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Toowoomba · Council (LGA)

Education & Qualifications in Toowoomba

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

Higher levels of schooling and degrees are more common in Toowoomba than in most similar areas. While many residents hold vocational certificates, 19% of adults have a bachelor degree or higher. This reflects a steady climb in qualifications over the last decade.

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📍 Toowoomba, Council (LGA)

Where Toowoomba sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

19.0% ▲ +36.7%

All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Toowoomba — higher than 73% of areas.

Toowoomba19.0%
Rest of Qld 17.1%
Queensland 21.9%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

About 51.5% of people have finished Year 12, which is a rise of 9.3 points since 2011. However, this figure remains well below both the Queensland (57.1%) and Australian (58.8%) averages.

Completed Year 12

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51.5% ▲ +22.0%

Higher than 74% 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 Toowoomba, Year 12 is the majority at 55%; Year 10 is next at 26%.

Year 12 51.5% Year 10 24.7% Year 9 or below 11.1% Year 11 6.0%

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

The share of adults with a bachelor degree or higher rose to 19% by 2021. This is higher than most similar areas, though still a little below the Queensland figure of 21.9%.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

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19.0% ▲ +36.7%

Higher than 73% of council (lga) 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 Toowoomba, the largest group is Certificate III / IV at 41%, followed by Bachelor degree (26%) and Advanced diploma / diploma (18%).

Certificate III / IV 33.8% Bachelor degree 21.9% Advanced diploma / diploma 14.7% Postgraduate degree 6.4% Graduate diploma / certificate 3.6% Certificate I / II 2.8%

Field of study

What people studied.

The most common fields of study for qualified residents are management and commerce (16.1%) and engineering (14.6%), followed by health and society and culture.

Schools

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

Toowoomba has 88 schools and some of the largest total enrolments for its type. While the typical school size of 360 students is higher than most areas, there are fewer schools per 1,000 children than usual.

Average school ICSEA

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1,005

Higher than 70% 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 Toowoomba — hover a marker for details. Open the full map →

Schools serving Toowoomba

88 schools — 31,688 students, average ICSEA 1,005.

By sector: Government 58 · Catholic 18 · Independent 12

By type: Primary 57 · Combined 17 · Secondary 14
Centenary Heights State High School, Centenary Heights Government Secondary — 1,738 1,006
Harristown State High School, Harristown Government Secondary — 1,641 929
Downlands College, Toowoomba Catholic Combined — 1,187 1,060
Toowoomba Grammar School, East Toowoomba Independent Combined — 1,145 1,096
Mary MacKillop Catholic College, Highfields Catholic Combined — 1,047 1,046
St Mary's College, Toowoomba Catholic Combined — 930 1,017
St Joseph's College, Rangeville Catholic Secondary — 913 1,044
Wilsonton State High School, Wilsonton Heights Government Secondary — 904 920
Toowoomba East State School, East Toowoomba Government Primary — 867 1,067
Fairholme College, Toowoomba Independent Combined — 849 1,110
Toowoomba Christian College, Highfields Independent Combined — 810 1,066
Highfields State Secondary College, Highfields Government Secondary — 795 1,001
Toowoomba State High School, Mount Lofty Government Secondary — 775 934
Middle Ridge State School, Middle Ridge Government Primary — 735 1,044
Rangeville State School, Rangeville Government Primary — 723 1,039
The Glennie School, Toowoomba Independent Combined — 700 1,073
Toowoomba Anglican School, Toowoomba Independent Combined — 682 1,132
Highlands Christian College, Toowoomba Independent Combined — 670 1,060
Concordia Lutheran College, Toowoomba Independent Combined — 664 1,066
Glenvale State School, Glenvale Government Primary — 658 971
Highfields State School, Highfields Government Primary — 653 1,037
Darling Heights State School, Darling Heights Government Primary — 607 944
Pittsworth State High School, Pittsworth Government Secondary — 506 955
St Saviour's Primary School, Toowoomba Catholic Primary — 486 1,048
Oakey State High School, Oakey Government Secondary — 455 928
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Toowoomba Catholic Primary — 454 1,029
Harristown State School, Harristown Government Primary — 446 859
Wilsonton State School, Wilsonton Government Primary — 438 893
Mater Dei Primary School, Toowoomba Catholic Primary — 433 1,116
St Ursula's College, Toowoomba Catholic Secondary — 401 1,043
Darling Downs Adventist College, Toowoomba Independent Combined — 362 1,038
Gabbinbar State School, Centenary Heights Government Primary — 356 1,010
Fairview Heights State School, Wilsonton Government Primary — 342 931
Newtown State School, Newtown Government Primary — 337 900
St Thomas More's Primary School, Toowoomba Catholic Primary — 319 1,032
Clifton State High School, Clifton Government Secondary — 310 965
Pittsworth State School, Pittsworth Government Primary — 303 966
St Saviour's College, Toowoomba Catholic Secondary — 295 986
Bunker's Hill State School, Westbrook Government Primary — 273 1,007
Meringandan State School, Meringandan West Government Primary — 260 1,018
Oakey State School, Oakey Government Primary — 249 847
Sacred Heart Primary School, Toowoomba Catholic Primary — 246 998
Millmerran State School, Millmerran Government Combined — 239 928
Toowoomba North State School, Toowoomba Government Primary — 237 909
St Anthony's School, Toowoomba Catholic Primary — 234 998
Gowrie State School, Gowrie Junction Government Primary — 210 1,013
Kingsthorpe State School, Kingsthorpe Government Primary — 205 939
St Stephen's School, Pittsworth Catholic Primary — 195 1,013
St Monica's School, Oakey Catholic Primary — 193 968
Rockville State School, Rockville Government Primary — 189 810
Clifford Park Special School, Newtown Government Secondary — 183 937
Crow's Nest State School, Crows Nest Government Combined — 181 949
Harlaxton State School, Harlaxton Government Primary — 177 828
Drayton State School, Drayton Government Primary — 165 929
Geham State School, Geham Government Primary — 163 1,012
Wyreema State School, Wyreema Government Primary — 162 953
Yarraman State School, Yarraman Government Combined — 160 899
Cambooya State School, Cambooya Government Primary — 159 958
Holy Name Primary School, Toowoomba Catholic Primary — 148 987
Toowoomba West Special School, Newtown Government Primary — 140 953
Glenvale Christian School, Glenvale Independent Primary — 127 1,037
Quinalow Prep-10 State School, Quinalow Government Combined — 94 937
The Industry School - Toowoomba, Toowoomba City Independent Secondary — 92 1,024
Clifton State School, Clifton Government Primary — 86 962
St Joseph's School, Millmerran Catholic Primary — 82 972
Goombungee State School, Goombungee Government Primary — 80 992
Good Samaritan College, Toowoomba Catholic Secondary — 79 950
Vale View State School, Vale View Government Primary — 74 994
Maridahdi Kindergarten and Primary School, Toowoomba Independent Primary — 53 1,038
Nobby State School, Nobby Government Primary — 51 930
Wellcamp State School, Wellcamp Government Primary — 47 939
Ramsay State School, Ramsay Government Primary — 45 1,035
St Francis De Sales School, Clifton Catholic Primary — 43 984
Emu Creek State School, East Greenmount Government Primary — 42 1,015
Jondaryan State School, Jondaryan Government Primary — 41 948
Cecil Plains State School, Cecil Plains Government Combined — 39 851
Southbrook Central State School, Southbrook Government Primary — 36 930
Biddeston State School, Biddeston Government Primary — 35 958
Kulpi State School, Kulpi Government Primary — 35 943
Pilton State School, Pilton Government Primary — 32 1,051
Back Plains State School, Back Plains Government Primary — 28 992
Cooyar State School, Cooyar Government Primary — 26 945
Mount Tyson State School, Mount Tyson Government Primary — 26 941
Greenmount State School, Greenmount Government Primary — 23 977
Bowenville State School, Bowenville Government Primary — 20 888
Ming-De International School Toowoomba, Westbrook Independent Combined — 19 1,075
Brookstead State School, Brookstead Government Primary — 17 921
Haden State School, Haden Government Primary — 12 1,015

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 Toowoomba [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA36910/toowoomba/topic/education