CensusAtlas

Lismore · State Electorate

Education & Qualifications in Lismore

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

Only 43.8% of people in Lismore finished Year 12, a figure that is far below the national average. While school completion has fallen, there has been a notable rise in the number of adults holding university degrees. This mix of educational backgrounds shapes the local workforce and the region's schooling needs.

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📍 Lismore, State Electorate

Where Lismore sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

18.4% ▲ +83.8%

All state electorate areas, 2021. The marker is Lismore — lower than 59% of areas.

Lismore18.4%
Rest of NSW 17.8%
New South Wales 27.8%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

Year 12 completion is much lower than in most similar areas and fell 3.2 points since 2011. This is far below the national figure of 58.8%, with 28.5% of residents having Year 10 as their highest level of schooling.

Completed Year 12

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43.8% ▼ -6.8%

Lower than 78% of state electorate areas.

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

Highest year of school

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In Lismore, the largest group is Year 12 at 48%, followed by Year 10 (31%) and Year 9 or below (13%).

Year 12 43.8% Year 10 28.5% Year 9 or below 11.4% Year 11 6.7%

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

The proportion of adults with a bachelor degree or higher rose 8.4 points since 2011 to 18.4%. Despite this growth, it remains well below the New South Wales figure of 27.8%, with Certificate III or IV being the most common qualification at 31.4%.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

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18.4% ▲ +83.8%

Lower than 59% of state electorate 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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In Lismore, the largest group is Certificate III / IV at 41%, followed by Bachelor degree (27%) and Advanced diploma / diploma (18%).

Certificate III / IV 31.4% Bachelor degree 20.6% Advanced diploma / diploma 14.0% Postgraduate degree 5.4% Graduate diploma / certificate 3.6% Certificate I / II 2.5%

Field of study

What people studied.

Qualifications in Lismore are most common in management and commerce at 13.2%, followed by society and culture at 12.1% and health at 11.7%.

Schools

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

Lismore has one of the highest numbers of schools per 1,000 children, with 74 schools within 3km. While there are 12,215 enrolments, the typical school size is among the lowest for its level, and the average school advantage score is lower than most areas.

Schools within 3 km

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74

Higher than 95% of state electorate 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).

Average school ICSEA

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991

Lower than 68% of state electorate areas.

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

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

Schools serving Lismore

74 schools — 12,215 students, average ICSEA 991.

By sector: Government 54 · Independent 12 · Catholic 8

By type: Primary 51 · Combined 13 · Secondary 10
Drake Public School, Drake Government Primary 11.6 km 14 928
Tabulam Public School, Tabulam Government Primary 16.5 km 63 775
Bonalbo Central School, Bonalbo Government Combined 23.1 km 84 791
Old Bonalbo Public School, Old Bonalbo Government Primary 26.6 km 13 776
Mummulgum Public School, Mummulgum Government Primary 37.9 km 21 881
Urbenville Public School, Urbenville Government Primary 41.8 km 8 959
The Sir Henry Parkes Memorial Public School, Tenterfield Government Primary 45.4 km 199 865
Tenterfield High School, Tenterfield Government Secondary 45.9 km 267 914
St Joseph's Primary School, Tenterfield Catholic Primary 46.3 km 137 1,006
Jennings Public School, Jennings Government Primary 47.9 km 10 795
Woodenbong Central School, Woodenbong Government Combined 52.7 km 159 848
Kyogle High School, Kyogle Government Secondary 61.7 km 307 912
Kyogle Public School, Kyogle Government Primary 62.0 km 260 938
St Brigid's Primary School, Kyogle Catholic Primary 62.0 km 148 996
The Risk Public School, The Risk Government Primary 64.2 km 23 869
Wiangaree Public School, Wiangaree Government Primary 64.5 km 17 932
Collins Creek Public School, Collins Creek Government Primary 70.5 km 15 996
Larnook Public School, Larnook Government Primary 71.3 km 11 886
Jiggi Public School, Jiggi Government Primary 76.8 km 25 1,010
Barkers Vale Public School, Wadeville Government Primary 78.3 km 42 971
Caniaba Public School, Lismore Government Primary 79.7 km 29 955
Blakebrook Public School, Blakebrook Government Primary 79.9 km 36 942
Rainbow Ridge School for Steiner Education, Lillian Rock Independent Combined 80.4 km 89 1,042
Coffee Camp Public School, Coffee Camp Government Primary 80.9 km 25 964
Lismore South Public School, South Lismore Government Primary 82.7 km 106 898
Nimbin Central School, Nimbin Government Combined 83.0 km 245 956
Albert Park Public School, East Lismore Government Primary 83.7 km 102 950
Living School, Lismore Independent Combined 84.3 km 313 1,037
The Rivers Secondary College, Richmond River High Campus, North Lismore Government Secondary 84.5 km 494 950
St Carthage's Primary School, Lismore Catholic Primary 84.9 km 580 1,064
Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School, East Lismore Catholic Primary 85.5 km 189 1,001
Lismore Public School, Lismore Government Primary 85.5 km 179 871
Wyrallah Road Public School, Lismore Government Primary 85.7 km 350 947
Wilson Park School, Lismore Government Combined 85.7 km 83 902
Trinity Catholic College Lismore, East Lismore Independent Secondary 86.1 km 816 1,055
The Rivers Secondary College, Lismore High Campus, Lismore Government Secondary 86.1 km 438 934
The Channon Public School, The Channon Government Primary 86.3 km 25 1,019
Lismore Heights Public School, Lismore Heights Government Primary 86.5 km 203 973
St John's College, Lismore Catholic Secondary 86.6 km 774 1,059
Modanville Public School, Lismore Government Primary 86.9 km 58 1,014
Wyrallah Public School, Wyrallah Government Primary 87.2 km 17 985
Goonellabah Public School, Goonellabah Government Primary 88.6 km 226 847
Tuntable Falls Community School, Tuntable Falls Via Nimbin Independent Primary 88.6 km 54 1,023
Dunoon Public School, Dunoon Government Primary 89.4 km 72 1,037
The Rivers Secondary College, Kadina High Campus, Goonellabah Government Secondary 90.2 km 262 884
Whian Whian Public School, Whian Whian Government Primary 90.4 km 8 1,052
Vistara Primary School, Richmond Hill Independent Primary 90.5 km 19 1,121
Bexhill Public School, Bexhill Government Primary 91.2 km 113 995
Summerland Christian College, Goonellabah Independent Combined 91.4 km 628 1,042
Tregeagle Public School, Tregeagle Government Primary 91.7 km 103 993
Blue Hills College, Goonellabah Independent Combined 91.8 km 201 999
Aetaomah School, Terragon Independent Combined 93.2 km 55 1,057
Corndale Public School, Corndale Government Primary 93.4 km 23 998
Dorroughby Environmental Education Centre, Dorroughby Government Combined 93.5 km — —
Tyalgum Public School, Tyalgum Government Primary 93.7 km 13 978
Rosebank Public School, Rosebank Government Primary 96.6 km 20 989
Eltham Public School, Eltham Government Primary 97.3 km 59 1,075
Clunes Public School, Clunes Government Primary 97.8 km 86 1,056
Uki Public School, Uki Government Primary 101.1 km 86 977
Chillingham Public School, Chillingham Government Primary 102.1 km 35 1,005
Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula School, Eungella Independent Combined 103.2 km 93 1,028
Crystal Creek Public School, Crystal Creek Government Primary 106.2 km 80 939
Wollumbin High School, Murwillumbah Government Secondary 107.9 km 161 938
Stokers Siding Public School, Stokers Siding Government Primary 108.3 km 37 962
Tweed Valley Adventist College, Murwillumbah Independent Combined 109.0 km 381 1,039
Murwillumbah High School, Murwillumbah Government Secondary 110.2 km 347 950
Murwillumbah Public School, Murwillumbah Government Primary 110.5 km 149 959
Sathya Sai College, Murwillumbah Independent Primary 110.8 km 280 1,046
Mount St Patrick College, Murwillumbah Catholic Secondary 111.0 km 823 1,071
The Small School, Murwillumbah Independent Combined 111.0 km 67 1,071
Mount St Patrick Primary School, Murwillumbah Catholic Primary 111.1 km 373 1,061
St Joseph's Primary School, South Murwillumbah Catholic Primary 111.2 km 161 1,011
Dungay Public School, Dungay Government Primary 112.1 km 74 980
Murwillumbah East Public School, Murwillumbah Government Primary 112.2 km 152 935

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 Lismore [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sed/SED10045/lismore/topic/education