Blackwater State High School
Updated Oct 2026 · ACARA 2025Blackwater, Queensland 4717 · Central Highlands (Qld) LGA
#262 of 269 high schools in QLD
#1449 of 1,472 nationally
About Blackwater State High School
Blackwater State High School is a public high school located in Blackwater, Queensland (4717), within the Central Highlands (Qld) local government area. It caters for students from 7 to 12 and in 2025 enrolled 307 students (128 girls and 179 boys).
Blackwater State High School has an ICSEA value of 880, indicating a community facing significant socio-educational disadvantage. That places it in the 7th percentile of Australian schools. 1% of students come from the top socio-educational quarter and 64% from the bottom quarter.
The school employs 35 teachers (33.8 full-time equivalent) and 24 non-teaching staff, giving a student-to-teacher ratio of about 9.1 to 1. Enrolments have fallen by 13% over the past five years.
On the Success Index, Blackwater State High School scores 16.4 out of 100, placing it in the lower 50% of secondary schools nationally and 262nd of 269 secondary schools in QLD (4th of 4 in the Central Highlands (Qld) area).
Success Index breakdown
Each component is a percentile against schools of the same type across Australia.
- Socio-educational advantage (ICSEA) (50%)ICSEA 880
- Students in the top advantage quarter (15%)1% of students
- Teacher resourcing (students per teacher) (15%)9.1 students per teacher
- Enrolment growth vs local area (5 years) (10%)-13% enrolments since 2020 (area median +15%)
- ICSEA trend (5 years) (10%)-52 ICSEA points since 2020
The Success Index summarises the academic environment of a school community using official ACARA data. It is not a measure of teaching quality or student results. Read the methodology.
Student profile
Distribution of students across socio-educational advantage (SEA) quarters, plus community characteristics.
Enrolments by year level
How Blackwater State High School's 307 students are spread across year levels in 2025.
Enrolment trend
How enrolments at Blackwater State High School have changed over the past decade.
Free academic assessment
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Schools near Blackwater State High School
Closest schools by straight-line distance, with their Success Index.
Similar schools
Government secondary schools in QLD with a comparable ICSEA.
Charters Towers State High School
Charters Towers City · Government high school · 7-12
303 students · ICSEA 879
Gordonvale State High School
Gordonvale · Government high school · 7-12
623 students · ICSEA 883
Pioneer State High School
Andergrove · Government high school · 7-12
536 students · ICSEA 875
Mareeba State High School
Mareeba · Government high school · 7-12
721 students · ICSEA 886
Mount Morgan State High School
Mount Morgan · Government high school · 7-12
230 students · ICSEA 869
Home Hill State High School
Home Hill · Government high school · 7-12
165 students · ICSEA 891
Frequently asked questions
Is Blackwater State High School a public or private school?
Blackwater State High School is a public (government) school run by the Queensland education department.
What year levels does Blackwater State High School offer?
Blackwater State High School offers 7 to 12. It is classified by ACARA as a secondary school.
How many students attend Blackwater State High School?
In 2025, Blackwater State High School had 307 enrolled students (128 girls, 179 boys), a change of -13% over five years.
What is the ICSEA of Blackwater State High School?
Blackwater State High School has an ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) of 880. The national average is 1000, so this indicates a community facing significant socio-educational disadvantage. ICSEA reflects the school community, not teaching quality.
How does Blackwater State High School rank in QLD?
Blackwater State High School ranks 262nd of 269 secondary schools in Queensland on the Success Index (16.4/100), and 1449th of 1,472 nationally.
What is the student-to-teacher ratio at Blackwater State High School?
Blackwater State High School has about 9.1 students per full-time-equivalent teacher, based on 2025 ACARA staffing data.
How big is the Year 7 cohort at Blackwater State High School?
In 2025, Blackwater State High School had 61 students in Year 7 and 34 in Year 12.
Is Blackwater State High School co-ed?
Yes. Blackwater State High School is a co-educational school enrolling both girls and boys.
What other schools are near Blackwater State High School?
There are 2 other schools within 15 km of Blackwater State High School in our database. Scroll up to the "Nearby schools" section to compare them by Success Index, ICSEA and enrolments, or use the Compare tool.
Where can I get tutoring near Blackwater State High School?
The closest Success Tutoring centre is Success Tutoring North Lakes, about 581 km from the school. Success Tutoring offers a free academic assessment to identify your child's strengths and learning gaps before any sessions begin.