Atherton State High School is a co-ed government secondary on thirteen hectares of landscaped grounds in the Atherton Tablelands.
NAPLAN well below national year-level averages and growth below the national median; the result is a C overall.
Atherton State High School is a co-ed government secondary on thirteen hectares of landscaped grounds in the Atherton Tablelands. It offers strong vocational pathways alongside traditional academics, with particular depth in agriculture and farm programs. The school is known for its music ensembles and competitive sports teams. Its pastoral character and rural setting suit students interested in practical trades, agricultural careers, or outdoor life, as well as those who thrive in a community-focused environment.
Atherton State High School is also known as ASHS, ASHS Atherton and Atherton State HS.
Atherton State High School has an overall SchoolRank score of 29.9/100, rated "Below Average". This score is calculated from academic results, student growth, wellbeing, extracurricular programs, and value for money. Academically, the school scores 34/100, indicating developing performance relative to other Australian schools. The school's ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) is 963, slightly below the national average of 1,000.
In 2025 NAPLAN testing at Atherton State High School, Year 7 students averaged 473 across the tested NAPLAN domains, well below the national average of 540 for that year level, and Year 9 students averaged 511, well below the national average of 569 for that year level. National averages are specific to each year level, because NAPLAN scores are scaled so older year levels score higher, a school-wide average can't be compared with a single national figure.
Atherton State High School is a medium-sized government secondary school with approximately 781 students. It offers education for years 7-12. As a government school, enrolment is generally available to students living within the school's designated catchment zone. Families outside the zone may apply for out-of-area placement subject to availability.
Atherton State High School is a government school, so there are no tuition fees. Families may be asked to contribute to voluntary school fees covering materials, excursions, and activities. The school has a value score of 36/100 on SchoolRank, which compares educational outcomes relative to cost, government schools typically score well on this measure.
Atherton State High School has a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.1:1. This is below the national average of approximately 14:1, meaning students generally receive more individual attention. Support staff make up 35% of the workforce, providing additional learning assistance and pastoral care. The student attendance rate is 81%, which is below the national benchmark.
Atherton State High School is located in Atherton, QLD, classified as a outer regional school. With an ICSEA of 963 (30th percentile), the school community's socio-educational advantage is below average, which means the school serves a community with greater socio-educational challenges. ICSEA measures the educational advantage of a school's community, not the school's quality, a lower ICSEA school with strong academic scores may indicate particularly effective teaching.