The BUSY School
Updated Oct 2026 · ACARA 2025Cairns, Queensland 4870 · Cairns LGA
#146 of 269 high schools in QLD
#923 of 1,472 nationally
About The BUSY School
The BUSY School is an independent high school located in Cairns, Queensland (4870), within the Cairns local government area. It caters for students from 11 to 12 and in 2025 enrolled 1,780 students (926 girls and 854 boys). The school is affiliated with Independent Schools Queensland.
The BUSY School has an ICSEA value of 975, indicating a socio-educational profile close to the national average of 1000. That places it in the 36th percentile of Australian schools. 11% of students come from the top socio-educational quarter and 36% from the bottom quarter.
The school employs 95 teachers (85.1 full-time equivalent) and 206 non-teaching staff, giving a student-to-teacher ratio of about 20.9 to 1. Enrolments have grown by 3323% over the past five years.
On the Success Index, The BUSY School scores 41.2 out of 100, placing it in the lower 50% of secondary schools nationally and 146th of 269 secondary schools in QLD (7th of 10 in the Cairns area).
Success Index breakdown
Each component is a percentile against schools of the same type across Australia.
- Socio-educational advantage (ICSEA) (50%)ICSEA 975
- Students in the top advantage quarter (15%)11% of students
- Teacher resourcing (students per teacher) (15%)20.9 students per teacher
- Enrolment growth vs local area (5 years) (10%)+3323% enrolments since 2020 (area median -2%)
- ICSEA trend (5 years) (10%)Not available
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 The BUSY School's 1,780 students are spread across year levels in 2025.
Enrolment trend
How enrolments at The BUSY School have changed over the past decade.
Free academic assessment
Is your child on track at The BUSY 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.
- Personalised learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum
- English & Maths from Kindergarten to Year 12
- Flexible memberships, no lock-in contracts
- Your nearest centre: Success Tutoring North Lakes
Schools near The BUSY School
Closest schools by straight-line distance, with their Success Index.
Trinity Bay State High School
Manunda · Government high school · 7-12
1,784 students · ICSEA 908 · 659 m away
Cairns School of Distance Education
Manunda · Government combined · Prep-12
3,692 students · ICSEA 1024 · 749 m away
Parramatta State School
Parramatta Park · Government primary · Prep-6
482 students · ICSEA 887 · 809 m away
St Joseph's School
Parramatta Park · Catholic primary · Prep-6
348 students · ICSEA 1029 · 1.2 km away
Cairns State High School
Cairns North · Government high school · 7-12
1,636 students · ICSEA 1019 · 1.3 km away
St Augustine's College
Cairns · Catholic high school · 7-12
777 students · ICSEA 1060 · 1.3 km away
Cairns West State School
Manunda · Government primary · Prep-6
481 students · ICSEA 784 · 1.6 km away
St Francis Xavier's School
Manunda · Catholic primary · Prep-6
382 students · ICSEA 953 · 1.7 km away
St Monica's College
Cairns · Catholic high school · 7-12
697 students · ICSEA 1058 · 1.8 km away
Balaclava State School
Mooroobool · Government primary · Prep-6
381 students · ICSEA 797 · 2.2 km away
Similar schools
Independent secondary schools in QLD with a comparable ICSEA.
Tec-NQ
Douglas · Independent high school · 10-12
375 students · ICSEA 972
Challenge Trade and Business College
Collingwood Park · Independent high school · 12
7 students · ICSEA 968
Ohana College
Meadowbrook · Independent high school · 7-12
237 students · ICSEA 964
Clearview Christian College
Tannum Sands · Independent high school · 7-10
97 students · ICSEA 990
Carbrook Animal Assisted Learning Centre
Carbrook · Independent high school · 7-12
40 students · ICSEA 958
Alta-1 College
Caboolture · Independent high school · 7-12
132 students · ICSEA 956
Frequently asked questions
Is The BUSY School a public or private school?
The BUSY School is a Independent school, which makes it a non-government (private) school affiliated with Independent Schools Queensland.
What year levels does The BUSY School offer?
The BUSY School offers 11 to 12. It is classified by ACARA as a secondary school.
How many students attend The BUSY School?
In 2025, The BUSY School had 1,780 enrolled students (926 girls, 854 boys), a change of 3323% over five years.
What is the ICSEA of The BUSY School?
The BUSY School has an ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) of 975. The national average is 1000, so this indicates a socio-educational profile close to the national average of 1000. ICSEA reflects the school community, not teaching quality.
How does The BUSY School rank in QLD?
The BUSY School ranks 146th of 269 secondary schools in Queensland on the Success Index (41.2/100), and 923rd of 1,472 nationally.
What is the student-to-teacher ratio at The BUSY School?
The BUSY School has about 20.9 students per full-time-equivalent teacher, based on 2025 ACARA staffing data.
Is The BUSY School co-ed?
Yes. The BUSY School is a co-educational school enrolling both girls and boys.
What other schools are near The BUSY School?
There are 10 other schools within 15 km of The BUSY 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 The BUSY School?
The closest Success Tutoring centre is Success Tutoring North Lakes, about 1368 km from the school. Success Tutoring offers a free academic assessment to identify your child's strengths and learning gaps before any sessions begin.