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Mackay · Council (LGA)

Education & Qualifications in Mackay

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

Higher school completion rates than most similar areas mark the educational landscape of Mackay, though it still sits well below the national average. While 45.2% of residents have finished Year 12, the region's overall qualification levels remain far below the Australian figure.

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📍 Mackay, Council (LGA)

Where Mackay sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

12.3% ▲ +31.9%

All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Mackay — lower than 54% of areas.

Mackay12.3%
Rest of Qld 17.1%
Queensland 21.9%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

Year 12 completion has risen by 7.1 points since 2011 to reach 45.2%. While this is higher than most similar areas, it remains far below the 57.1% seen across Queensland.

Completed Year 12

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45.2% ▲ +18.7%

Higher than 61% of council (lga) areas.

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

Highest year of school

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In Mackay, Year 12 is the majority at 51%; Year 10 is next at 30%.

Year 12 45.2% Year 10 26.5% Year 9 or below 9.7% Year 11 7.6%

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

Only 12.3% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is well below the state figure of 21.9%. The most common qualification is a Certificate III or IV, held by 41.9% of residents.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

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12.3% ▲ +31.9%

Lower than 54% of council (lga) 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.

Engineering and related fields are the most common qualifications at 23.9%, followed by management and commerce at 13.5%.

Schools

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

Mackay has 58 schools, among the largest number for its level, and enrolments are larger than about 90% of similar areas. However, there are fewer schools per 1,000 children than in most areas.

Average school ICSEA

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973

Higher than 51% 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 Mackay — hover a marker for details. Open the full map →

Schools serving Mackay

58 schools — 22,282 students, average ICSEA 973.

By sector: Government 43 · Catholic 11 · Independent 4

By type: Primary 43 · Secondary 10 · Combined 5
St Patrick's College, Mackay Catholic Secondary — 1,394 1,009
Mackay State High School, South Mackay Government Secondary — 1,254 936
Mackay North State High School, North Mackay Government Secondary — 1,253 958
Whitsunday Anglican School, Beaconsfield Independent Combined — 1,151 1,102
Holy Spirit College, Mount Pleasant Catholic Secondary — 1,139 1,023
Mackay Northern Beaches State High School, Rural View Government Secondary — 1,012 950
Mackay Christian College, North Mackay Independent Combined — 879 1,000
Mirani State High School, Mirani Government Secondary — 786 947
Sarina State High School, Sarina Government Secondary — 775 935
Mackay West State School, West Mackay Government Primary — 770 980
Fitzgerald State School, North Mackay Government Primary — 632 955
Eimeo Road State School, Rural View Government Primary — 607 938
Catherine McAuley College, Mackay Catholic Secondary — 606 1,026
Victoria Park State School, East Mackay Government Primary — 602 927
Emmanuel Catholic Primary School, Mount Pleasant Catholic Primary — 597 1,025
St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School, Mackay West Catholic Primary — 569 1,031
Pioneer State High School, Andergrove Government Secondary — 536 875
Beaconsfield State School, Beaconsfield Government Primary — 481 924
Bucasia State School, Bucasia Government Primary — 476 962
Marian State School, Marian Government Primary — 449 977
St Brendan's Catholic Primary School, Mackay Catholic Primary — 439 1,018
Mackay North State School, North Mackay Government Primary — 401 933
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Mackay South Catholic Primary — 384 1,050
Sarina State School, Sarina Government Primary — 359 890
St John's Catholic Primary School, Walkerston Catholic Primary — 349 1,003
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, North Mackay Catholic Primary — 349 1,016
Northview State School, Mount Pleasant Government Primary — 331 991
Walkerston State School, Walkerston Government Primary — 306 949
Alligator Creek State School, Alligator Creek Government Primary — 287 955
Carlisle Adventist College, Beaconsfield Independent Combined — 281 990
Mirani State School, Mirani Government Primary — 280 947
Andergrove State School, Andergrove Government Primary — 270 887
Glenella State School, Glenella Government Primary — 234 977
Mackay Central State School, Mackay Government Primary — 216 908
Slade Point State School, Slade Point Government Primary — 204 850
Calen District State College, Calen Government Combined — 179 926
St Anne's Catholic Primary School, Sarina Catholic Primary — 162 962
MacKillop Catholic Primary School, Andergrove Catholic Primary — 149 990
Dundula State School, Bakers Creek Government Primary — 117 921
Swayneville State School, Sarina Government Primary — 114 918
Chelona State School, Chelona Government Primary — 102 949
Koumala State School, Koumala Government Primary — 100 948
Hampden State School, Hampden Government Primary — 84 963
Mackay District Special School, Beaconsfield Government Combined — 82 949
Seaforth State School, Seaforth Government Primary — 80 951
Kutta Mulla Gorinna Special Assistance School, Mackay Independent Secondary — 75 811
Coningsby State School, Farleigh Government Primary — 71 944
Bloomsbury State School, Bloomsbury Government Primary — 44 942
Homebush State School, Homebush Government Primary — 37 962
Eton State School, Eton Government Primary — 36 931
Gargett State School, Gargett Government Primary — 36 947
Farleigh State School, Farleigh Government Primary — 32 935
Finch Hatton State School, Finch Hatton Government Primary — 32 931
North Eton State School, North Eton Government Primary — 29 957
Pindi Pindi State School, Pindi Pindi Government Primary — 25 958
Eungella State School, Eungella Government Primary — 19 951
Pinnacle State School, Pinnacle Government Primary — 11 914
Oakenden State School, Oakenden Government Primary — 8 926

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 Mackay [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA34770/mackay/topic/education