Best Schools in Mackay

Top schools in Mackay

1. Whitsunday Anglican School
   Beaconsfield · Independent · Combined — Academic 76/100
2. St Mary's Catholic Primary School
   Mackay South · Catholic · Primary — Academic 60/100
3. Coningsby State School
   Farleigh · Government · Primary — Academic 60/100
4. St Brendan's Catholic Primary School
   Mackay · Catholic · Primary — Academic 58/100
5. Catherine McAuley College
   Mackay · Catholic · Secondary — Academic 57/100
6. Emmanuel Catholic Primary School
   Mount Pleasant · Catholic · Primary — Academic 53/100
7. Holy Spirit College
   Mount Pleasant · Catholic · Secondary — Academic 53/100
8. St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School
   Mackay West · Catholic · Primary — Academic 51/100

Most-listed suburbs in Mackay

• North Mackay (5 schools) · avg academic 43/100
• Mackay (4 schools) · avg academic 49/100
• Mount Pleasant (3 schools) · avg academic 50/100
• Moranbah (3 schools) · avg academic 38/100
• Andergrove (3 schools) · avg academic 32/100
• Beaconsfield (3 schools) · avg academic 50/100
• Walkerston (2 schools) · avg academic 43/100
• Farleigh (2 schools) · avg academic 45/100
• Rural View (2 schools) · avg academic 37/100
• Dysart (2 schools) · avg academic 28/100

Schools in Mackay: a closer look

Mackay is the education hub for the Central Queensland coast, serving a population drawn from the sugar cane industry, Bowen Basin mining communities and the Whitsunday tourism region. Mackay State High School, Mackay North State High School and Pioneer State High School are the three main government secondaries, each with defined catchment areas across the city.

The Catholic system is the strongest-performing sector in Mackay. Catherine McAuley College, Holy Spirit College and St Patrick's College all post NAPLAN results above the Queensland state average, with Catherine McAuley leading the city overall. Whitsunday Anglican School in neighbouring Beaconsfield is the standout independent option, consistently posting strong academic results. Mackay Christian College provides a second independent pathway.

The city's school population fluctuates with mining-sector employment cycles, and NAPLAN results reflect the mixed socioeconomic profile of a resource-dependent region. Government secondary results sit below the state average on the whole, though Mackay North SHS is the strongest government performer. For families in the broader Whitsunday and Isaac council areas, Mackay's schools represent the closest full range of government, Catholic and independent choices.