Schools in Cairns, QLD
Cairns is an Australian Bureau of Statistics region (SA4) in Queensland. There are 109 schools in Cairns, Queensland: 71 primary, 18 secondary, 19 combined. 73 are government schools and 36 are non-government. Together they enrol about 48,996 students.
Schools
109
Students
48,996
Median ICSEA
944
Australian average is 1000
Top Success Index
70.6
Newman Catholic College
Cairns school rankings
The top 60 of 81 ranked schools, ordered by Success Index; the rest are listed below.
- 171Newman Catholic CollegeSmithfield · Catholic SecondaryICSEA 1046 · 625 students
- 270Mother of Good Counsel SchoolCairns North · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 1091 · 354 students
- 367St Augustine's CollegeCairns · Catholic SecondaryICSEA 1060 · 777 students
- 466Trinity Anglican SchoolWhite Rock · Independent CombinedICSEA 1103 · 1,204 students
- 565St Monica's CollegeCairns · Catholic SecondaryICSEA 1058 · 697 students
- 663Freshwater State SchoolFreshwater · Government PrimaryICSEA 1064 · 594 students
- 762Holy Cross SchoolTrinity Park · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 1058 · 572 students
- 861Cairns Hinterland Steiner SchoolKuranda · Independent CombinedICSEA 1059 · 157 students
- 961St Stephen's Catholic CollegeMareeba · Catholic SecondaryICSEA 1041 · 652 students
- 1060Malanda State High SchoolMalanda · Government SecondaryICSEA 994 · 538 students
- 1159Caravonica State SchoolCaravonica · Government PrimaryICSEA 1020 · 540 students
- 1257Yungaburra State SchoolYungaburra · Government PrimaryICSEA 1025 · 217 students
- 1355Cairns School of Distance EducationManunda · Government CombinedICSEA 1024 · 3,692 students
- 1454Peace Lutheran CollegeKamerunga · Independent CombinedICSEA 1054 · 544 students
- 1553Freshwater Christian CollegeBrinsmead · Independent CombinedICSEA 1041 · 562 students
- 1653Port Douglas State SchoolPort Douglas · Government PrimaryICSEA 1012 · 230 students
- 1753St Mary's Catholic CollegeWoree · Catholic SecondaryICSEA 1023 · 949 students
- 1851Cairns State High SchoolCairns North · Government SecondaryICSEA 1019 · 1,636 students
- 1951St Andrew's Catholic College Redlynch ValleyRedlynch · Catholic CombinedICSEA 1067 · 1,373 students
- 2050St Gerard Majella Primary SchoolWoree · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 1035 · 399 students
- 2150Miallo State SchoolMiallo · Government PrimaryICSEA 996 · 176 students
- 2249St Clare's SchoolTully · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 1008 · 170 students
- 2349St Joseph's SchoolAtherton · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 1022 · 287 students
- 2449Jubilee Christian CollegeAtherton · Independent CombinedICSEA 1017 · 850 students
- 2549Our Lady Help of Christians SchoolEarlville · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 1025 · 506 students
- 2649St Joseph's SchoolParramatta Park · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 1029 · 348 students
- 2748St Augustine's SchoolMossman · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 1002 · 109 students
- 2847Good Counsel Primary SchoolInnisfail · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 1001 · 340 students
- 2947Tropical North Learning Academy - Trinity Beach State SchoolTrinity Beach · Government PrimaryICSEA 996 · 899 students
- 3046Edge Hill State SchoolEdge Hill · Government PrimaryICSEA 1016 · 864 students
- 3146Malanda State SchoolMalanda · Government PrimaryICSEA 1001 · 410 students
- 3245St Michael's SchoolGordonvale · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 993 · 279 students
- 3345Yorkeys Knob State SchoolYorkeys Knob · Government PrimaryICSEA 998 · 321 students
- 3444St Thomas' SchoolMareeba · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 1002 · 431 students
- 3544Tropical North Learning Academy - Smithfield State High SchoolSmithfield · Government SecondaryICSEA 983 · 1,135 students
- 3644Good Counsel CollegeInnisfail · Catholic SecondaryICSEA 982 · 414 students
- 3743St Rita's SchoolSouth Johnstone · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 970 · 107 students
- 3841MacKillop Catholic College, Mount PeterMount Peter · Catholic CombinedICSEA 987 · 1,119 students
- 3941St Therese's SchoolBentley Park · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 991 · 541 students
- 4041The BUSY SchoolCairns · Independent SecondaryICSEA 975 · 1,780 students
- 4140Redlynch State CollegeRedlynch · Government CombinedICSEA 1007 · 1,834 students
- 4240Whitfield State SchoolWhitfield · Government PrimaryICSEA 974 · 774 students
- 4339Parramatta State SchoolParramatta Park · Government PrimaryICSEA 887 · 482 students
- 4438Tolga State SchoolTolga · Government PrimaryICSEA 981 · 269 students
- 4538Mission Beach State SchoolWongaling Beach · Government PrimaryICSEA 991 · 296 students
- 4635Atherton State High SchoolAtherton · Government SecondaryICSEA 963 · 781 students
- 4734Herberton State SchoolMoomin · Government CombinedICSEA 930 · 154 students
- 4833St Teresa's SchoolRavenshoe · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 939 · 85 students
- 4932Mourilyan State SchoolMourilyan · Government PrimaryICSEA 943 · 165 students
- 5031Tully State SchoolTully · Government PrimaryICSEA 885 · 268 students
- 5130Babinda State SchoolBabinda · Government CombinedICSEA 931 · 280 students
- 5230Kairi State SchoolKairi · Government PrimaryICSEA 940 · 99 students
- 5330Machans Beach State SchoolMachans Beach · Government PrimaryICSEA 944 · 135 students
- 5430St Francis Xavier's SchoolManunda · Catholic PrimaryICSEA 953 · 382 students
- 5530Ravenshoe State SchoolRavenshoe · Government CombinedICSEA 848 · 351 students
- 5628Innisfail State CollegeInnisfail Estate · Government CombinedICSEA 889 · 951 students
- 5727Mossman State High SchoolMossman · Government SecondaryICSEA 938 · 553 students
- 5827Tully State High SchoolTully · Government SecondaryICSEA 925 · 721 students
- 5926Mossman State SchoolMossman · Government PrimaryICSEA 879 · 321 students
- 6026Trinity Bay State High SchoolManunda · Government SecondaryICSEA 908 · 1,784 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index | ICSEA | Students | Students : teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newman Catholic College Smithfield · Secondary · 7-10 | Catholic | 70.6 Top 25% | 1046 | 625 | 10.9 |
| 2 | Mother of Good Counsel School Cairns North · Primary · Prep-6 | Catholic | 70.2 Top 25% | 1091 | 354 | 16.1 |
| 3 | St Augustine's College Cairns · Secondary · 7-12 | Catholic | 66.8 Top 25% | 1060 | 777 | 11.8 |
| 4 | Trinity Anglican School White Rock · Combined · Prep-12 | Independent | 66.4 Top 25% | 1103 | 1,204 | 12.9 |
| 5 | St Monica's College Cairns · Secondary · 7-12 | Catholic | 64.7 Top 50% | 1058 | 697 | 12.3 |
| 6 | Freshwater State School Freshwater · Primary · Prep-6 | Government | 62.5 Top 50% | 1064 | 594 | 14.8 |
| 7 | Holy Cross School Trinity Park · Primary · Prep-6 | Catholic | 62.3 Top 50% | 1058 | 572 | 16.2 |
| 8 | Cairns Hinterland Steiner School Kuranda · Combined · Prep-8 | Independent | 61.4 Top 50% | 1059 | 157 | 10.0 |
| 9 | St Stephen's Catholic College Mareeba · Secondary · 7-12 | Catholic | 60.6 Top 50% | 1041 | 652 | 12.8 |
| 10 | Malanda State High School Malanda · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 60.1 Top 50% | 994 | 538 | 10.4 |
| 11 | Caravonica State School Caravonica · Primary · Prep-6 | Government | 59.3 Top 50% | 1020 | 540 | 14.2 |
| 12 | Yungaburra State School Yungaburra · Primary · Prep-6 | Government | 57.1 Top 50% | 1025 | 217 | 14.1 |
| 13 | Cairns School of Distance Education Manunda · Combined · Prep-12 | Government | 54.5 Top 50% | 1024 | 3,692 | 10.6 |
| 14 | Peace Lutheran College Kamerunga · Combined · Prep-12 | Independent | 53.8 Top 50% | 1054 | 544 | 11.6 |
| 15 | Freshwater Christian College Brinsmead · Combined · Prep-12 | Independent | 53.0 Top 50% | 1041 | 562 | 12.2 |
| 16 | Port Douglas State School Port Douglas · Primary · Prep-6 | Government | 52.9 Top 50% | 1012 | 230 | 12.4 |
| 17 | St Mary's Catholic College Woree · Secondary · 7-12 | Catholic | 52.6 Top 50% | 1023 | 949 | 12.1 |
| 18 | Cairns State High School Cairns North · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 51.1 Top 50% | 1019 | 1,636 | 13.2 |
| 19 | St Andrew's Catholic College Redlynch Valley Redlynch · Combined · Prep-12 | Catholic | 50.7 Top 50% | 1067 | 1,373 | 13.6 |
| 20 | St Gerard Majella Primary School Woree · Primary · Prep-6 | Catholic | 50.0 Top 50% | 1035 | 399 | 16.8 |
| 21 | Miallo State School Miallo · Primary · Prep-6 | Government | 49.8 Top 50% | 996 | 176 | 12.5 |
| 22 | St Clare's School Tully · Primary · Prep-6 | Catholic | 49.2 Top 50% | 1008 | 170 | 14.9 |
| 23 | St Joseph's School Atherton · Primary · Prep-6 | Catholic | 49.2 Top 50% | 1022 | 287 | 15.4 |
| 24 | Jubilee Christian College Atherton · Combined · Prep-12 | Independent | 48.6 Top 50% | 1017 | 850 | 14.7 |
| 25 | Our Lady Help of Christians School Earlville · Primary · Prep-6 | Catholic | 48.6 Lower 50% | 1025 | 506 | 15.4 |
| 26 | St Joseph's School Parramatta Park · Primary · Prep-6 | Catholic | 48.6 Lower 50% | 1029 | 348 | 16.3 |
| 27 | St Augustine's School Mossman · Primary · Prep-6 | Catholic | 47.8 Lower 50% | 1002 | 109 | 10.5 |
| 28 | Good Counsel Primary School Innisfail · Primary · Prep-6 | Catholic | 47.3 Lower 50% | 1001 | 340 | 16.0 |
| 29 | Tropical North Learning Academy - Trinity Beach State School Trinity Beach · Primary · Prep-6 | Government | 46.8 Lower 50% | 996 | 899 | 14.4 |
| 30 | Edge Hill State School Edge Hill · Primary · Prep-6 | Government | 46.2 Lower 50% | 1016 | 864 | 15.7 |
| 31 | Malanda State School Malanda · Primary · Prep-6 | Government | 45.8 Lower 50% | 1001 | 410 | 15.0 |
| 32 | St Michael's School Gordonvale · Primary · Prep-6 | Catholic | 44.9 Lower 50% | 993 | 279 | 14.1 |
| 33 | Yorkeys Knob State School Yorkeys Knob · Primary · Prep-6 | Government | 44.9 Lower 50% | 998 | 321 | 15.1 |
| 34 | St Thomas' School Mareeba · Primary · Prep-6 | Catholic | 44.4 Lower 50% | 1002 | 431 | 15.0 |
| 35 | Tropical North Learning Academy - Smithfield State High School Smithfield · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 44.3 Lower 50% | 983 | 1,135 | 11.4 |
| 36 | Good Counsel College Innisfail · Secondary · 7-12 | Catholic | 43.6 Lower 50% | 982 | 414 | 11.9 |
| 37 | St Rita's School South Johnstone · Primary · Prep-6 | Catholic | 43.1 Lower 50% | 970 | 107 | 11.9 |
| 38 | MacKillop Catholic College, Mount Peter Mount Peter · Combined · Prep-12 | Catholic | 41.4 Lower 50% | 987 | 1,119 | 12.9 |
| 39 | St Therese's School Bentley Park · Primary · Prep-6 | Catholic | 41.4 Lower 50% | 991 | 541 | 13.9 |
| 40 | The BUSY School Cairns · Secondary · 11-12 | Independent | 41.2 Lower 50% | 975 | 1,780 | 20.9 |
| 41 | Redlynch State College Redlynch · Combined · Prep-12 | Government | 40.1 Lower 50% | 1007 | 1,834 | 13.5 |
| 42 | Whitfield State School Whitfield · Primary · Prep-6 | Government | 39.9 Lower 50% | 974 | 774 | 15.8 |
| 43 | Parramatta State School Parramatta Park · Primary · Prep-6 | Government | 39.2 Lower 50% | 887 | 482 | 10.4 |
| 44 | Tolga State School Tolga · Primary · Prep-6 | Government | 38.3 Lower 50% | 981 | 269 | 13.7 |
| 45 | Mission Beach State School Wongaling Beach · Primary · Prep-6 | Government | 37.9 Lower 50% | 991 | 296 | 15.7 |
| 46 | Atherton State High School Atherton · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 34.8 Lower 50% | 963 | 781 | 12.0 |
| 47 | Herberton State School Moomin · Combined · Prep-10 | Government | 33.9 Lower 50% | 930 | 154 | 9.7 |
| 48 | St Teresa's School Ravenshoe · Primary · Prep-6 | Catholic | 33.0 Lower 50% | 939 | 85 | 13.9 |
| 49 | Mourilyan State School Mourilyan · Primary · Prep-6 | Government | 31.8 Lower 50% | 943 | 165 | 13.4 |
| 50 | Tully State School Tully · Primary · Prep-6 | Government | 31.3 Lower 50% | 885 | 268 | 10.2 |
| 51 | Babinda State School Babinda · Combined · Prep-12 | Government | 30.4 Lower 50% | 931 | 280 | 11.7 |
| 52 | Kairi State School Kairi · Primary · Prep-6 | Government | 30.3 Lower 50% | 940 | 99 | 14.1 |
| 53 | Machans Beach State School Machans Beach · Primary · Prep-6 | Government | 30.3 Lower 50% | 944 | 135 | 15.3 |
| 54 | St Francis Xavier's School Manunda · Primary · Prep-6 | Catholic | 30.2 Lower 50% | 953 | 382 | 13.5 |
| 55 | Ravenshoe State School Ravenshoe · Combined · Prep-12 | Government | 30.1 Lower 50% | 848 | 351 | 9.9 |
| 56 | Innisfail State College Innisfail Estate · Combined · Prep-12 | Government | 27.9 Lower 50% | 889 | 951 | 10.6 |
| 57 | Mossman State High School Mossman · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 26.6 Lower 50% | 938 | 553 | 11.2 |
| 58 | Tully State High School Tully · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 26.6 Lower 50% | 925 | 721 | 11.6 |
| 59 | Mossman State School Mossman · Primary · Prep-6 | Government | 26.4 Lower 50% | 879 | 321 | 13.6 |
| 60 | Trinity Bay State High School Manunda · Secondary · 7-12 | Government | 25.7 Lower 50% | 908 | 1,784 | 12.4 |
More ranked schools in Cairns
Ranked 61 to 81 by Success Index.
- 61.Atherton State School25.2
- 62.Djarragun College24.8
- 63.Bentley Park College24.6
- 64.Balaclava State School23.9
- 65.Kuranda District State College23.6
- 66.Yarrabah State School23.5
- 67.Mount St Bernard College23.3
- 68.Cairns West State School22.5
- 69.Radiant Life College21.8
- 70.Gordonvale State School21.7
- 71.Innisfail State School20.5
- 72.Goondi State School20.3
- 73.Isabella State School20.3
- 74.Innisfail East State School17.3
- 75.White Rock State School17.2
- 76.Woree State School15.6
- 77.Hambledon State School15.3
- 78.Mareeba State High School15.0
- 79.Mareeba State School14.7
- 80.Woree State High School14.0
- 81.Gordonvale State High School12.3
Best primary schools in Cairns
12345
70.2
Mother of Good Counsel School
Cairns North · Catholic primary · Prep-6
354 students · ICSEA 1091
66.4
Trinity Anglican School
White Rock · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,204 students · ICSEA 1103
62.5
Freshwater State School
Freshwater · Government primary · Prep-6
594 students · ICSEA 1064
62.3
Holy Cross School
Trinity Park · Catholic primary · Prep-6
572 students · ICSEA 1058
61.4
Cairns Hinterland Steiner School
Kuranda · Independent combined · Prep-8
157 students · ICSEA 1059
Best high schools in Cairns
12345
70.6
Newman Catholic College
Smithfield · Catholic high school · 7-10
625 students · ICSEA 1046
66.8
St Augustine's College
Cairns · Catholic high school · 7-12
777 students · ICSEA 1060
66.4
Trinity Anglican School
White Rock · Independent combined · Prep-12
1,204 students · ICSEA 1103
64.7
St Monica's College
Cairns · Catholic high school · 7-12
697 students · ICSEA 1058
61.4
Cairns Hinterland Steiner School
Kuranda · Independent combined · Prep-8
157 students · ICSEA 1059
Other schools
Special schools and very small schools are listed but not ranked.
- Mirriwinni State Schoolprimary
- McDonnell Creek State Schoolprimary
- Walkamin State Schoolprimary
- Aloomba State Schoolprimary
- St John's Schoolprimary
- Daintree State Schoolprimary
- The Rainforest Schoolprimary
- Cardwell State Schoolprimary
- Cairns Adventist Collegecombined
- El Arish State Schoolprimary
- Lower Tully State Schoolprimary
- Wonga Beach State Schoolprimary
- Butchers Creek State Schoolprimary
- Mundoo State Schoolprimary
- St Rita's Schoolprimary
- Feluga State Schoolprimary
- Silkwood State Schoolprimary
- Millaa Millaa State Schoolprimary
- South Johnstone State Schoolprimary
- Mount Garnet State Schoolprimary
- Murray River Upper State Schoolprimary
- Flying Fish Point State Schoolprimary
- Mena Creek State Schoolprimary
- Kennedy State Schoolprimary
- Bellenden Ker State Schoolprimary
- Alexandra Bay State Schoolprimary
- Bartle Frere State Schoolprimary
- Cairns State Special Schoolspecial
Free academic assessment
Tutoring for students in Cairns
Success Tutoring helps students from every school in Cairns build confidence in English and Maths. Start with a free assessment and a personalised learning plan.
- Personalised learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best school in Cairns?
Newman Catholic College has the highest Success Index in Cairns (70.6/100, Top 25% of secondary schools nationally). For primary years the top school is Mother of Good Counsel School; for secondary years it is Newman Catholic College.
How many schools are in Cairns?
There are 109 schools in Cairns, Queensland (region): 71 primary, 18 secondary, 19 combined. 73 are government schools and 36 are non-government. Together they enrol about 48,996 students.
Are there public high schools in Cairns?
Yes. Malanda State High School, Cairns School of Distance Education, Cairns State High School, Tropical North Learning Academy - Smithfield State High School, Redlynch State College and 14 more are government schools offering secondary years in Cairns.