Port Phillip · Sub-region (SA3)

Education & Qualifications in Port Phillip

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

A rise in university degrees and high school completion defines the recent trend in Port Phillip. Nearly half of all adults now hold a bachelor degree or higher, making it one of the most highly qualified areas in the country.

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📍 Port Phillip, Sub-region (SA3)

Where Port Phillip sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

48.9% ▲ +15.9%
  • 0.0%–2.1%: 0 areas
  • 2.1%–4.3%: 1 area
  • 4.3%–6.4%: 0 areas
  • 6.4%–8.6%: 6 areas
  • 8.6%–10.7%: 29 areas
  • 10.7%–12.9%: 49 areas
  • 12.9%–15.0%: 34 areas
  • 15.0%–17.1%: 26 areas
  • 17.1%–19.3%: 31 areas
  • 19.3%–21.4%: 23 areas
  • 21.4%–23.6%: 18 areas
  • 23.6%–25.7%: 13 areas
  • 25.7%–27.9%: 11 areas
  • 27.9%–30.0%: 10 areas
  • 30.0%–32.1%: 11 areas
  • 32.1%–34.3%: 16 areas
  • 34.3%–36.4%: 5 areas
  • 36.4%–38.6%: 7 areas
  • 38.6%–40.7%: 8 areas
  • 40.7%–42.9%: 7 areas
  • 42.9%–45.0%: 10 areas
  • 45.0%–47.1%: 8 areas
  • 47.1%–49.3%: 6 areas
  • 49.3%–51.4%: 4 areas
  • 51.4%–53.6%: 8 areas
  • 53.6%–55.7%: 6 areas
  • 55.7%–57.9%: 3 areas
  • 57.9%–60.0%: 0 areas

All sub-region (sa3) areas, 2021. The marker is Port Phillip — higher than 95% of areas.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher compared with the state and national average
Port Phillip48.9%
Greater Melbourne 32.8%
Victoria 29.2%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

School completion is far above the national figure, with 77.7% of residents finishing Year 12. This is a significant increase from 72.1% in 2011, leaving the area far above both the state and national averages.

77.7% ▲ +7.7%

Higher than 91% of sub-region (sa3) areas.

  • 2011: 72.1%
  • 2016: 72.6%
  • 2021: 77.7%

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

Highest year of school

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In Port Phillip, Year 12 is the majority at 84%; Year 11 is next at 7%.

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

University qualifications are very common here, as 48.9% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher. This figure rose 6.7 points since 2011 and is far above the 26.3% national average.

48.9% ▲ +15.9%

Higher than 95% of sub-region (sa3) areas.

  • 2011: 42.2%
  • 2016: 43.6%
  • 2021: 48.9%

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 Port Phillip, the largest group is Bachelor degree at 46%, followed by Postgraduate degree (21%) and Advanced diploma / diploma (15%).

Field of study

What people studied.

The most common fields of study are management and commerce at 23.9%, followed by society and culture at 15.0%. Other common areas include health, creative arts, and engineering.

Schools

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

The area has 22 schools and 10,586 enrolments, with a school advantage score among the highest at this level. About 63.6% of students attend government schools, while the rest are split equally between Catholic and independent options.

1,136

Higher than 94% 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 Port Phillip — hover a marker for details. Open the full map →

Schools serving Port Phillip

22 schools — 10,586 students, average ICSEA 1,136.

By sector: Government 14 · Independent 4 · Catholic 4

By type: Primary 11 · Secondary 7 · Combined 4

Schools serving Port Phillip, sortable by name, sector, type, distance and student count
Albert Park College, Albert Park Government Secondary — 1,657 1,127
MacRobertson Girls High School, Melbourne Government Secondary — 1,195 1,186
St Michael's Grammar School, St Kilda Independent Combined — 1,143 1,180
Elwood College, Elwood Government Secondary — 804 1,096
Port Melbourne Primary School, Port Melbourne Government Primary — 697 1,134
Elwood Primary School, Elwood Government Primary — 618 1,131
South Melbourne Primary School, Southbank Government Primary — 502 1,144
St Mary’s College Melbourne - Edmund Rice Campus, St Kilda East Catholic Secondary — 440 1,093
St Kilda Primary School, St Kilda Government Primary — 437 1,126
Albert Park Primary School, Albert Park Government Primary — 430 1,156
Port Melbourne Secondary College, Port Melbourne Government Secondary — 416 1,101
South Melbourne Park Primary School, Albert Park Government Primary — 402 1,105
Middle Park Primary School, Middle Park Government Primary — 393 1,150
Galilee Regional Catholic Primary School, South Melbourne Catholic Primary — 369 1,154
St Kilda Park Primary School, St Kilda Government Primary — 314 1,142
Cheder Levi Yitzchok Inc, St Kilda Independent Combined — 169 1,053
Yesodei HaTorah College, Elwood Independent Combined — 149 1,112
St Columba's School, Elwood Catholic Primary — 137 1,152
St Mary's School, St Kilda East Catholic Primary — 135 1,111
Port Phillip Specialist School, Port Melbourne Government Combined — 99 1,082
Youth2Industry College, South Melbourne Independent Secondary — 64 1,033
Montague School, South Melbourne Government Secondary — 16 983

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 Port Phillip

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Education & Qualifications in Port Phillip [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/20605/port-phillip/topic/education