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AustraliaCommunity profile

South Australia

Highest level of schooling

In South Australia, 52.6% of people aged over 15 years had completed Year 12 schooling (or equivalent) as of 2021. This was greater than Regional TAS.

South Australia'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
South Australia - Total persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Level of schoolingNumber%Regional TAS %Number%Regional TAS %2016 to 2021
Year 8 or below65,1704.44.275,3655.45.5-10,195
Year 9 or equivalent73,2185.08.374,3465.49.4-1,128
Year 10 or equivalent220,55314.932.6219,00315.834.0+1,550
Year 11 or equivalent246,62516.79.1241,03617.49.0+5,589
Year 12 or equivalent778,25252.638.3656,42947.432.1+121,823
Did not go to school14,4211.00.512,1180.90.4+2,303
Not stated80,1375.47.1105,3667.69.6-25,229
Total persons aged 15+1,478,376100.0100.01,383,663100.0100.0+94,713
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 South Australia in 2021 compared to Regional TAS shows that there was a lower proportion of people who had left school at an early level (Year 10 or less) and a higher proportion of people who completed Year 12 or equivalent.

Overall, 25.3% of the population left school at Year 10 or below, and 52.6% went on to complete Year 12 or equivalent, compared with 45.5% and 38.3% respectively for Regional TAS.

The major differences between the level of schooling attained by the population in South Australia and Regional TAS were:

  • A larger percentage of persons who completed year 12 or equivalent (52.6% compared to 38.3%)
  • A larger percentage of persons who completed year 11 or equivalent (16.7% compared to 9.1%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons who completed year 10 or equivalent (14.9% compared to 32.6%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons who completed year 9 or equivalent (5.0% compared to 8.3%)

Emerging groups

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

  • Year 12 or equivalent (+121,823 persons)
  • Year 8 or below (-10,195 persons)
  • Year 11 or equivalent (+5,589 persons)
  • Did not go to school (+2,303 persons)

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