CensusAtlas

Clarence Valley · Sub-region (SA3)

Education & Qualifications in Clarence Valley

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

A 24 point gap separates Clarence Valley from the rest of the state in high school completion. While more people are finishing school than they did in 2011, the area still sees far fewer residents finishing Year 12 and holding university degrees compared to national figures.

Open map →
📍 Clarence Valley, Sub-region (SA3)

Where Clarence Valley sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

11.8% ▲ +39.1%

All sub-region (sa3) areas, 2021. The marker is Clarence Valley — lower than 83% of areas.

Clarence Valley11.8%
Rest of NSW 17.8%
New South Wales 27.8%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

Only 34.6% of people here finished Year 12, which is far below the New South Wales figure of 58.9%. This is among the lowest levels for this qualification, though the rate rose by 6.4 points since 2011.

Completed Year 12

View on map →

34.6% ▲ +22.6%

Lower than 92% of sub-region (sa3) areas.

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

Highest year of school

View on map →

Clarence Valley splits fairly evenly between Year 12 (39%) and Year 10 (37%), with Year 9 or below at 16%.

Year 12 34.6% Year 10 33.2% Year 9 or below 14.2% Year 11 6.9%

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

University degrees are less common here, with only 11.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national figure of 26.3%, although the proportion has risen slightly since 2011.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

View on map →

11.8% ▲ +39.1%

Lower than 83% of sub-region (sa3) areas.

Share of people aged 15+ whose highest qualification is a bachelor degree or above (incl. graduate and postgraduate).

Field of study

What people studied.

The most common qualifications held by residents are in management and commerce at 13.9%, followed closely by engineering and related fields at 13.8%.

Schools

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

There are 34 schools in the area, which is more than most similar regions. However, these schools are much smaller than average and have a much lower advantage score than most areas.

Average school ICSEA

View on map →

952

Lower than 84% of sub-region (sa3) areas.

Enrolment-weighted average ICSEA — an index of socio-educational advantage, centred near 1000 (context, not a quality ranking).

Schools in and around Clarence Valley — hover a marker for details. Open the full map →

Schools serving Clarence Valley

34 schools — 7,415 students, average ICSEA 952.

By sector: Government 25 · Catholic 5 · Independent 4

By type: Primary 25 · Secondary 5 · Combined 4
Grafton High School, Grafton Government Secondary — 768 941
Maclean High School, Maclean Government Secondary — 689 959
South Grafton High School, South Grafton Government Secondary — 639 875
McAuley Catholic College, Clarenza Catholic Secondary — 602 1,031
South Grafton Public School, South Grafton Government Primary — 564 905
Grafton Public School, Grafton Government Primary — 476 907
Westlawn Public School, Grafton Government Primary — 467 940
Clarence Valley Anglican School, Clarenza Independent Combined — 402 1,016
Yamba Public School, Yamba Government Primary — 295 978
Pacific Valley Christian School, Townsend Independent Combined — 277 985
St Mary's Primary School, Grafton Catholic Primary — 259 1,020
Gulmarrad Public School, Gulmarrad Government Primary — 213 977
St Andrew's Christian School, Grafton Independent Combined — 209 974
Maclean Public School, Maclean Government Primary — 198 908
St James' Primary School, Yamba Catholic Primary — 182 1,074
St Joseph's Primary School, Maclean Catholic Primary — 135 1,019
Gillwinga Public School, South Grafton Government Primary — 129 774
St Joseph's Primary School, South Grafton Catholic Primary — 126 979
Iluka Public School, Iluka Government Primary — 96 996
Chatsworth Island Public School, Chatsworth Government Primary — 83 977
Glenreagh Public School, Glenreagh Government Primary — 72 938
Ulmarra Public School, Ulmarra Government Primary — 72 971
Copmanhurst Public School, Copmanhurst Government Primary — 66 904
Coutts Crossing Public School, Coutts Crossing Government Primary — 66 903
Palmers Island Public School, Palmers Island Government Primary — 56 944
Lawrence Public School, Lawrence Government Primary — 52 947
Valley Hope Christian School, Townsend Independent Combined — 51 951
Harwood Island Public School, Harwood Government Primary — 34 943
Tucabia Public School, Tucabia Government Primary — 32 869
Wooli Public School, Wooli Government Primary — 29 1,021
Induna School, South Grafton Government Secondary — 26 754
Nymboida Public School, Nymboida Government Primary — 19 908
Cowper Public School, Cowper Government Primary — 17 774
Baryulgil Public School, Baryulgil Government Primary — 14 775

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 Clarence Valley

Full area profile →

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Education & Qualifications in Clarence Valley [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/10401/clarence-valley/topic/education