54.8% ▲ +32.6%
Higher than 54% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
- 2011: 41.3%
- 2016: 46.6%
- 2021: 54.8%
Share of people whose highest year of school is Year 12 or equivalent.
Cardinia · Sub-region (SA3)
How far people went at school, the qualifications they hold and what they studied.
A growing number of people in Cardinia are staying in school longer, though educational attainment still trails state levels. While 54.8% of residents have now completed Year 12, the area's qualification rates remain well below the Victorian average.
Highest year of school completed.
Year 12 completion has risen 13 points since 2011 to 54.8%, yet this is still well below the 61.8% seen across Victoria.
54.8% ▲ +32.6%
Higher than 54% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
Share of people whose highest year of school is Year 12 or equivalent.
In Cardinia, Year 12 is the majority at 58%; Year 10 is next at 17%.
Post-school qualifications and degrees.
University degrees are less common here than elsewhere, with only 19.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the 29.2% state figure, though the number has climbed 7.8 points over the last decade.
19.1% ▲ +68.5%
Lower than 52% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
Share of people aged 15+ whose highest qualification is a bachelor degree or above (incl. graduate and postgraduate).
In Cardinia, the largest group is Certificate III / IV at 40%, followed by Bachelor degree (24%) and Advanced diploma / diploma (21%).
What people studied.
The most common qualifications held by residents are in management and commerce at 16.5%, followed by engineering at 15.2%.
Schools in the area and how many children they serve (ACARA).
Cardinia has a large school system with 42 schools and 21,948 enrolments, which is larger than about 85% of similar areas. However, there are only 1.57 schools per 1,000 children, a figure that is lower than most areas.
42
Higher than 78% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
Number of schools in the area.
1.57
Lower than 74% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
Schools per 1,000 children aged under 15.
21,948
Higher than 85% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
Total students enrolled across the area's schools.
523
Higher than 63% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
Average enrolment per school in the area.
1,017
Higher than 51% of sub-region (sa3) areas.
Enrolment-weighted average ICSEA — an index of socio-educational advantage, centred near 1000 (context, not a quality ranking).
42 schools — 21,948 students, average ICSEA 1,017.
By sector: Government 30 · Catholic 7 · Independent 5
By type: Primary 31 · Secondary 6 · Combined 5
| Beaconhills College, Pakenham | Independent | Combined | — | 2,965 | 1,035 |
| St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield | Catholic | Secondary | — | 2,797 | 1,043 |
| Pakenham Secondary College, Pakenham | Government | Secondary | — | 1,030 | 962 |
| Officer Secondary College, Officer | Government | Secondary | — | 998 | 1,012 |
| John Henry Primary School, Pakenham | Government | Primary | — | 981 | 1,020 |
| Koo Wee Rup Secondary College, Koo Wee Rup | Government | Secondary | — | 846 | 964 |
| Pakenham Lakeside Primary School, Pakenham | Government | Primary | — | 704 | 1,007 |
| Pakenham Springs Primary School, Pakenham | Government | Primary | — | 687 | 995 |
| Lakeside College, Pakenham | Independent | Combined | — | 647 | 1,034 |
| Emerald Secondary College, Emerald | Government | Secondary | — | 620 | 1,005 |
| Edenbrook Secondary College, Pakenham | Government | Secondary | — | 614 | 1,002 |
| Beaconsfield Primary School, Beaconsfield | Government | Primary | — | 603 | 1,046 |
| Pakenham Consolidated School, Pakenham | Government | Primary | — | 594 | 965 |
| St Clare's Primary School, Officer | Catholic | Primary | — | 584 | 1,040 |
| Bridgewood Primary School, Officer | Government | Primary | — | 570 | 1,054 |
| Pakenham Hills Primary School, Pakenham | Government | Primary | — | 499 | 978 |
| Emerald Primary School, Emerald | Government | Primary | — | 445 | 1,061 |
| Pakenham Primary School, Pakenham | Government | Primary | — | 420 | 999 |
| St Brigid's School, Officer | Catholic | Primary | — | 375 | 1,082 |
| Orchard Park Primary School, Officer | Government | Primary | — | 359 | 1,023 |
| Officer Specialist School, Officer | Government | Combined | — | 355 | 999 |
| Kurrun Primary School, Officer | Government | Primary | — | 321 | 1,054 |
| St Patrick's School, Pakenham | Catholic | Primary | — | 318 | 982 |
| Beaconsfield Upper Primary School, Beaconsfield Upper | Government | Primary | — | 317 | 1,039 |
| Koo Wee Rup Primary School, Koo Wee Rup | Government | Primary | — | 314 | 972 |
| Cockatoo Primary School, Cockatoo | Government | Primary | — | 306 | 1,009 |
| Columba Catholic School, Bunyip | Catholic | Primary | — | 291 | 1,009 |
| Gembrook Primary School, Gembrook | Government | Primary | — | 261 | 1,030 |
| St Thomas Aquinas College, Tynong | Independent | Combined | — | 204 | 1,030 |
| St John the Baptist's School, Koo Wee Rup | Catholic | Primary | — | 203 | 1,013 |
| Nar Nar Goon Primary School, Nar Nar Goon | Government | Primary | — | 192 | 983 |
| Cardinia Primary School, Cardinia | Government | Primary | — | 189 | 976 |
| Lang Lang Primary School, Lang Lang | Government | Primary | — | 182 | 960 |
| Bunyip Primary School, Bunyip | Government | Primary | — | 176 | 994 |
| Bayles Regional Primary School, Bayles | Government | Primary | — | 161 | 998 |
| Dandenong Ranges Steiner School, Emerald | Independent | Primary | — | 151 | 1,080 |
| Officer Primary School, Officer | Government | Primary | — | 141 | 1,010 |
| Garfield Primary School, Garfield | Government | Primary | — | 130 | 996 |
| Kuyim Primary School, Pakenham | Government | Primary | — | 115 | 1,019 |
| Kurmile Primary School, Officer | Government | Primary | — | 107 | 1,008 |
| St James School, Nar Nar Goon | Catholic | Primary | — | 98 | 1,031 |
| Fernbrook School, The Basin | Independent | Combined | — | 78 | 1,049 |
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Education & Qualifications in Cardinia [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/21201/cardinia/topic/education