public School, Gravesend Government Primary 452.3 km 23 918
Tulloona Public School, Tulloona Government Primary 469.3 km 1 —
Croppa Creek Public School, Croppa Creek Government Primary 472.3 km 12 979
Warialda High School, Warialda Government Secondary 475.6 km 199 900
St Joseph's Primary School, Warialda Catholic Primary 475.7 km 25 864
Warialda Public School, Warialda Government Primary 475.8 km 192 927
North Star Public School, North Star Government Primary 490.2 km 22 973
Boggabilla Central School, Boggabilla Government Combined 505.9 km 79 670
Toomelah Public School, Boggabilla Government Primary 512.2 km 41 625

Sources

  • Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).
  • Australian Schools List — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025 (CC BY 4.0).

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Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Education & Qualifications in Parkes [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ced/CED134/parkes/topic/education