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Darwin · Council (LGA)

Education & Qualifications in Darwin

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

A high proportion of skilled professionals live and work in Darwin, where 33.2% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher. This is well above the national figure, reflecting a significant climb in higher education since 2011. These strong qualifications mean the city is now a hub of professional expertise compared to other parts of the Territory.

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📍 Darwin, Council (LGA)

Where Darwin sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

33.2% ▲ +53.9%

All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Darwin — higher than 88% of areas.

Darwin33.2%
Greater Darwin 26.0%
Northern Territory 21.5%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

Year 12 completion has risen 13 points since 2011 to reach 63.9%. This is far above the Northern Territory average of 49.8% and well above the Australian figure.

Completed Year 12

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63.9% ▲ +26.6%

Higher than 86% 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 Darwin, Year 12 is the majority at 71%; Year 10 is next at 13%.

Year 12 63.9% Year 10 11.5% Year 11 8.8% Year 9 or below 6.4%

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

The number of adults with a bachelor degree or higher is much higher than most areas, sitting at 33.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common high-level qualification at 28.9%, followed by Certificate III or IV at 20.6%.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

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33.2% ▲ +53.9%

Higher than 88% 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 Darwin, the largest group is Bachelor degree at 35%, followed by Certificate III / IV (25%) and Postgraduate degree (17%).

Bachelor degree 28.9% Certificate III / IV 20.6% Postgraduate degree 13.8% Advanced diploma / diploma 12.6% Graduate diploma / certificate 4.7% Certificate I / II 1.8%

Field of study

What people studied.

The most common fields of study for those with qualifications are management and commerce at 19.9%, while engineering, society and culture, and health each account for around 12%.

Schools

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

Darwin has 41 schools with a total of 14,289 enrolments, both figures being larger than most similar areas. Most students attend government schools (68.3%), and the average school size is larger than in most other areas.

Average school ICSEA

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1,008

Higher than 71% 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 Darwin — hover a marker for details. Open the full map →

Schools serving Darwin

41 schools — 14,289 students, average ICSEA 1,008.

By sector: Government 28 · Independent 7 · Catholic 6

By type: Primary 24 · Secondary 13 · Combined 4
Darwin High School, The Gardens Government Secondary — 1,286 1,050
Haileybury Rendall School, Berrimah Independent Combined — 970 1,082
The Essington School, Rapid Creek Independent Combined — 782 1,128
Casuarina Senior College, Moil Government Secondary — 690 949
Darwin Middle School, The Gardens Government Secondary — 663 1,065
Dripstone Middle School, Tiwi Government Secondary — 605 994
O'Loughlin Catholic College, Karama Catholic Secondary — 599 1,025
Leanyer Primary School, Leanyer Government Primary — 538 1,024
Stuart Park Primary School, Stuart Park Government Primary — 492 1,054
Larrakeyah Primary School, Larrakeyah Government Primary — 480 1,086
Nightcliff Primary School, Nightcliff Government Primary — 478 1,063
Nakara Primary School, Nakara Government Primary — 409 1,051
Nightcliff Middle School, Nightcliff Government Secondary — 409 986
Parap Primary School, Parap Government Primary — 405 1,066
Anula Primary School, Anula Government Primary — 388 1,006
Sanderson Middle School, Malak Government Secondary — 328 863
Wanguri Primary School, Wanguri Government Primary — 327 987
Marrara Christian College, Marrara Independent Combined — 289 962
St John's Catholic College, The Gardens Catholic Secondary — 287 957
Alawa Primary School, Alawa Government Primary — 259 1,011
Northern Territory School of Distance Education, The Gardens Government Secondary — 252 837
Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Karama Catholic Primary — 248 968
Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School, Wanguri Catholic Primary — 243 1,035
Jingili Primary School, Jingili Government Primary — 235 997
St Paul's Catholic Primary School, Rapid Creek Catholic Primary — 221 1,077
Wagaman Primary School, Wagaman Government Primary — 213 944
Henbury School, Tiwi Government Secondary — 195 894
Manunda Terrace Primary School, Karama Government Primary — 189 792
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Darwin Catholic Primary — 180 1,076
Karama Primary School, Karama Government Primary — 173 769
Millner Primary School, Millner Government Primary — 171 911
Nemarluk School, Alawa Government Primary — 170 929
Moil Primary School, Moil Government Primary — 167 970
SEDA College NT, Fannie Bay Independent Secondary — 150 980
Malak Primary School, Malak Government Primary — 148 770
Wulagi Primary School, Wulagi Government Primary — 144 890
Ludmilla Primary School, Ludmilla Government Primary — 132 905
Top End School of Flexible Learning, Malak Government Secondary — 123 789
Milkwood Steiner School, Berrimah Independent Combined — 118 1,053
NT Christian College, Marrara Independent Secondary — 93 987
Australian International Islamic College Darwin, Berrimah Independent Primary — 40 1,071

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 Darwin

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Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Education & Qualifications in Darwin [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA71000/darwin/topic/education