2026 Brings Record Enrolments

The 2026 school year has brought record student enrolments in Cairns Catholic schools with almost 12,300 students enrolled.

Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns Executive Director, Durm O’Riordan, said the figures across the 30 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Cairns represented a total student growth of 11 per cent over the past 10 years.

“Over the past decade, we’ve seen an 11 per cent increase in enrolments. We are proud to now offer a world‑class education to 12,294 students, from Tully in the south, north to the Torres Strait, and west to the Atherton Tablelands,” Mr O’Riordan said.

As predicted, Newman Catholic College, Smithfield, and MacKillop Catholic College, Mount Peter, continue to lead the Diocese in growth, with both colleges experiencing another year of significant demand as they continue to grow.

As the population of Far North Queensland grows, so too does the demand for school places across both primary and secondary levels. To help meet this need, Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns has plans for a new primary school on the northern beaches, as well as a new secondary college in the south, ensuring families across the region continue to have access to high‑quality Catholic schooling close to home.

Mr O’Riordan said the continued demand and rise in enrolments highlights not only the strength of Catholic schooling in the region but also the trust families place in Catholic education.

“We have a real opportunity to continue growing Catholic education in our region. I want families to see Catholic education as the best option for them, where their children experience the joy of learning, grow in confidence, and are supported to become people of hope, compassion and courage,” he said.

“Our way of doing education is ultimately a gift to society and to the world, lived out every day through the experiences and actions of our graduates.”

Learn more about our 30 Catholic schools and colleges.