Mount Barker High School is a government co-ed secondary with a strong pastoral framework and traditional approach to learning.
NAPLAN 20 points below national year-level averages; the result is a C overall.
Mount Barker High School is a government co-ed secondary with a strong pastoral framework and traditional approach to learning. The school specialises in vocational pathways and robotics, offering pathways beyond conventional HSC study. The Harold Mitchell Inclusive Education Centre provides tailored learning support. It suits families seeking structured schooling with hands-on vocational options and those prioritising a supportive, pastoral environment.
Mount Barker High School has an overall SchoolRank score of 42.3/100, rated "Average". This score is calculated from academic results, student growth, wellbeing, extracurricular programs, and value for money. Academically, the school scores 47/100, indicating developing performance relative to other Australian schools. The school's ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) is 1010, close to the national average of 1,000.
In 2025 NAPLAN testing at Mount Barker High School, Year 7 students averaged 515 across the tested NAPLAN domains, below the national average of 540 for that year level, and Year 9 students averaged 553, 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.
Mount Barker High School is a large government secondary school with approximately 1,061 students. It offers education for years U, 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.
Mount Barker 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 49/100 on SchoolRank, which compares educational outcomes relative to cost, government schools typically score well on this measure.
Mount Barker High School has a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.5:1. This is around the national average of approximately 14:1, meaning class sizes are typical for Australian schools. Support staff make up 36% of the workforce, providing additional learning assistance and pastoral care. The student attendance rate is 85%, which is moderate.
The Year 12 completion rate is 98%.
Mount Barker High School is located in Mount Barker, SA, classified as a major cities school. With an ICSEA of 1010 (52th percentile), the school community's socio-educational advantage is around the national average. 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.