Coober Pedy · Council (LGA)

Education & Qualifications in Coober Pedy

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

More people in Coober Pedy have finished school and earned degrees than in 2011, though overall levels remain low. Only 34.1% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the national figure of 58.8%. While qualifications are rising, the area still sees much lower rates of higher education compared to most other places.

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📍 Coober Pedy, Council (LGA)

Where Coober Pedy sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

11.5% ▲ +59.6%
  • 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 Coober Pedy — lower than 61% of areas.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher compared with the state and national average
Coober Pedy11.5%
Rest of SA 11.3%
South Australia 22.7%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

Year 12 completion has risen 3.2 points since 2011 to reach 34.1%. This is far below the South Australian figure of 54.6%, and much lower than most other areas.

34.1% ▲ +10.3%

Lower than 81% of council (lga) areas.

  • 2011: 30.9%
  • 2016: 33.2%
  • 2021: 34.1%

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

Highest year of school

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In Coober Pedy, the largest group is Year 12 at 44%, followed by Year 10 (20%) and Year 9 or below (19%).

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher make up 11.5% of the population, which is far below the national figure. This has risen 4.3 points since 2011, with Certificate III and IV being the most common qualification at 26.3%.

11.5% ▲ +59.6%

Lower than 61% of council (lga) areas.

  • 2011: 7.2%
  • 2016: 11.0%
  • 2021: 11.5%

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 Coober Pedy, the largest group is Certificate III / IV at 45%, followed by Bachelor degree (22%) and Advanced diploma / diploma (18%).

Field of study

What people studied.

The most common fields of qualification are Engineering and related subjects at 13.1%, followed by Management and commerce at 11.2%.

Schools

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

Coober Pedy has one government combined school with 175 enrolments, which is smaller than about 84% of similar areas. The average school advantage score is 785, among the lowest at this level.

785

Lower than 92% 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 Coober Pedy — hover a marker for details. Open the full map →

Schools serving Coober Pedy

1 school — 175 students, average ICSEA 785.

By sector: Government 1

By type: Combined 1

Schools serving Coober Pedy, sortable by name, sector, type, distance and student count
Coober Pedy Area School, Coober Pedy Government Combined — 175 785

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 Coober Pedy

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Education & Qualifications in Coober Pedy [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA41330/coober-pedy/topic/education