CensusAtlas

Paterson · Federal Electorate

Education & Qualifications in Paterson

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

Far fewer residents in Paterson have finished high school compared to the rest of the state. Only 40.3% of people here completed Year 12, which is nearly 20 points lower than the New South Wales and national figures.

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📍 Paterson, Federal Electorate

Where Paterson sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

13.2% —

All federal electorate areas, 2021. The marker is Paterson — lower than 85% of areas.

Paterson13.2%
Rest of NSW 17.8%
New South Wales 27.8%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

High school completion has dropped sharply, falling 21 points since 2011 to just 40.3%. This is far below the national average, with 33.2% of residents topping out at Year 10.

Completed Year 12

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40.3% ▼ -34.0%

Lower than 85% 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 Paterson, the largest group is Year 12 at 43%, followed by Year 10 (35%) and Year 9 or below (14%).

Year 12 40.3% Year 10 33.2% Year 9 or below 13.1% Year 11 7.5%

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

University degrees are uncommon here, with only 13.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the state figure of 27.8%, though it has risen slightly since 2016.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

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13.2% —

Lower than 85% of federal electorate areas.

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

Field of study

What people studied.

Among those with qualifications, the most common fields are engineering and related subjects at 19.7%, followed by management and commerce at 18.2%.

Schools

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

Paterson has more schools per 1,000 children than most areas, with 30,382 enrolments across the region. However, the average school advantage score is much lower than in most other areas.

Schools within 3 km

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69

Higher than 71% 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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974

Lower than 85% 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 Paterson — hover a marker for details. Open the full map →

Schools serving Paterson

69 schools — 30,382 students, average ICSEA 974.

By sector: Government 44 · Catholic 14 · Independent 11

By type: Primary 46 · Secondary 13 · Combined 10
Grahamstown Public School, Raymond Terrace Government Primary 2.3 km 253 912
Irrawang High School, Raymond Terrace Government Secondary 3.1 km 810 916
Irrawang Public School, Raymond Terrace Government Primary 4.0 km 304 863
St Brigid's Primary School, Raymond Terrace Catholic Primary 5.0 km 377 1,012
Medowie Christian School, Medowie Independent Combined 5.4 km 554 1,038
Raymond Terrace Public School, Raymond Terrace Government Primary 5.6 km 322 864
Medowie Public School, Medowie Government Primary 5.7 km 382 994
Catherine McAuley Catholic College, Medowie Catholic Secondary 6.1 km 884 1,019
Hunter River High School, Heatherbrae Government Secondary 6.6 km 762 899
Wirreanda Public School, Medowie Government Primary 7.5 km 530 988
Millers Forest Public School, Millers Forest Government Primary 9.0 km 60 920
Salt Ash Public School, Salt Ash Government Primary 10.2 km 142 904
Fern Bay Public School, Fern Bay Government Primary 12.3 km 182 1,002
Woodberry Learning Centre, Woodberry Government Combined 12.5 km 26 844
Woodberry Public School, Woodberry Government Primary 12.6 km 221 817
Francis Greenway High School, Beresfield Government Secondary 13.6 km 742 912
Tarro Public School, Tarro Government Primary 13.8 km 115 892
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Tarro Catholic Primary 14.0 km 260 1,013
Beresfield Public School, Beresfield Government Primary 14.5 km 262 918
Thornton Public School, Thornton Government Primary 15.1 km 826 974
Aspect Hunter School, Thornton Independent Combined 15.4 km 290 1,008
St Bede's Catholic College, Chisholm Catholic Secondary 15.5 km 910 1,030
St Aloysius Catholic Primary School, Chisholm Catholic Primary 15.5 km 614 1,064
Morpeth Public School, Morpeth Government Primary 16.2 km 262 1,023
Metford Public School, Metford Government Primary 17.5 km 265 887
Hunter River Community School, Metford Government Combined 17.5 km 70 958
Maitland Christian School, Metford Independent Combined 17.9 km 832 1,047
Arise Christian College, Metford Independent Combined 17.9 km 61 971
Tenambit Public School, Tenambit Government Primary 18.3 km 283 893
Ashtonfield Public School, Ashtonfield Government Primary 18.6 km 514 1,008
OneSchool Global NSW - Maitland, East Maitland Independent Combined 18.7 km 108 975
Linuwel School Ltd, East Maitland Independent Combined 18.8 km 244 1,041
Hunter Valley Grammar School, Ashtonfield Independent Combined 18.9 km 1,161 1,134
Maitland High School, East Maitland Government Secondary 19.0 km 958 947
Black Hill Public School, Black Hill Government Primary 19.1 km 67 982
Maitland Grossmann High School, East Maitland Government Secondary 19.6 km 900 960
Tanilba Bay Public School, Tanilba Bay Government Primary 19.6 km 354 901
Bobs Farm Public School, Bobs Farm Government Primary 19.8 km 30 979
Maitland East Public School, East Maitland Government Primary 20.1 km 559 975
St Joseph's Primary School, East Maitland Catholic Primary 20.1 km 449 1,063
All Saints College, Maitland Catholic Secondary 22.6 km 1,191 1,023
St John the Baptist Primary School, Maitland Catholic Primary 22.7 km 397 1,047
Maitland Public School, Maitland Government Primary 23.2 km 405 936
The Heights Learning Community, Gillieston Heights Independent Primary 24.5 km 14 1,058
Hunter Trade College, Telarah Independent Secondary 24.6 km 257 978
Gillieston Public School, Gillieston Heights Government Primary 25.2 km 404 922
Telarah Public School, Maitland Government Primary 25.3 km 519 879
Soldiers Point Public School, Soldiers Point Government Primary 25.5 km 267 992
St Paul's Primary School, Rutherford Catholic Primary 25.6 km 370 996
Rutherford Technology High School, Rutherford Government Secondary 25.7 km 1,405 922
Rutherford Public School, Rutherford Government Primary 26.0 km 1,007 933
Anna Bay Public School, Anna Bay Government Primary 27.2 km 309 962
St Philip's Christian College Gilibaa, Salamander Bay Independent Primary 29.1 km 30 763
St Philip's Christian College - Port Stephens, Salamander Bay Independent Combined 29.1 km 821 1,072
Stanford Merthyr Infants School, Stanford Merthyr Government Primary 29.3 km 54 950
Tomaree High School, Salamander Bay Government Secondary 29.4 km 986 970
Tomaree Public School, Salamander Bay Government Primary 29.4 km 310 981
Kurri Kurri High School, Kurri Kurri Government Secondary 29.8 km 917 894
Holy Spirit Primary School, Kurri Kurri Catholic Primary 30.1 km 186 994
Pelaw Main Public School, Pelaw Main Government Primary 30.7 km 115 901
Kurri Kurri Public School, Kurri Kurri Government Primary 30.8 km 574 891
St Michael's Primary School, Nelson Bay Catholic Primary 31.7 km 269 1,040
Weston Public School, Weston Government Primary 32.1 km 270 882
St Joseph's College, Lochinvar Catholic Secondary 32.7 km 973 996
St Patrick's Primary School, Lochinvar Catholic Primary 32.8 km 577 1,009
Lochinvar Public School, Lochinvar Government Primary 33.2 km 194 965
Holy Spirit Infants School, Abermain Catholic Primary 33.8 km 122 991
Shoal Bay Public School, Shoal Bay Government Primary 35.2 km 237 962
Abermain Public School, Abermain Government Primary 35.3 km 257 917

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 Paterson [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ced/CED136/paterson/topic/education