Education on the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast offers a wide range of schooling options from public state schools to prestigious private colleges, plus world-class universities.

Public (State) Schools

Queensland public schools are zoned — you must live within the catchment area to enrol. Check the Education Queensland catchment map before signing a lease. Notable state schools include:

Helensvale State High School: Strong academic program with A.B. Paterson College on the same precinct.
Benowa State High School: Well-regarded with international baccalaureate and excellent sporting programs.
Robina State High School: Popular southern school with good facilities and community reputation.
Palm Beach-Currumbin State High: Renewed campus, strong in surf sports and environmental education.
Miami State High School: Arts and sports excellence program.
Varsity College (Prep–12): Highly regarded state school in Varsity Lakes with strong academic results.

Primary Schools

Most suburbs have well-regarded state primary schools. Standouts include Broadbeach State School, Surfers Paradise State School, Burleigh Heads State School, and the newer schools in growth corridors like Coomera Springs and Gaven State School.

Private & Independent Schools

The Southport School (TSS): Prestigious Anglican boys' school (Prep–12) in Southport with strong academic and sporting tradition.
St Hilda's School: Anglican girls' school (Prep–12) in Southport, sister school to TSS.
All Saints Anglican School: Co-educational (Prep–12) in Merrimac. One of the top academic schools on the Coast.
Somerset College: Co-educational (Prep–12) in Mudgeeraba. Known for high academic standards and excellent facilities.
Emmanuel College: Christian co-educational school in Carrara. Strong performing arts and sports programs.
St Joseph's College: Catholic co-educational school in Coomera (the newest private option on the northern end).
Aquinas College: Catholic co-educational (7–12) in Southport.
A.B. Paterson College: Co-educational (Prep–12) in Arundel. Known for leadership and academic achievement.

Universities

Griffith University (Gold Coast Campus): Major campus at Southport with medical, health, law, business, and arts schools. Home to the Gold Coast University Hospital precinct.
Bond University: Private, not-for-profit university in Robina. Renowned for law, business, and medicine. Small class sizes and accelerated degrees.
Southern Cross University: Campus at Coolangatta, focused on business, tourism, and health sciences.
TAFE Queensland (Gold Coast): Campuses at Ashmore, Coomera, and Southport offering vocational training and pathways to university.

Early Childhood Education

Plenty of daycare centres, kindergartens (kindy), and family daycare options across all suburbs. The Queensland Government subsidises kindergarten for 15 hours per week in the year before Prep. Waitlists can be long in popular areas — register early.