East Pilbara · Council (LGA)

Education & Qualifications in East Pilbara

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

Only 40.2% of people in East Pilbara have finished Year 12, which is far below the national figure of 58.8%. While this is a rise of 5.7 percentage points since 2011, the area still faces significant gaps in school and university completion compared to the rest of the state.

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📍 East Pilbara, Council (LGA)

Where East Pilbara sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

9.6% ▲ +5.3%
  • 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 East Pilbara — lower than 78% of areas.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher compared with the state and national average
East Pilbara9.6%
Rest of WA 13.5%
Western Australia 23.8%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

Year 12 completion is far below the Western Australian average of 58%, though it has improved since 2011. About 16% of residents topped out at Year 10, and another 10% at Year 11.

40.2% ▲ +16.4%

Lower than 56% of council (lga) areas.

  • 2011: 34.5%
  • 2016: 37.5%
  • 2021: 40.2%

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

Highest year of school

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In East Pilbara, Year 12 is the majority at 56%; Year 10 is next at 23%.

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

High-level degrees are uncommon here, with only 9.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national figure of 26.3%, while Certificate III or IV qualifications are much more typical at 32.3%.

9.6% ▲ +5.3%

Lower than 78% of council (lga) areas.

  • 2011: 9.1%
  • 2016: 9.0%
  • 2021: 9.6%

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 24.1%, followed by management and commerce at 7.3%.

Schools

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

There are 9 schools serving 1,317 students, which is a higher number of schools per child than most areas. These schools are smaller than average, and two-thirds are government-run.

865

Lower than 87% 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 East Pilbara — hover a marker for details. Open the full map →

Schools serving East Pilbara

9 schools — 1,317 students, average ICSEA 865.

By sector: Government 6 · Independent 3

By type: Combined 6 · Primary 2 · Secondary 1

Schools serving East Pilbara, sortable by name, sector, type, distance and student count
South Newman Primary School, Newman Government Primary — 426 879
Newman Senior High School, Newman Government Secondary — 357 901
Newman Primary School, Newman Government Primary — 265 930
Jigalong Remote Community School, Newman Government Combined — 86 —
Rawa Community School, Via Newman Independent Combined — 60 707
Strelley Community School, Port Hedland Independent Combined — 53 656
Nullagine Primary School, Nullagine Government Combined — 35 708
Marble Bar Primary School, Marble Bar Government Combined — 23 630
Parnngurr Community School, Newman Independent Combined — 12 498

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 East Pilbara

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Education & Qualifications in East Pilbara [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA53220/east-pilbara/topic/education