Hervey Bay State High School is a co-educational government secondary in Pialba offering a traditional, structured environment.
NAPLAN well below national year-level averages and growth below the national median; the result is a C+ overall.
Hervey Bay State High School is a co-educational government secondary in Pialba offering a traditional, structured environment. The school leads with specialisms in marine studies, agricultural science and vocational education, supported by established sports programs. Year 7 Academies cater to academically gifted students, while a dedicated support and welfare team works with students who need additional help, including those with disabilities. It suits families seeking a comprehensive secondary option with vocational pathways and outdoor-focused learning alongside mainstream academics.
Hervey Bay State High School is also known as HBSHS, HBSHS Pialba and Hervey Bay State HS.
Hervey Bay State High School draws students from the Hervey Bay SHS (and 1 more zone).
Hervey Bay State High School has an overall SchoolRank score of 34/100, rated "Below Average". This score is calculated from academic results, student growth, wellbeing, extracurricular programs, and value for money. Academically, the school scores 40/100, 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 Hervey Bay State High School, Year 7 students averaged 497 across the tested NAPLAN domains, well below the national average of 540 for that year level, and Year 9 students averaged 526, 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.
Hervey Bay State High School is a large government secondary school with approximately 1,280 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.
Hervey Bay 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 42/100 on SchoolRank, which compares educational outcomes relative to cost, government schools typically score well on this measure.
Hervey Bay State High School has a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.5:1. This is below the national average of approximately 14:1, meaning students generally receive more individual attention. Support staff make up 30% of the workforce, providing additional learning assistance and pastoral care. The student attendance rate is 80%, which is below the national benchmark.
Hervey Bay State High School is located in Pialba, QLD, classified as a inner 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.