This is a list of schools in the North Queensland region of Queensland, Australia, and includes schools in North West Queensland. The region is centred on the coastal cities of Townsville and Mackay, and the inland city of Mount Isa. It includes the following local government areas:
Prior to 2015, the Queensland education system consisted of primary schools, which accommodated students from Kindergarten to Year 7 (ages 5âÂÂ13), and high schools, which accommodate students from Years 8 to 12 (ages 12âÂÂ18). However, from 2015, Year 7 became the first year of high school.
This includes special schools (schools for disabled children) and schools for specific purposes.
In Queensland, Catholic primary schools are usually (but not always) linked to a parish. Prior to the 1970s, most schools were founded by religious institutes, but with the decrease in membership of these institutes, together with major reforms inside the church, lay teachers and administrators began to take over the schools, a process which completed by approximately 1990.
Within the region, schools in the Mackay Region are administered by Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Rockhampton, which was established in 1966 and was the first Catholic Education Office (CEO) in Queensland. All others are administered by the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Townsville. Both are supported by the Queensland Catholic Education Commission, which is responsible for coordinating administration, curriculum and policy across the Catholic school system. Preference for enrolment is given to Catholic students from the parish or local area, although non-Catholic students are admitted if room is available.