45.8% ▲ +11.3%
Lower than 70% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
- 2011: 41.2%
- 2016: 43.1%
- 2021: 45.8%
Share of people whose highest year of school is Year 12 or equivalent.
Mackay · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
Education & Qualifications in Mackay
How far people went at school, the qualifications they hold and what they studied.
Fewer people in Mackay have finished high school or university compared to other parts of the country, which shapes the local skill set. Only 45.8% of residents completed Year 12, a figure far below the national average. This means more locals rely on trade certificates and practical qualifications for their careers.
Schooling
Highest year of school completed.
Far fewer residents finished Year 12 compared to the rest of Australia, though the rate rose 4.6 points since 2011 to reach 45.8%. About 20% of people had Year 10 as their highest level of schooling.
Highest year of school
View on map →In Mackay, Year 12 is the majority at 56%; Year 10 is next at 25%.
Qualifications
Post-school qualifications and degrees.
University degrees are less common here, with 15.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the national figure. The most typical qualification is a Certificate III or IV, held by 29% of adults.
15.2% ▲ +12.1%
Lower than 68% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
- 2011: 13.6%
- 2016: 15.7%
- 2021: 15.2%
Share of people aged 15+ whose highest qualification is a bachelor degree or above (incl. graduate and postgraduate).
Highest qualification level
View on map →In Mackay, the largest group is Certificate III / IV at 44%, followed by Bachelor degree (26%) and Advanced diploma / diploma (15%).
Field of study
What people studied.
Qualifications in the area are most often in engineering and related fields at 16.6%, followed by management and commerce at 11.9% and health at 10.1%.
Schools
Schools in the area and how many children they serve (ACARA).
There are 3 schools in the area, and with 1,685 enrolments, they are larger than half of similar areas. The schools are evenly split between government, Catholic, and independent sectors.
3
Lower than 57% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Number of schools in the area.
6.13
Higher than 89% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Schools per 1,000 children aged under 15.
17
Lower than 55% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Schools serving the area — within 3 km of small areas, or inside larger ones. A measure of access (catchments overlap, so don't add it across areas).
1,685
Higher than 55% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Total students enrolled across the area's schools.
562
Higher than 68% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Average enrolment per school in the area.
987
Lower than 64% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Enrolment-weighted average ICSEA — an index of socio-educational advantage, centred near 1000 (context, not a quality ranking).
Schools serving Mackay
17 schools — 11,354 students, average ICSEA 985.
By sector: Government 8 · Catholic 7 · Independent 2
By type: Primary 10 · Secondary 6 · Combined 1
| Mackay Central State School, Mackay | Government | Primary | 0.2 km | 216 | 908 |
| Kutta Mulla Gorinna Special Assistance School, Mackay | Independent | Secondary | 0.5 km | 75 | 811 |
| St Patrick's College, Mackay | Catholic | Secondary | 0.6 km | 1,394 | 1,009 |
| St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Mackay South | Catholic | Primary | 1.2 km | 384 | 1,050 |
| Mackay State High School, South Mackay | Government | Secondary | 1.2 km | 1,254 | 936 |
| Victoria Park State School, East Mackay | Government | Primary | 1.3 km | 602 | 927 |
| St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, North Mackay | Catholic | Primary | 2.3 km | 349 | 1,016 |
| Mackay North State School, North Mackay | Government | Primary | 2.4 km | 401 | 933 |
| St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School, Mackay West | Catholic | Primary | 2.4 km | 569 | 1,031 |
| Mackay West State School, West Mackay | Government | Primary | 2.4 km | 770 | 980 |
| Mackay Christian College, North Mackay | Independent | Combined | 3.1 km | 879 | 1,000 |
| Catherine McAuley College, Mackay | Catholic | Secondary | 3.2 km | 606 | 1,026 |
| Mackay North State High School, North Mackay | Government | Secondary | 3.2 km | 1,253 | 958 |
| Fitzgerald State School, North Mackay | Government | Primary | 3.5 km | 632 | 955 |
| Glenella State School, Glenella | Government | Primary | 4.2 km | 234 | 977 |
| Holy Spirit College, Mount Pleasant | Catholic | Secondary | 4.5 km | 1,139 | 1,023 |
| Emmanuel Catholic Primary School, Mount Pleasant | Catholic | Primary | 4.5 km | 597 | 1,025 |
Sources
More for Mackay
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/sa2/312021346/mackay/topic/education