Government co-ed secondary school (Yrs 7–9) in Malak, NT serving 328 students in an outer regional location.
NAPLAN well below national year-level averages and solid student growth; the result is a C- overall.
Sanderson High School has an overall SchoolRank score of 34.2/100, rated "Below Average". This score is calculated from academic results, student growth, wellbeing, extracurricular programs, and value for money. Academically, the school scores 32/100, indicating developing performance relative to other Australian schools. The school's ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) is 863, below the national average of 1,000. Notably, the school shows strong student growth over time (60/100), meaning students tend to improve well regardless of their starting point.
In 2025 NAPLAN testing at Sanderson High School, Year 7 students averaged 465 across the tested NAPLAN domains, well below the national average of 540 for that year level, and Year 9 students averaged 509, 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.
Sanderson High School is a small government secondary school with approximately 328 students. It offers education for years 7-9. 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.
Sanderson 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 34/100 on SchoolRank, which compares educational outcomes relative to cost, government schools typically score well on this measure.
Sanderson High School has a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.0:1. 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 76%, which is below the national benchmark.
Sanderson High School is located in Malak, NT, classified as a outer regional school. With an ICSEA of 863 (6th 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.