43.9% ▲ +18.7%
Lower than 74% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
- 2011: 37.0%
- 2016: 40.4%
- 2021: 43.9%
Share of people whose highest year of school is Year 12 or equivalent.
South Mackay · Statistical Area 2 (SA2)
Education & Qualifications in South Mackay
How far people went at school, the qualifications they hold and what they studied.
Certificate III or IV qualifications are the most common achievement in South Mackay, held by 43.6% of adults. This area sees far fewer people finishing high school or earning university degrees compared to the rest of Queensland and Australia. While these figures are low, the proportion of people finishing Year 12 has risen since 2011.
Schooling
Highest year of school completed.
Only 43.9% of residents have completed Year 12, which is far below the national figure of 58.8%. This is lower than most similar areas, though the rate has risen by 6.9 percentage points since 2011.
Highest year of school
View on map →In South Mackay, the largest group is Year 12 at 48%, followed by Year 10 (30%) and Year 9 or below (13%).
Qualifications
Post-school qualifications and degrees.
University degrees are uncommon here, with only 11.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the Queensland average of 21.9%, although the figure has grown slightly since 2011.
11.1% ▲ +33.7%
Lower than 85% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
- 2011: 8.3%
- 2016: 9.5%
- 2021: 11.1%
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 South Mackay, Certificate III / IV is the majority at 56%; Bachelor degree is next at 20%.
Field of study
What people studied.
Among those with qualifications, the most common fields of study are Engineering and related subjects at 21.8%, followed by Management and commerce at 13.6%.
Schools
Schools in the area and how many children they serve (ACARA).
South Mackay has two schools, which is fewer than most similar areas, yet the typical school size is much larger than usual. These schools are split evenly between government and Catholic sectors.
2
Lower than 86% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Number of schools in the area.
1.59
Lower than 65% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Schools per 1,000 children aged under 15.
9
Lower than 79% 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).
1,638
Higher than 54% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Total students enrolled across the area's schools.
819
Higher than 87% of statistical area 2 (sa2) areas.
Average enrolment per school in the area.
963
Lower than 75% 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 South Mackay
9 schools — 5,870 students, average ICSEA 982.
By sector: Government 4 · Catholic 4 · Independent 1
By type: Primary 5 · Secondary 4
| Mackay State High School, South Mackay | Government | Secondary | 1.4 km | 1,254 | 936 |
| St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Mackay South | Catholic | Primary | 1.4 km | 384 | 1,050 |
| Catherine McAuley College, Mackay | Catholic | Secondary | 2.0 km | 606 | 1,026 |
| Kutta Mulla Gorinna Special Assistance School, Mackay | Independent | Secondary | 2.2 km | 75 | 811 |
| Mackay Central State School, Mackay | Government | Primary | 2.2 km | 216 | 908 |
| Mackay West State School, West Mackay | Government | Primary | 2.2 km | 770 | 980 |
| St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School, Mackay West | Catholic | Primary | 2.5 km | 569 | 1,031 |
| Victoria Park State School, East Mackay | Government | Primary | 2.5 km | 602 | 927 |
| St Patrick's College, Mackay | Catholic | Secondary | 3.0 km | 1,394 | 1,009 |
Sources
More for South Mackay
Cite this page
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Education & Qualifications in South Mackay [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/312021356/south-mackay/topic/education