Mackay State High School
Updated Oct 2026 · ACARA 2025South Mackay, Queensland 4740 · Mackay LGA
#230 of 269 high schools in QLD
#1301 of 1,472 nationally
About Mackay State High School
Mackay State High School is a public high school located in South Mackay, Queensland (4740), within the Mackay local government area. It caters for students from 7 to 12 and in 2025 enrolled 1,254 students (559 girls and 695 boys).
Mackay State High School has an ICSEA value of 936, indicating below-average socio-educational advantage. That places it in the 20th percentile of Australian schools. 4% of students come from the top socio-educational quarter and 50% from the bottom quarter.
The school employs 100 teachers (94.8 full-time equivalent) and 69 non-teaching staff, giving a student-to-teacher ratio of about 13.2 to 1. Enrolments have grown by 11% over the past five years.
On the Success Index, Mackay State High School scores 25.3 out of 100, placing it in the lower 50% of secondary schools nationally and 230th of 269 secondary schools in QLD (7th of 9 in the Mackay area).
Success Index breakdown
Each component is a percentile against schools of the same type across Australia.
- Socio-educational advantage (ICSEA) (50%)ICSEA 936
- Students in the top advantage quarter (15%)4% of students
- Teacher resourcing (students per teacher) (15%)13.2 students per teacher
- Enrolment growth vs local area (5 years) (10%)+11% enrolments since 2020 (area median -2%)
- ICSEA trend (5 years) (10%)-18 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 Mackay State High School's 1,254 students are spread across year levels in 2025.
Enrolment trend
How enrolments at Mackay State High School have changed over the past decade.
Free academic assessment
Is your child on track at Mackay State High School?
Rankings tell you about a school community. A free Success Tutoring assessment tells you about your child: exactly where they are in English and Maths, where the gaps are, and a plan to close them. Small-group, Australian-curriculum tutoring with no lock-in contracts.
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Schools near Mackay State High School
Closest schools by straight-line distance, with their Success Index.
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
Mackay South · Catholic primary · Prep-6
384 students · ICSEA 1050 · 796 m away
Mackay Central State School
Mackay · Government primary · Prep-6
216 students · ICSEA 908 · 987 m away
Kutta Mulla Gorinna Special Assistance School
Mackay · Independent special · 7-12
75 students · ICSEA 811 · 1.2 km away
Mackay West State School
West Mackay · Government primary · Prep-6
770 students · ICSEA 980 · 1.6 km away
St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School
Mackay West · Catholic primary · Prep-6
569 students · ICSEA 1031 · 1.7 km away
St Patrick's College
Mackay · Catholic high school · 7-12
1,394 students · ICSEA 1009 · 1.8 km away
Victoria Park State School
East Mackay · Government primary · Prep-6
602 students · ICSEA 927 · 1.9 km away
Catherine McAuley College
Mackay · Catholic high school · 7-10
606 students · ICSEA 1026 · 2.1 km away
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
North Mackay · Catholic primary · Prep-6
349 students · ICSEA 1016 · 3.5 km away
Mackay North State School
North Mackay · Government primary · Prep-6
401 students · ICSEA 933 · 3.5 km away
Similar schools
Government secondary schools in QLD with a comparable ICSEA.
Tullawong State High School
Caboolture · Government high school · 7-12
897 students · ICSEA 936
Sarina State High School
Sarina · Government high school · 7-12
775 students · ICSEA 935
Mossman State High School
Mossman · Government high school · 7-12
553 students · ICSEA 938
Toowoomba State High School
Mount Lofty · Government high school · 7-12
775 students · ICSEA 934
Gladstone State High School
West Gladstone · Government high school · 7-12
1,239 students · ICSEA 938
Bremer State High School
Ipswich · Government high school · 7-12
2,020 students · ICSEA 938
Frequently asked questions
Is Mackay State High School a public or private school?
Mackay State High School is a public (government) school run by the Queensland education department.
What year levels does Mackay State High School offer?
Mackay State High School offers 7 to 12. It is classified by ACARA as a secondary school.
How many students attend Mackay State High School?
In 2025, Mackay State High School had 1,254 enrolled students (559 girls, 695 boys), a change of 11% over five years.
What is the ICSEA of Mackay State High School?
Mackay State High School has an ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) of 936. The national average is 1000, so this indicates below-average socio-educational advantage. ICSEA reflects the school community, not teaching quality.
How does Mackay State High School rank in QLD?
Mackay State High School ranks 230th of 269 secondary schools in Queensland on the Success Index (25.3/100), and 1301st of 1,472 nationally.
What is the student-to-teacher ratio at Mackay State High School?
Mackay State High School has about 13.2 students per full-time-equivalent teacher, based on 2025 ACARA staffing data.
How big is the Year 7 cohort at Mackay State High School?
In 2025, Mackay State High School had 219 students in Year 7 and 158 in Year 12.
Is Mackay State High School co-ed?
Yes. Mackay State High School is a co-educational school enrolling both girls and boys.
What other schools are near Mackay State High School?
There are 10 other schools within 15 km of Mackay 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 Mackay State High School?
The closest Success Tutoring centre is Success Tutoring North Lakes, about 780 km from the school. Success Tutoring offers a free academic assessment to identify your child's strengths and learning gaps before any sessions begin.