Top 66 schools with the best student–teacher ratio in Cairns (2025)

Schools with 200+ students and the fewest full-time-equivalent students per full-time-equivalent teacher. Ordered by the measure shown, with the Success Index for context; 66 schools shown out of all eligible schools with the best student–teacher ratio in Cairns.

#	School	Sector	Students : teacher	Success Index	ICSEA	Students	Students : teacher
1	Djarragun College Gordonvale · Combined · Prep-12	Independent	8.4	24.8 Lower 50%	683	259	8.4
2	Yarrabah State School Yarrabah · Combined · Prep-10	Government	9.2	23.5 Lower 50%	688	405	9.2
3	Ravenshoe State School Ravenshoe · Combined · Prep-12	Government	9.9	30.1 Lower 50%	848	351	9.9
4	Tully State School Tully · Primary · Prep-6	Government	10.2	31.3 Lower 50%	885	268	10.2
5	Malanda State High School Malanda · Secondary · 7-12	Government	10.4	60.1 Top 50%	994	538	10.4
6	Parramatta State School Parramatta Park · Primary · Prep-6	Government	10.4	39.2 Lower 50%	887	482	10.4
7	Kuranda District State College Kuranda · Combined · Prep-12	Government	10.4	23.6 Lower 50%	862	285	10.4
8	Innisfail State College Innisfail Estate · Combined · Prep-12	Government	10.6	27.9 Lower 50%	889	951	10.6
9	Newman Catholic College Smithfield · Secondary · 7-10	Catholic	10.9	70.6 Top 25%	1046	625	10.9
10	Woree State High School Woree · Secondary · 7-12	Government	11.0	14.0 Lower 50%	854	750	11.0
11	Mossman State High School Mossman · Secondary · 7-12	Government	11.2	26.6 Lower 50%	938	553	11.2
12	Atherton State School Atherton · Primary · Prep-6	Government	11.3	25.2 Lower 50%	903	331	11.3
13	Tropical North Learning Academy - Smithfield State High School Smithfield · Secondary · 7-12	Government	11.4	44.3 Lower 50%	983	1,135	11.4
14	Cairns West State School Manunda · Primary · Prep-6	Government	11.5	22.5 Lower 50%	784	481	11.5
15	Tully State High School Tully · Secondary · 7-12	Government	11.6	26.6 Lower 50%	925	721	11.6
16	Peace Lutheran College Kamerunga · Combined · Prep-12	Independent	11.6	53.8 Top 50%	1054	544	11.6
17	Babinda State School Babinda · Combined · Prep-12	Government	11.7	30.4 Lower 50%	931	280	11.7
18	Balaclava State School Mooroobool · Primary · Prep-6	Government	11.8	23.9 Lower 50%	797	381	11.8
19	St Augustine's College Cairns · Secondary · 7-12	Catholic	11.8	66.8 Top 25%	1060	777	11.8
20	Good Counsel College Innisfail · Secondary · 7-12	Catholic	11.9	43.6 Lower 50%	982	414	11.9
21	Atherton State High School Atherton · Secondary · 7-12	Government	12.0	34.8 Lower 50%	963	781	12.0
22	St Mary's Catholic College Woree · Secondary · 7-12	Catholic	12.1	52.6 Top 50%	1023	949	12.1
23	Mareeba State High School Mareeba · Secondary · 7-12	Government	12.1	15.0 Lower 50%	886	721	12.1
24	Freshwater Christian College Brinsmead · Combined · Prep-12	Independent	12.2	53.0 Top 50%	1041	562	12.2
25	Gordonvale State High School Gordonvale · Secondary · 7-12	Government	12.2	12.3 Lower 50%	883	623	12.2
26	St Monica's College Cairns · Secondary · 7-12	Catholic	12.3	64.7 Top 50%	1058	697	12.3
27	Port Douglas State School Port Douglas · Primary · Prep-6	Government	12.4	52.9 Top 50%	1012	230	12.4
28	Trinity Bay State High School Manunda · Secondary · 7-12	Government	12.4	25.7 Lower 50%	908	1,784	12.4
29	Hambledon State School Edmonton · Primary · Prep-6	Government	12.5	15.3 Lower 50%	865	378	12.5
30	St Stephen's Catholic College Mareeba · Secondary · 7-12	Catholic	12.8	60.6 Top 50%	1041	652	12.8
31	MacKillop Catholic College, Mount Peter Mount Peter · Combined · Prep-12	Catholic	12.9	41.4 Lower 50%	987	1,119	12.9
32	Trinity Anglican School White Rock · Combined · Prep-12	Independent	12.9	66.4 Top 25%	1103	1,204	12.9
33	Gordonvale State School Gordonvale · Primary · Prep-6	Government	13.0	21.7 Lower 50%	886	403	13.0
34	Bentley Park College Bentley Park · Combined · Prep-12	Government	13.1	24.6 Lower 50%	869	1,771	13.1
35	Cairns State High School Cairns North · Secondary · 7-12	Government	13.2	51.1 Top 50%	1019	1,636	13.2
36	Redlynch State College Redlynch · Combined · Prep-12	Government	13.5	40.1 Lower 50%	1007	1,834	13.5
37	White Rock State School White Rock · Primary · Prep-6	Government	13.5	17.2 Lower 50%	837	439	13.5
38	St Francis Xavier's School Manunda · Primary · Prep-6	Catholic	13.5	30.2 Lower 50%	953	382	13.5
39	Mossman State School Mossman · Primary · Prep-6	Government	13.6	26.4 Lower 50%	879	321	13.6
40	St Andrew's Catholic College Redlynch Valley Redlynch · Combined · Prep-12	Catholic	13.6	50.7 Top 50%	1067	1,373	13.6
41	Tolga State School Tolga · Primary · Prep-6	Government	13.7	38.3 Lower 50%	981	269	13.7
42	St Therese's School Bentley Park · Primary · Prep-6	Catholic	13.9	41.4 Lower 50%	991	541	13.9
43	Mareeba State School Mareeba · Primary · Prep-6	Government	14.0	14.7 Lower 50%	855	695	14.0
44	Yungaburra State School Yungaburra · Primary · Prep-6	Government	14.1	57.1 Top 50%	1025	217	14.1
45	St Michael's School Gordonvale · Primary · Prep-6	Catholic	14.1	44.9 Lower 50%	993	279	14.1
46	Caravonica State School Caravonica · Primary · Prep-6	Government	14.2	59.3 Top 50%	1020	540	14.2
47	Tropical North Learning Academy - Trinity Beach State School Trinity Beach · Primary · Prep-6	Government	14.4	46.8 Lower 50%	996	899	14.4
48	Isabella State School Edmonton · Primary · Prep-6	Government	14.4	20.3 Lower 50%	899	496	14.4
49	Jubilee Christian College Atherton · Combined · Prep-12	Independent	14.7	48.6 Top 50%	1017	850	14.7
50	Woree State School Woree · Primary · Prep-6	Government	14.8	15.6 Lower 50%	860	530	14.8
51	Freshwater State School Freshwater · Primary · Prep-6	Government	14.8	62.5 Top 50%	1064	594	14.8
52	Malanda State School Malanda · Primary · Prep-6	Government	15.0	45.8 Lower 50%	1001	410	15.0
53	St Thomas' School Mareeba · Primary · Prep-6	Catholic	15.0	44.4 Lower 50%	1002	431	15.0
54	Goondi State School Goondi Bend · Primary · Prep-6	Government	15.1	20.3 Lower 50%	919	330	15.1
55	Yorkeys Knob State School Yorkeys Knob · Primary · Prep-6	Government	15.1	44.9 Lower 50%	998	321	15.1
56	Our Lady Help of Christians School Earlville · Primary · Prep-6	Catholic	15.4	48.6 Lower 50%	1025	506	15.4
57	St Joseph's School Atherton · Primary · Prep-6	Catholic	15.4	49.2 Top 50%	1022	287	15.4
58	Edge Hill State School Edge Hill · Primary · Prep-6	Government	15.7	46.2 Lower 50%	1016	864	15.7
59	Mission Beach State School Wongaling Beach · Primary · Prep-6	Government	15.7	37.9 Lower 50%	991	296	15.7
60	Whitfield State School Whitfield · Primary · Prep-6	Government	15.8	39.9 Lower 50%	974	774	15.8
61	Good Counsel Primary School Innisfail · Primary · Prep-6	Catholic	16.0	47.3 Lower 50%	1001	340	16.0
62	Mother of Good Counsel School Cairns North · Primary · Prep-6	Catholic	16.1	70.2 Top 25%	1091	354	16.1
63	Holy Cross School Trinity Park · Primary · Prep-6	Catholic	16.2	62.3 Top 50%	1058	572	16.2
64	St Joseph's School Parramatta Park · Primary · Prep-6	Catholic	16.3	48.6 Lower 50%	1029	348	16.3
65	St Gerard Majella Primary School Woree · Primary · Prep-6	Catholic	16.8	50.0 Top 50%	1035	399	16.8
66	The BUSY School Cairns · Secondary · 11-12	Independent	20.9	41.2 Lower 50%	975	1,780	20.9

There are 66 schools with the best student–teacher ratio in Cairns eligible for this list; the top 66 are shown. Djarragun College in Gordonvale is ranked first (students : teacher: 8.4). 41 of the top 66 are government schools and 25 are Catholic or independent; the median ICSEA across the list is 985.

The top 10 schools with the best student–teacher ratio in Cairns for 2025 are: 1. Djarragun College (Gordonvale); 2. Yarrabah State School (Yarrabah); 3. Ravenshoe State School (Ravenshoe); 4. Tully State School (Tully); 5. Malanda State High School (Malanda); 6. Parramatta State School (Parramatta Park); 7. Kuranda District State College (Kuranda); 8. Innisfail State College (Innisfail Estate); 9. Newman Catholic College (Smithfield); 10. Woree State High School (Woree).

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best lowest ratio school in Cairns?

Djarragun College in Gordonvale ranks first among schools with the best student–teacher ratio in Cairns with a Success Index of 24.8 out of 100 and an ICSEA of 683.

How are schools with the best student–teacher ratio in Cairns ranked?

Schools with 200+ students and the fewest full-time-equivalent students per full-time-equivalent teacher. Only schools eligible for the Success Index (ICSEA published, 80+ students, not a special school) are included; the Success Index is shown alongside for context.

How many public schools are in the top 100 schools with the best student–teacher ratio in Cairns?

41 of the top 66 schools with the best student–teacher ratio in Cairns are government schools; 25 are Catholic or independent.

Do these rankings include NAPLAN or ATAR results?

Not yet. ACARA does not publish school-level NAPLAN results in bulk, and ATAR results are released by state authorities in different formats. The Success Index uses the measures ACARA publishes for every school so that all schools are compared on identical data. Where a school publishes its own results we link to its website.