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How schools work in Queensland

How schools work in Queensland: Prep starting age, catchment areas and EdMap, Queensland Academies, the Student Resource Scheme, distance education and boarding.

Queensland has almost 1,300 government schools and more than 450 Catholic and independent schools, according to its Department of Education. This guide explains how government schooling is organised, from Prep to the QCE, with links to the department's own pages for the detail.

Starting school

The first year of school in Queensland is Prep. Children must be 5 by 30 June in the year they start Prep. Schooling is compulsory from age 6 and a half until a child turns 16 or completes Year 10, whichever comes first.

A child who turns 5 by 31 July can start Prep early if the principal is satisfied they are ready. Families can also delay Prep by a year without approval or paperwork; the child then starts Prep in the year they reach compulsory school age. See early and delayed entry to Prep (opens in a new tab).

How the years are organised

Primary school runs from Prep to Year 6, and Year 7 is the first year of secondary school. Senior students work towards the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), usually awarded at the end of Year 12.

Enrolment and catchment areas

Parents can send their children to the government school of their choice, depending on available places, and most children go to the school closest to home. Once a school's enrolments reach 80% of its capacity it has an enrolment management plan with a catchment area, the area its core intake must live in. Students living in the catchment can enrol; places for students outside it are not guaranteed, and applications go on a waiting list in the order they are received.

Use EdMap (opens in a new tab) to search a school's catchment by address. Schools with a plan ask for proof of address: one primary document, such as a current lease, rates notice or unconditional contract of sale, and one secondary document, such as an electricity or gas bill at the same address.

Government, Catholic and independent schools

Queensland's Department of Education school directory covers government, Catholic and independent schools. Our guide to government, Catholic or independent schools sets out how they differ.

Queensland Academies

Queensland has three government Queensland Academies, which offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma: the Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology, which takes students from Year 7, and the academies for Creative Industries and for Health Sciences, which take students in Years 10 to 12. See specialist schools (opens in a new tab).

Fees and the Student Resource Scheme

The government funds instruction, facilities and administration at government schools, but not each student's own resources. Many schools run a Student Resource Scheme, which saves families money through bulk buying and hire. Taking part is optional. Each school publishes its scheme fees on its website, and for Years 7 to 12 the government's Textbook and Resource Allowance reduces what families pay.

Distance education and boarding

Queensland has seven government schools of distance education, including Mount Isa School of the Air, for students who cannot attend a local school because of distance, illness or other circumstances. Three government schools offer boarding: Spinifex State College in Mount Isa, Western Cape College in Weipa and Dalby State High School. Families whose children must live away from home to attend a government school may get help through the Living Away from Home Allowances Scheme. See our guide to boarding schools.

NAPLAN and My School

Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 in Queensland, as everywhere in Australia, sit NAPLAN tests in reading, writing, conventions of language and numeracy each March; in 2027 the testing window is 10 to 22 March.

Each school's profile on My School (opens in a new tab) shows its NAPLAN results alongside its enrolments, staff and finances. Read results with care: they reflect the students a school enrols as well as its teaching, and a visit tells you far more. Our guide to My School, NAPLAN and ICSEA explains how to read a profile.

Schools in Queensland on Schools Near Me

We list 1,808 schools in Queensland: 1,257 government, 313 Catholic and 238 independent, including special schools. See every school in Queensland, or filter by sector: government, Catholic or independent.

The council areas with the most schools are Brisbane (318), Gold Coast (110), Moreton Bay (109), Toowoomba (88) and Logan (83).

Common questions

When can my child start Prep in Queensland?
In the year they turn 5, if they turn 5 by 30 June. A child who turns 5 by 31 July can start early if the principal agrees they are ready, and families can delay Prep by a year without approval.
How do I check a Queensland school's catchment?
Use EdMap, the Queensland Government's school map, to search by address. Only schools near capacity have catchment areas, and students living in them can enrol.
Is the Student Resource Scheme compulsory?
No. Taking part is optional, and no obligation is placed on parents or carers to join. The scheme exists to save families money on resources through bulk buying and hire.
Are there government boarding schools in Queensland?
Yes. Spinifex State College in Mount Isa, Western Cape College in Weipa and Dalby State High School have boarding facilities, and the Living Away from Home Allowances Scheme helps eligible families with the cost.

Sources

We check guides against official sources. Rules can change, and some details vary by area, so check with the source before you act.

Last updated 1 November 2026.