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Sunshine Coast CouncilCommunity profile

Sunshine Coast

Highest level of schooling

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In Sunshine Coast, 54.3% of people aged over 15 years had completed Year 12 schooling (or equivalent) as of 2021. This was less than South East Queensland.

Sunshine Coast's school completion data is a useful indicator of socio-economic status. With other indicators, such as Proficiency in English, the data informs planners and decision-makers about people's ability to access services. Combined with Educational Qualifications it also allows assessment of the skill base of the population.

Learn more about planning education provision here.

Q:

Derived from the Census question:

'What is the highest year of primary or secondary school the person has completed?'

Highest level of secondary schooling completed
Sunshine Coast - Total persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Level of schoolingNumber%South East Queensland %Number%South East Queensland %2016 to 2021
Year 8 or below8,7403.13.29,7094.04.0-969
Year 9 or equivalent13,2704.74.312,2805.14.3+990
Year 10 or equivalent65,35623.119.161,39325.520.7+3,963
Year 11 or equivalent23,7848.47.121,3348.97.5+2,450
Year 12 or equivalent153,80254.359.8116,90648.555.0+36,896
Did not go to school6720.20.65030.20.5+169
Not stated17,4216.25.918,8627.88.0-1,441
Total persons aged 15+283,045100.0100.0240,987100.0100.0+42,058
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

Analysis of the highest level of schooling attained by the population in Sunshine Coast in 2021 compared to South East Queensland shows that there was a higher proportion of people who had left school at an early level (Year 10 or less) and a lower proportion of people who completed Year 12 or equivalent.

Overall, 31.1% of the population left school at Year 10 or below, and 54.3% went on to complete Year 12 or equivalent, compared with 27.2% and 59.8% respectively for South East Queensland.

The major differences between the level of schooling attained by the population in Sunshine Coast and South East Queensland were:

  • A larger percentage of persons who completed year 10 or equivalent (23.1% compared to 19.1%)
  • A larger percentage of persons who completed year 11 or equivalent (8.4% compared to 7.1%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons who completed year 12 or equivalent (54.3% compared to 59.8%)

Emerging groups

The largest changes in the level of schooling attained by the population in Sunshine Coast, between 2016 and 2021 were:

  • Year 12 or equivalent (+36,896 persons)
  • Year 10 or equivalent (+3,963 persons)
  • Year 11 or equivalent (+2,450 persons)
  • Year 9 or equivalent (+990 persons)

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