Playford · Sub-region (SA3)

Education & Qualifications in Playford

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

Lower levels of formal schooling and degrees shape daily life for many in Playford. While more people are finishing school than a decade ago, only 8.4% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the national figure.

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📍 Playford, Sub-region (SA3)

Where Playford sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

8.4% ▲ +72.3%
  • 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 Playford — lower than 99% of areas.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher compared with the state and national average
Playford8.4%
Greater Adelaide 25.9%
South Australia 22.7%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

Fewer people here finish high school compared to most areas, with 41.4% completing Year 12. This is far below the South Australian figure of 54.6%, though it has risen 9.7 percentage points since 2011.

41.4% ▲ +30.5%

Lower than 76% of sub-region (sa3) areas.

  • 2011: 31.7%
  • 2016: 36.5%
  • 2021: 41.4%

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

Highest year of school

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In Playford, the largest group is Year 12 at 45%, followed by Year 10 (20%) and Year 11 (20%).

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

Higher education is uncommon here, as the share of adults with a bachelor degree or more is among the lowest in the country. Instead, Certificate III or IV is the most common qualification, held by 43.3% of residents.

8.4% ▲ +72.3%

Lower than 99% of sub-region (sa3) areas.

  • 2011: 4.9%
  • 2016: 6.3%
  • 2021: 8.4%

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

Field of study

What people studied.

People with qualifications in Playford most often studied management and commerce, society and culture, or engineering and related fields.

Schools

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

Playford has 38 schools and 20,769 enrolments, which is larger than about 83% of similar areas. Most students attend government schools (63.2%), though the average school advantage score is much lower than most areas.

946

Lower than 86% 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 Playford — hover a marker for details. Open the full map →

Schools serving Playford

38 schools — 20,769 students, average ICSEA 946.

By sector: Government 24 · Catholic 7 · Independent 7

By type: Primary 20 · Combined 11 · Secondary 7

Schools serving Playford, sortable by name, sector, type, distance and student count
Mark Oliphant College (B-12), Munno Para West Government Combined — 1,685 919
St Columba College, Andrews Farm Catholic Combined — 1,519 973
Riverbanks College B-12, Angle Vale Government Combined — 1,393 955
Playford International College, Elizabeth Government Secondary — 1,322 881
Craigmore High School, Blakeview Government Secondary — 1,245 916
Pinnacle College - Elizabeth East Campus, Elizabeth East Independent Combined — 993 1,049
Trinity College Gawler River, Angle Vale Independent Combined — 970 1,032
Hope Christian College, Craigmore Independent Combined — 921 977
Blakes Crossing Christian College, Blakeview Independent Combined — 712 983
John Hartley School B-6, Smithfield Plains Government Primary — 685 903
Playford College, Elizabeth Independent Combined — 670 940
Trinity College Blakeview, Blakeview Independent Combined — 635 1,037
Blakeview Primary School, Blakeview Government Primary — 542 921
Elizabeth North Primary School, Elizabeth North Government Primary — 514 907
Virginia Primary School, Virginia Government Primary — 487 992
Catherine McAuley School, Craigmore Catholic Primary — 483 976
Elizabeth Vale Primary School, Elizabeth Vale Government Primary — 441 889
Northern Adelaide Senior College, Elizabeth Government Secondary — 431 978
Swallowcliffe School P-6, Davoren Park Government Primary — 423 917
Elizabeth Downs Primary School, Elizabeth Downs Government Primary — 420 904
Playford Primary School, Craigmore Government Primary — 398 944
Angle Vale Primary School, Angle Vale Government Primary — 383 963
Indie School Elizabeth Campus, Elizabeth Independent Secondary — 322 946
Elizabeth Park Primary School, Elizabeth Park Government Primary — 312 862
Munno Para Primary School, Munno Para Government Primary — 305 929
St Thomas More School, Elizabeth Park Catholic Primary — 267 927
St Patrick's Technical College, Edinburgh North Catholic Secondary — 260 998
One Tree Hill Primary School, One Tree Hill Government Primary — 255 965
Elizabeth Grove Primary School, Elizabeth Grove Government Primary — 249 902
Craigmore South Primary School, Craigmore Government Primary — 225 922
Elizabeth East Primary School, Elizabeth East Government Primary — 200 875
St Mary Magdalene's School, Elizabeth Grove Catholic Primary — 185 958
Adelaide North Special School, Munno Para West Government Combined — 178 964
Edmund Rice Flexi School, Elizabeth Catholic Secondary — 163 908
Kaurna Plains School, Elizabeth Government Combined — 162 699
Elizabeth South Primary School, Elizabeth South Government Primary — 144 860
Compass Catholic Community, Davoren Park Catholic Secondary — 139 916
Taparra Primary School, Elizabeth Downs Government Primary — 131 926

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 Playford

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Education & Qualifications in Playford [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/40202/playford/topic/education