Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School
Thrower Drive, Palm Beach QLD 4221
Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School is a government secondary school in Palm Beach, QLD for Years 7–12 with about 2,819 students. Its ICSEA is 1,022, where the national average is 1000.
Annual report (2025) ↗ on the publisher's site. About this link
ICSEA, Enrolments, Language background, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander share, Teaching staff: ACARA School Profile 2025. Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). Terms
About this school, from public sources
Public information from the school and Queensland Department of Education sources describes Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School as a large Gold Coast secondary school known for its selective Excellence Programs in academics, sport and creative arts. It runs a distinctive marine studies and aquatic practices program using the adjacent Currumbin estuary, alongside surfing, performing arts and philosophy/thinking electives. Support is provided through an Education Access Centre for literacy and numeracy and a Pathways Centre for vocational guidance, alongside standard senior OP, school-based and vocational course offerings.
Often praised
- Marine studies/aquatic program using estuary
- Selective Excellence Programs (academic, sport, arts)
- Dedicated vocational Pathways Centre
This note was generated from publicly available online sources (the school's website, official pages and online feedback) as at September 2026. It reflects what is said online, not an assessment by SchoolList AU or any government body, and it deliberately records only neutral and positive points. Confidence: medium. Verify anything important with the school. Report an inaccuracy.
NAPLAN
School-level NAPLAN results are published by ACARA on My School under terms that do not allow them to be reproduced here. See Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School on My School · Why some data is missing
Gifted and accelerated programs
Academic Excellence
Many comprehensive public high schools run their own class or program for high-ability students, under names such as Gifted and Talented, Academic Extension, Academic Excellence (common in Queensland), Enrichment or SEAL. These are not a department program: each school sets its own entry (often a test or application in Year 6) and class size. Listed only where the school's own website describes a dedicated class; check details with the school.
- Entry
- Selection via Excellence Program application
Source: department page ↗. Check current entry dates with the school.
Location and nearby schools
Straight-line distances. List every school within 5 to 50 km.
| School | Suburb | Type | Distance | ICSEA | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elanora State High School | Elanora | Public high school | 2.4 km | 1,023 | 949 |
| St Andrews Lutheran College (Tallebudgera) | Tallebudgera | Independent k–12 / combined | 4.3 km | 1,104 | 1,377 |
| Marymount College (Burleigh Waters) | Burleigh Waters | Catholic high school | 5.4 km | 1,073 | 1,262 |
| Gold Coast Christian College (Reedy Creek) | Reedy Creek | Independent k–12 / combined | 7.9 km | 1,066 | 237 |
| Varsity CollegeGifted class: Gifted class | Varsity Lakes | Public k–12 / combined | 7.9 km | 1,065 | 3,304 |
| Hillcrest Christian College (Reedy Creek) | Reedy Creek | Independent k–12 / combined | 8.1 km | 1,104 | 2,055 |
| Miami State High SchoolGifted class: Gifted class | Miami | Public high school | 8.4 km | 1,032 | 1,542 |
| King's Christian College (Reedy Creek) | Reedy Creek | Independent k–12 / combined | 8.5 km | 1,074 | 5,166 |
Schools with a similar ICSEA in QLD
Same sector and type, ICSEA within 25 points. This is the comparison that separates teaching from postcode.
| School | Suburb | Type | Students | ICSEA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elanora State High School | Elanora | Public high school · 7-12 | 949 | 1,023 |
| Cairns State High School | Cairns North | Public high school · 7-12 | 1,636 | 1,019 |
| Cleveland District State High SchoolGifted class: Gifted class | Cleveland | Public high school · 7-12 | 2,302 | 1,026 |
| Robina State High SchoolGifted class: Gifted class | Robina | Public high school · 7-12 | 1,530 | 1,026 |
| Helensvale State High SchoolGifted class: Gifted class | Helensvale | Public high school · 7-12 | 1,875 | 1,017 |
| Maleny State High School | Maleny | Public high school · 7-12 | 647 | 1,029 |
About this data
Figures are from the latest published datasets and can lag the school by a year. Confirm enrolment rules and catchment boundaries with the school or department before relying on them.