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How schools work in South Australia

How schools work in South Australia: Reception starting age and the mid-year intake, school zones, special interest programs, School Card and Open Access College.

South Australia has government, Catholic and independent schools across Adelaide and the regions. This guide explains how government schooling is organised, from Reception to the SACE, with links to the Department for Education South Australia's own pages for the detail.

Starting school

The first year of school in South Australia is Reception, and government primary schools have two intakes a year. A child who turns 5 before 1 May starts Reception at the beginning of that year, in Term 1. A child who turns 5 between 1 May and 31 October starts in Term 3, the mid-year intake. A child who turns 5 after 31 October starts the following year. Term 1 starters do four terms of Reception and mid-year starters do six. Children must be enrolled by age 6.

The department encourages families to register their interest with a school by the end of Term 2 of the year before their child starts. See primary school enrolment (opens in a new tab).

How the years are organised

Year 7 moved from primary to high school in South Australia in 2022, so high schools now run from Year 7. Senior students study for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE): Stage 1 is usually completed in Year 11 and Stage 2 in Year 12.

Enrolment and school zones

Each child's local government school is set by a zone, a catchment area or a bus route. A school zone is the area a school takes its core intake from, and zoned students get priority. Most metropolitan Adelaide high schools are zoned, as are a number of primary schools. Use the department's find a school zone tool (opens in a new tab) to check an address.

You can apply to any school, but you only get a place outside your zone if one is free. Schools under heavy demand have a capacity management plan and do not take students from outside their area; non-local applicants elsewhere are ranked on distance, curriculum needs, family links and transport. Students selected into a special interest program get automatic entry.

Government, Catholic and independent schools

Non-government schools have their own process for application and enrolment. See government, Catholic or independent schools.

Special interest and specialist programs

Many South Australian government high schools run special interest programs, some of which select students by audition, test or interview in the year before entry. They include the IGNITE program for gifted students at Aberfoyle Park High School, Glenunga International High School and The Heights School; music at Brighton Secondary School, Marryatville High School, Playford International College and Woodville High School; languages at Adelaide High School, Norwood International High School and Unley High School; agriculture at Urrbrae Agricultural High School; and the Australian Science and Mathematics School for Years 10 to 12. See the department's list of high schools with special interest programs (opens in a new tab) and our guide to selective schools.

Fees and School Card

The School Card scheme helps families on lower incomes with school fees and materials and services charges. Eligibility depends on combined family income, and applications are made each year. See School Card (opens in a new tab).

Distance education

Open Access College teaches eligible students from Reception to Year 12 who are isolated or cannot attend school regularly. Its School of the Air, based at Port Augusta, is the primary school for geographically remote students. See School of the Air (opens in a new tab).

NAPLAN and My School

Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 in South Australia, 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 South Australia on Schools Near Me

We list 715 schools in South Australia: 508 government, 101 Catholic and 106 independent, including special schools. See every school in South Australia, or filter by sector: government, Catholic or independent.

The council areas with the most schools are Onkaparinga (58), Salisbury (41), Playford (38), Charles Sturt (33) and Port Adelaide Enfield (33).

Common questions

When can my child start Reception in South Australia?
A child who turns 5 before 1 May starts in Term 1 that year, and a child who turns 5 between 1 May and 31 October starts in Term 3, the mid-year intake. Children born later start the following year. Every child must be enrolled by age 6.
Is Year 7 in primary or high school in South Australia?
High school. Year 7 moved from primary to high school in South Australian government schools in 2022.
How do I find my zoned school in South Australia?
Use the Department for Education South Australia's find a school zone tool with your address. Your local school may be set by a zone, a catchment area or a bus route, and zoned students get priority.
Is there help with school costs in South Australia?
Yes. The School Card scheme helps families on lower incomes with school fees and materials and services charges. Eligibility depends on combined family income, and you apply each year.

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.