CensusAtlas

Dawson · Federal Electorate

Education & Qualifications in Dawson

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

About 38.6% of adults in Dawson hold a Certificate III or IV, the most common qualification in the area. While the local community has seen more people finish high school recently, overall education levels remain well below the state and national figures.

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📍 Dawson, Federal Electorate

Where Dawson sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

14.0% —

All federal electorate areas, 2021. The marker is Dawson — lower than 82% of areas.

Dawson14.0%
Rest of Qld 17.1%
Queensland 21.9%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

Only 46.6% of residents have completed Year 12, which is far below the Queensland figure of 57.1%. This result is lower than most areas, though the rate has risen by 7.4 points since 2011.

Completed Year 12

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46.6% ▲ +18.7%

Lower than 69% 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 Dawson, Year 12 is the majority at 52%; Year 10 is next at 29%.

Year 12 46.6% Year 10 25.9% Year 9 or below 9.6% Year 11 7.5%

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

Bachelor degrees or higher are held by 14.0% of adults, which is far below the Australian average of 26.3%. This is much lower than most similar areas, despite a small increase of 2.1 points since 2016.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

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14.0% —

Lower than 82% 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 Dawson, the largest group is Certificate III / IV at 50%, followed by Bachelor degree (23%) and Advanced diploma / diploma (16%).

Certificate III / IV 38.6% Bachelor degree 17.5% Advanced diploma / diploma 12.4% Postgraduate degree 3.8% Certificate I / II 2.5% Graduate diploma / certificate 2.5%

Field of study

What people studied.

Engineering and related fields are the most common qualifications here at 20.7%, followed by management and commerce at 13.8%.

Schools

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

Dawson has 2.5 schools per 1,000 children, which is higher than most areas. However, the average school advantage score is 979, which is much lower than most other areas.

Schools within 3 km

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75

Higher than 76% 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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979

Lower than 82% 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 Dawson — hover a marker for details. Open the full map →

Schools serving Dawson

75 schools — 30,266 students, average ICSEA 979.

By sector: Government 52 · Catholic 15 · Independent 8

By type: Primary 49 · Secondary 15 · Combined 11
St Mary's Catholic School, Bowen Catholic Primary 23.5 km 146 967
Bowen State School, Bowen Government Primary 23.5 km 508 927
Bowen State High School, Bowen Government Secondary 25.0 km 679 919
Merinda State School, Bowen Government Primary 27.6 km 41 881
Queens Beach State School, Bowen Government Primary 27.7 km 302 928
Proserpine State High School, Proserpine Government Secondary 33.6 km 1,116 974
Proserpine State School, Proserpine Government Primary 33.9 km 577 968
St Catherine's Catholic College The Whitsundays, Proserpine Catholic Combined 34.8 km 725 1,017
Whitsunday Christian College, Cannonvale Independent Combined 35.5 km 421 1,015
Cannonvale State School, Cannonvale Government Primary 37.7 km 758 987
Hayman Island State School, Hayman Island Government Primary 57.8 km 3 —
Bloomsbury State School, Bloomsbury Government Primary 61.8 km 44 942
Hamilton Island State School, Whitsundays Government Primary 65.1 km 19 1,081
Gumlu State School, Gumlu Government Primary 77.8 km 4 —
Pindi Pindi State School, Pindi Pindi Government Primary 84.8 km 25 958
Calen District State College, Calen Government Combined 89.5 km 179 926
Seaforth State School, Seaforth Government Primary 102.8 km 80 951
Home Hill State High School, Home Hill Government Secondary 113.3 km 165 891
Hampden State School, Hampden Government Primary 113.5 km 84 963
Jarvisfield State School, Jarvisfield Government Primary 114.1 km 39 839
St Colman's Catholic School, Home Hill Catholic Primary 114.4 km 118 964
Home Hill State School, Home Hill Government Primary 114.7 km 128 875
Osborne State School, Osborne Government Primary 118.4 km 9 916
Burdekin Christian College, Ayr Independent Combined 119.6 km 380 949
Ayr State High School, Ayr Government Secondary 120.0 km 497 925
Burdekin School, Ayr Government Combined 120.0 km 19 945
East Ayr State School, Ayr Government Primary 120.3 km 500 952
Burdekin Catholic High School, Ayr Catholic Secondary 120.4 km 293 989
Ayr State School, Ayr Government Primary 120.7 km 60 763
Airville State School, Airville Government Primary 120.8 km 17 988
St Francis Catholic School, Ayr Catholic Primary 121.2 km 222 1,007
Maidavale State School, Airville Government Primary 122.7 km 11 957
Kalamia State School, Brandon Government Primary 123.2 km 15 883
Coningsby State School, Farleigh Government Primary 124.6 km 71 944
Bucasia State School, Bucasia Government Primary 125.2 km 476 962
Clare State School, Clare Government Primary 126.0 km 15 958
Brandon State School, Brandon Government Primary 126.7 km 18 834
St Brendan's Catholic Primary School, Mackay Catholic Primary 127.1 km 439 1,018
Eimeo Road State School, Rural View Government Primary 127.9 km 607 938
Farleigh State School, Farleigh Government Primary 127.9 km 32 935
Mackay Northern Beaches State High School, Rural View Government Secondary 128.5 km 1,012 950
Beaconsfield State School, Beaconsfield Government Primary 131.3 km 481 924
MacKillop Catholic Primary School, Andergrove Catholic Primary 131.4 km 149 990
Northview State School, Mount Pleasant Government Primary 131.4 km 331 991
Mackay District Special School, Beaconsfield Government Combined 131.4 km 82 949
Carlisle Adventist College, Beaconsfield Independent Combined 131.5 km 281 990
Emmanuel Catholic Primary School, Mount Pleasant Catholic Primary 131.8 km 597 1,025
Holy Spirit College, Mount Pleasant Catholic Secondary 131.9 km 1,139 1,023
Andergrove State School, Andergrove Government Primary 131.9 km 270 887
Whitsunday Anglican School, Beaconsfield Independent Combined 132.1 km 1,151 1,102
Pioneer State High School, Andergrove Government Secondary 132.2 km 536 875
Glenella State School, Glenella Government Primary 132.3 km 234 977
Slade Point State School, Slade Point Government Primary 132.8 km 204 850
Fitzgerald State School, North Mackay Government Primary 133.0 km 632 955
Mackay North State High School, North Mackay Government Secondary 133.4 km 1,253 958
Mackay Christian College, North Mackay Independent Combined 133.9 km 879 1,000
Mackay North State School, North Mackay Government Primary 134.6 km 401 933
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, North Mackay Catholic Primary 134.9 km 349 1,016
St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School, Mackay West Catholic Primary 135.5 km 569 1,031
Mackay West State School, West Mackay Government Primary 135.8 km 770 980
St Patrick's College, Mackay Catholic Secondary 136.1 km 1,394 1,009
Catherine McAuley College, Mackay Catholic Secondary 136.4 km 606 1,026
Mackay Central State School, Mackay Government Primary 136.5 km 216 908
Mackay State High School, South Mackay Government Secondary 136.8 km 1,254 936
Kutta Mulla Gorinna Special Assistance School, Mackay Independent Secondary 136.8 km 75 811
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Mackay South Catholic Primary 137.4 km 384 1,050
Victoria Park State School, East Mackay Government Primary 137.5 km 602 927
Giru State School, Giru Government Primary 150.3 km 60 925
Yallorin Yimba Silver Lining School, Cluden Independent Secondary 186.9 km 26 791
Wulguru State School, Wulguru Government Primary 187.8 km 212 827
Oonoonba State School, Idalia Government Primary 189.0 km 525 995
Southern Cross Catholic College, Annandale Catholic Combined 189.2 km 1,479 1,048
William Ross State High School, Annandale Government Secondary 189.4 km 862 955
Annandale State School, Annandale Government Primary 191.4 km 722 1,019
Annandale Christian College, Annandale Independent Combined 191.5 km 687 1,069

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 Dawson [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/ced/CED306/dawson/topic/education