Macdonald Park · Suburb / Locality

Education & Qualifications in Macdonald Park

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

Only 9.9% of adults in Macdonald Park hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below the national figure. This gap is mirrored in school completion rates, where the area trails the state and nation significantly. Overall, the local community relies more heavily on trade certificates than university degrees.

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📍 Macdonald Park, Suburb / Locality

Where Macdonald Park sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

9.9% ▲ +139.7%
  • 0.0%–2.1%: 1060 areas
  • 2.1%–4.3%: 270 areas
  • 4.3%–6.4%: 664 areas
  • 6.4%–8.6%: 989 areas
  • 8.6%–10.7%: 1292 areas
  • 10.7%–12.9%: 1253 areas
  • 12.9%–15.0%: 1106 areas
  • 15.0%–17.1%: 1016 areas
  • 17.1%–19.3%: 865 areas
  • 19.3%–21.4%: 701 areas
  • 21.4%–23.6%: 563 areas
  • 23.6%–25.7%: 467 areas
  • 25.7%–27.9%: 444 areas
  • 27.9%–30.0%: 369 areas
  • 30.0%–32.1%: 288 areas
  • 32.1%–34.3%: 240 areas
  • 34.3%–36.4%: 235 areas
  • 36.4%–38.6%: 182 areas
  • 38.6%–40.7%: 150 areas
  • 40.7%–42.9%: 127 areas
  • 42.9%–45.0%: 93 areas
  • 45.0%–47.1%: 117 areas
  • 47.1%–49.3%: 91 areas
  • 49.3%–51.4%: 77 areas
  • 51.4%–53.6%: 78 areas
  • 53.6%–55.7%: 55 areas
  • 55.7%–57.9%: 48 areas
  • 57.9%–60.0%: 56 areas

All suburb / locality areas, 2021. The marker is Macdonald Park — lower than 71% of areas.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher compared with the state and national average
Macdonald Park9.9%
5121, SA 10.4%
South Australia 22.7%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

Only 41.5% of residents finished Year 12, a figure far below the South Australian average of 54.6%. Around 15.5% of people left school in Year 9 or earlier.

41.5% ▲ +27.1%

Lower than 59% of suburb / locality areas.

  • 2011: 32.7%
  • 2016: 38.2%
  • 2021: 41.5%

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

Highest year of school

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In Macdonald Park, the largest group is Year 12 at 45%, followed by Year 11 (21%) and Year 10 (18%).

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

The typical qualification here is a Certificate III or IV, held by 37.8% of adults. This helps explain why the proportion of people with university degrees is far below the Australian average.

9.9% ▲ +139.7%

Lower than 71% of suburb / locality areas.

  • 2011: 4.1%
  • 2016: 6.2%
  • 2021: 9.9%

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 Macdonald Park, the largest group is Certificate III / IV at 49%, followed by Bachelor degree (23%) and Advanced diploma / diploma (23%).

Field of study

What people studied.

For those with degrees, the most common fields are engineering and related studies at 23.4%, followed by management and commerce at 14.9%.

Schools

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

There are nine schools within 3km, which is more than most similar areas. These schools tend to be large, though they have a lower average advantage score than most other areas.

9

Higher than 78% of suburb / locality areas.

Schools serving the area — within 3 km of small areas, or inside larger ones. A measure of access (catchments overlap, so don't add it across areas).

953

Lower than 72% of suburb / locality areas.

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

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

Schools serving Macdonald Park

9 schools — 7,375 students, average ICSEA 953.

By sector: Government 6 · Catholic 2 · Independent 1

By type: Combined 5 · Primary 3 · Secondary 1

Schools serving Macdonald Park, sortable by name, sector, type, distance and student count
St Columba College, Andrews Farm Catholic Combined 2.5 km 1,519 973
Angle Vale Primary School, Angle Vale Government Primary 2.9 km 383 963
Trinity College Gawler River, Angle Vale Independent Combined 3.4 km 970 1,032
John Hartley School B-6, Smithfield Plains Government Primary 3.4 km 685 903
Compass Catholic Community, Davoren Park Catholic Secondary 3.6 km 139 916
Swallowcliffe School P-6, Davoren Park Government Primary 3.9 km 423 917
Mark Oliphant College (B-12), Munno Para West Government Combined 4.1 km 1,685 919
Adelaide North Special School, Munno Para West Government Combined 4.2 km 178 964
Riverbanks College B-12, Angle Vale Government Combined 4.3 km 1,393 955

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 Macdonald Park

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Education & Qualifications in Macdonald Park [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL40800/macdonald-park/topic/education