Gold Coast - North · Sub-region (SA3)

Education & Qualifications in Gold Coast - North

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

Middle-of-the-road results for similar areas define the educational profile of Gold Coast - North. While typical schooling and degree rates are lower than state and national figures, there has been a steady climb in qualifications over the last decade.

Open map →
📍 Gold Coast - North, Sub-region (SA3)

Where Gold Coast - North sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

19.1% ▲ +48.2%
  • 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 Gold Coast - North — lower than 51% of areas.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher compared with the state and national average
Gold Coast - North19.1%
Rest of Qld 17.1%
Queensland 21.9%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

About 53.8% of residents completed Year 12, which is well below the national figure of 58.8%. This is an improvement for the area, as the rate rose 8.1 points since 2011.

53.8% ▲ +17.8%

Higher than 52% of sub-region (sa3) areas.

  • 2011: 45.7%
  • 2016: 49.4%
  • 2021: 53.8%

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

Highest year of school

View on map →

In Gold Coast - North, Year 12 is the majority at 59%; Year 10 is next at 24%.

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

A bachelor degree or higher is held by 19.1% of adults, which is well below the Australian figure of 26.3%. This is a growing trend, with the rate rising 6.2 points since 2011.

19.1% ▲ +48.2%

Lower than 51% of sub-region (sa3) areas.

  • 2011: 12.9%
  • 2016: 15.5%
  • 2021: 19.1%

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 Gold Coast - North, the largest group is Certificate III / IV at 37%, followed by Bachelor degree (26%) and Advanced diploma / diploma (22%).

Field of study

What people studied.

The most common qualifications are in management and commerce at 19.8%, followed by engineering and related fields at 12.6%. Society and culture and health each account for 11.1%.

Schools

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

The area has just 7 schools, which is among the smallest number for its level. While these schools are among the largest in size and have a higher advantage score than most areas, there are among the lowest number of schools per 1,000 children.

1,044

Higher than 64% 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 Gold Coast - North — hover a marker for details. Open the full map →

Schools serving Gold Coast - North

7 schools — 6,468 students, average ICSEA 1,044.

By sector: Government 5 · Independent 1 · Catholic 1

By type: Primary 5 · Combined 1 · Secondary 1

Schools serving Gold Coast - North, sortable by name, sector, type, distance and student count
A B Paterson College, Arundel Independent Combined — 1,652 1,123
Coombabah State High School, Coombabah Government Secondary — 1,113 977
Arundel State School, Arundel Government Primary — 925 1,035
Coombabah State School, Coombabah Government Primary — 730 1,009
Biggera Waters State School, Biggera Waters Government Primary — 713 1,030
Labrador State School, Labrador Government Primary — 670 997
St Francis Xavier School, Runaway Bay Catholic Primary — 665 1,076

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 Gold Coast - North

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Education & Qualifications in Gold Coast - North [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/30903/gold-coast-north/topic/education