Clarence Valley · Council (LGA)

Education & Qualifications in Clarence Valley

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

Only 34.7% of adults in Clarence Valley completed Year 12, which is far below the national figure. While school completion rates have risen since 2011, the area still sees much lower levels of formal schooling and university degrees than the state average.

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📍 Clarence Valley, Council (LGA)

Where Clarence Valley sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

11.8% ▲ +38.5%
  • 0.0%–2.1%: 3 areas
  • 2.1%–4.3%: 11 areas
  • 4.3%–6.4%: 18 areas
  • 6.4%–8.6%: 44 areas
  • 8.6%–10.7%: 94 areas
  • 10.7%–12.9%: 111 areas
  • 12.9%–15.0%: 65 areas
  • 15.0%–17.1%: 38 areas
  • 17.1%–19.3%: 31 areas
  • 19.3%–21.4%: 21 areas
  • 21.4%–23.6%: 20 areas
  • 23.6%–25.7%: 5 areas
  • 25.7%–27.9%: 11 areas
  • 27.9%–30.0%: 8 areas
  • 30.0%–32.1%: 5 areas
  • 32.1%–34.3%: 13 areas
  • 34.3%–36.4%: 1 area
  • 36.4%–38.6%: 9 areas
  • 38.6%–40.7%: 5 areas
  • 40.7%–42.9%: 5 areas
  • 42.9%–45.0%: 11 areas
  • 45.0%–47.1%: 6 areas
  • 47.1%–49.3%: 6 areas
  • 49.3%–51.4%: 1 area
  • 51.4%–53.6%: 7 areas
  • 53.6%–55.7%: 6 areas
  • 55.7%–57.9%: 3 areas
  • 57.9%–60.0%: 1 area

All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Clarence Valley — lower than 58% of areas.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher compared with the state and national average
Clarence Valley11.8%
Rest of NSW 17.8%
New South Wales 27.8%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

Year 12 completion is far below the New South Wales figure of 58.9%, though it rose 6.3 percentage points since 2011. Currently, 33.2% of residents topped their schooling at Year 10.

34.7% ▲ +22.4%

Lower than 78% of council (lga) areas.

  • 2011: 28.3%
  • 2016: 31.0%
  • 2021: 34.7%

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

Highest year of school

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Clarence Valley splits fairly evenly between Year 12 (39%) and Year 10 (37%), with Year 9 or below at 16%.

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher make up 11.8% of the population, a figure far below the national average of 26.3%. Certificate III or IV is the most common top qualification at 36.8%.

11.8% ▲ +38.5%

Lower than 58% of council (lga) areas.

  • 2011: 8.5%
  • 2016: 9.9%
  • 2021: 11.8%

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

Field of study

What people studied.

The most common fields of qualification are management and commerce and engineering, both at 13.9%, followed by society and culture at 11.1%.

Schools

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

The area has 36 schools, which is more than about 85% of similar areas. Government schools make up 75% of the sector, though the average school advantage score is lower than most areas.

952

Lower than 62% of council (lga) areas.

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

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

Schools serving Clarence Valley

36 schools — 7,441 students, average ICSEA 952.

By sector: Government 27 · Catholic 5 · Independent 4

By type: Primary 27 · Secondary 5 · Combined 4

Schools serving Clarence Valley, sortable by name, sector, type, distance and student count
Grafton High School, Grafton Government Secondary — 768 941
Maclean High School, Maclean Government Secondary — 689 959
South Grafton High School, South Grafton Government Secondary — 639 875
McAuley Catholic College, Clarenza Catholic Secondary — 602 1,031
South Grafton Public School, South Grafton Government Primary — 564 905
Grafton Public School, Grafton Government Primary — 476 907
Westlawn Public School, Grafton Government Primary — 467 940
Clarence Valley Anglican School, Clarenza Independent Combined — 402 1,016
Yamba Public School, Yamba Government Primary — 295 978
Pacific Valley Christian School, Townsend Independent Combined — 277 985
St Mary's Primary School, Grafton Catholic Primary — 259 1,020
Gulmarrad Public School, Gulmarrad Government Primary — 213 977
St Andrew's Christian School, Grafton Independent Combined — 209 974
Maclean Public School, Maclean Government Primary — 198 908
St James' Primary School, Yamba Catholic Primary — 182 1,074
St Joseph's Primary School, Maclean Catholic Primary — 135 1,019
Gillwinga Public School, South Grafton Government Primary — 129 774
St Joseph's Primary School, South Grafton Catholic Primary — 126 979
Iluka Public School, Iluka Government Primary — 96 996
Chatsworth Island Public School, Chatsworth Government Primary — 83 977
Glenreagh Public School, Glenreagh Government Primary — 72 938
Ulmarra Public School, Ulmarra Government Primary — 72 971
Copmanhurst Public School, Copmanhurst Government Primary — 66 904
Coutts Crossing Public School, Coutts Crossing Government Primary — 66 903
Palmers Island Public School, Palmers Island Government Primary — 56 944
Lawrence Public School, Lawrence Government Primary — 52 947
Valley Hope Christian School, Townsend Independent Combined — 51 951
Harwood Island Public School, Harwood Government Primary — 34 943
Tucabia Public School, Tucabia Government Primary — 32 869
Wooli Public School, Wooli Government Primary — 29 1,021
Induna School, South Grafton Government Secondary — 26 754
Nymboida Public School, Nymboida Government Primary — 19 908
Cowper Public School, Cowper Government Primary — 17 774
Baryulgil Public School, Baryulgil Government Primary — 14 775
Hernani Public School, Dorrigo Government Primary — 14 1,049
Dundurrabin Public School, Dundurrabin Government Primary — 12 879

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).

More for Clarence Valley

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Education & Qualifications in Clarence Valley [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA11730/clarence-valley/topic/education