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Darwin · Region (SA4)

Education & Qualifications in Darwin

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

More people in Darwin have finished high school and university than in most other parts of the Territory. The city has seen a steady climb in academic achievement, with university degrees and Year 12 completions both rising significantly over the last decade.

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📍 Darwin, Region (SA4)

Where Darwin sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

26.0% ▲ +50.9%

All region (sa4) areas, 2021. The marker is Darwin — higher than 72% of areas.

Darwin26.0%
Greater Darwin 26.0%
Northern Territory 21.5%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

About 57.9% of residents have completed Year 12, which is well above the Northern Territory figure of 49.8%. This is a big jump from 2011, when only 46% of people had finished their final year of school.

Completed Year 12

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57.9% ▲ +25.9%

Higher than 67% of region (sa4) areas.

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

Highest year of school

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In Darwin, Year 12 is the majority at 64%; Year 10 is next at 17%.

Year 12 57.9% Year 10 15.1% Year 11 10.4% Year 9 or below 6.7%

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

University degrees are common here, with 26% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is well above the Territory average and reflects a strong upward trend, as the share of graduates rose by 8.8 percentage points since 2011.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

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26.0% ▲ +50.9%

Higher than 72% of region (sa4) areas.

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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Darwin splits fairly evenly between Certificate III / IV (33%) and Bachelor degree (30%), with Advanced diploma / diploma at 16%.

Certificate III / IV 27.0% Bachelor degree 24.2% Advanced diploma / diploma 13.2% Postgraduate degree 10.3% Graduate diploma / certificate 4.1% Certificate I / II 2.3%

Field of study

What people studied.

The most common qualifications are in management and commerce at 18.7%, followed by engineering and related fields at 14.6%. Society and culture, health, and education also make up significant portions of the local workforce's studies.

Schools

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

Government schools make up the largest sector at 69.2%, with primary schools being the most common type. Across 65 schools, the average advantage score is lower than most other areas.

Average school ICSEA

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985

Lower than 67% of region (sa4) areas.

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

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

Schools serving Darwin

65 schools — 24,567 students, average ICSEA 985.

By sector: Government 45 · Independent 10 · Catholic 10

By type: Primary 42 · Secondary 16 · Combined 7
Darwin High School, The Gardens Government Secondary — 1,286 1,050
Palmerston College, Driver Government Secondary — 1,267 884
Good Shepherd Lutheran College, Howard Springs Independent Combined — 1,117 1,025
Taminmin College, Humpty Doo Government Secondary — 1,049 937
Haileybury Rendall School, Berrimah Independent Combined — 970 1,082
MacKillop Catholic College, Johnston Catholic Secondary — 795 1,001
The Essington School, Rapid Creek Independent Combined — 782 1,128
Casuarina Senior College, Moil Government Secondary — 690 949
Darwin Middle School, The Gardens Government Secondary — 663 1,065
Bakewell Primary School, Bakewell Government Primary — 616 978
Dripstone Middle School, Tiwi Government Secondary — 605 994
O'Loughlin Catholic College, Karama Catholic Secondary — 599 1,025
Leanyer Primary School, Leanyer Government Primary — 538 1,024
Zuccoli Primary School, Zuccoli Government Primary — 537 989
Stuart Park Primary School, Stuart Park Government Primary — 492 1,054
Larrakeyah Primary School, Larrakeyah Government Primary — 480 1,086
Nightcliff Primary School, Nightcliff Government Primary — 478 1,063
Durack Primary School, Durack Government Primary — 474 1,017
Driver Primary School, Driver Government Primary — 409 914
Nakara Primary School, Nakara Government Primary — 409 1,051
Nightcliff Middle School, Nightcliff Government Secondary — 409 986
Parap Primary School, Parap Government Primary — 405 1,066
Anula Primary School, Anula Government Primary — 388 1,006
Mother Teresa Catholic Primary School, Zuccoli Catholic Primary — 379 1,027
Palmerston Christian College, Marlow Lagoon Independent Combined — 365 1,008
Humpty Doo Primary School, Humpty Doo Government Primary — 362 924
Rosebery Primary School, Rosebery Government Primary — 349 964
Sanderson Middle School, Malak Government Secondary — 328 863
Wanguri Primary School, Wanguri Government Primary — 327 987
Woodroffe Primary School, Woodroffe Government Primary — 327 842
Girraween Primary School, Girraween Government Primary — 312 978
Marrara Christian College, Marrara Independent Combined — 289 962
St John's Catholic College, The Gardens Catholic Secondary — 287 957
Bees Creek Primary School, Freds Pass Government Primary — 283 976
Gray Primary School, Gray Government Primary — 283 808
Howard Springs Primary School, Howard Springs Government Primary — 277 951
Alawa Primary School, Alawa Government Primary — 259 1,011
Northern Territory School of Distance Education, The Gardens Government Secondary — 252 837
Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Karama Catholic Primary — 248 968
Sattler Christian College, Freds Pass Independent Combined — 245 997
Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School, Wanguri Catholic Primary — 243 1,035
Jingili Primary School, Jingili Government Primary — 235 997
St Paul's Catholic Primary School, Rapid Creek Catholic Primary — 221 1,077
Berry Springs Primary School, Berry Springs Government Primary — 213 939
Wagaman Primary School, Wagaman Government Primary — 213 944
Moulden Primary School, Moulden Government Primary — 211 753
Henbury School, Tiwi Government Secondary — 195 894
Manunda Terrace Primary School, Karama Government Primary — 189 792
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Darwin Catholic Primary — 180 1,076
Karama Primary School, Karama Government Primary — 173 769
Millner Primary School, Millner Government Primary — 171 911
Nemarluk School, Alawa Government Primary — 170 929
Moil Primary School, Moil Government Primary — 167 970
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Woodroffe Catholic Primary — 165 983
SEDA College NT, Fannie Bay Independent Secondary — 150 980
Malak Primary School, Malak Government Primary — 148 770
Wulagi Primary School, Wulagi Government Primary — 144 890
Ludmilla Primary School, Ludmilla Government Primary — 132 905
Top End School of Flexible Learning, Malak Government Secondary — 123 789
Forrest Parade School, Bellamack Government Primary — 118 939
Milkwood Steiner School, Berrimah Independent Combined — 118 1,053
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School, Humpty Doo Catholic Primary — 107 979
NT Christian College, Marrara Independent Secondary — 93 987
Australian International Islamic College Darwin, Berrimah Independent Primary — 40 1,071
Middle Point School, Middle Point Government Primary — 18 753

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).

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Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Education & Qualifications in Darwin [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa4/701/darwin/topic/education