About the school
Maclean High School is located on the South Arm of the Clarence River on the North Coast of New South Wales. It serves as a large district, comprehensive, co-educational facility, sharing its site with Maclean TAFE College since 1992. The school grounds, which include a farm, span 10 hectares of river flood plain, providing students with excellent facilities, including a school/community rowing shed.
Academic Programs
The school offers an extensive curriculum designed to cater to students with diverse academic abilities and socio-economic backgrounds. This includes a variety of vocational courses such as Hospitality, Primary Industries, Seafood Aquaculture, Construction, Metals and Engineering, and Sports Coaching. Additionally, a range of TAFE options is available, complementing the traditional subjects offered.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Maclean High School places a strong emphasis on extra-curricular activities, including a significant excursion program with trips to Heron Island, Central Australia, and Jindabyne, as well as a widely acclaimed musical performed every two years.
Student Support
The school is committed to student welfare, with a notable transition program for students from its 12 feeder primary schools. It offers support for students with special education needs and focuses heavily on literacy development.
Community and Success
With strong retention rates and exceptional academic results consistently above similar schools, Maclean High School has become part of the National Partnerships for Low Socio-Economic Program, attracting significant funding to enhance literacy, numeracy, and overall student engagement. The school successfully creates a learning environment where every student is known, valued, and encouraged to reach their full potential.
Mission
Our vision:
Maclean High School stands proudly on the land of the Yaegl people. We are a school committed to acknowledging, celebrating and promoting our strong Aboriginal histories and cultures to enrich the lives of our students. Student growth is our core business, emphasising inclusion, resilience, confidence and courage created through quality teaching and learning programs. We are focused on extending student knowledge, skills, interests and engagement. Our diverse curriculum offers students unique educational experiences and pathways in academic, sporting, creative and cultural arenas supported by our outstanding staff and resources. We are committed to student wellbeing and work in partnership with our school community and stakeholders to ensure that every child is known, valued and cared for. Maclean High School is a center of excellence for secondary education in our community, and we pride ourselves on creating respectful students who are the outstanding leaders of tomorrow.
Location & Catchment Area
- Maclean High School
Nearby or Connected Schools
- A Maclean Public School 1.0 km
- B Gulmarrad Public School 4.0 km
- C Harwood Island Public School 5.9 km
- D Chatsworth Island Public School 9.2 km
Profile (2025)
- Total enrolments
- 689 (346 girls, 343 boys)
- Enrolments (FTE) What does this mean?
- 689
- ICSEA What does this mean?
- 959 (percentile 28)
- SEA quarters What does this mean?
- 42% / 31% / 19% / 8%
- FOEI What does this mean?
- 110
- Indigenous students
- 17%
- LBOTE What does this mean?
- 6%
- Teaching staff (FTE) What does this mean?
- 67.9
- Non-teaching staff (FTE) What does this mean?
- 19.1
Enrolments by grade (2025)
| Grade | Headcount |
|---|---|
| Year 7 | 99 |
| Year 8 | 132 |
| Year 9 | 123 |
| Year 10 | 146 |
| Year 11 | 100 |
| Year 12 | 89 |
| Total | 689 |
Year by year
Attendance data for 2020 is unavailable — NSW schools were disrupted by COVID-19 and the Department of Education did not publish figures for that year.
| Year | Enrolments | Girls | Boys | Attendance % | ICSEA | Teaching staff (FTE) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 689 | 346 | 343 | - | 959 | 67.9 |
| 2024 | 683 | 342 | 341 | 76 | 952 | 67.9 |
| 2023 | 718 | 362 | 356 | 75.9 | 957 | 67.2 |
| 2022 | 790 | 395 | 395 | 74.1 | 959 | 62.5 |
| 2021 | 794 | 404 | 390 | 76.4 | 960 | 62.5 |
| 2020 | 793 | 408 | 385 | - | 952 | 62.3 |
| 2019 | 796 | 397 | 399 | 85.9 | 955 | 63.5 |
| 2018 | 850 | 417 | 433 | 87.5 | 957 | 65 |
| 2017 | 867 | 436 | 431 | 86.4 | 963 | 66.7 |
| 2016 | 912 | 454 | 458 | 86.8 | 961 | 68.2 |
| 2015 | 957 | 477 | 480 | 88.9 | 952 | 70.4 |
| 2014 | 1,023 | 516 | 507 | 86.6 | 957 | 74.4 |
| 2013 | 1,074 | 557 | 517 | 86.6 | 961 | 75.3 |
| 2012 | 1,087 | 567 | 520 | 87.4 | 963 | 75.3 |
| 2011 | 1,087 | 547 | 540 | 87.2 | 964 | 77.2 |
| 2010 | 1,097 | 567 | 530 | - | 964 | 76.9 |
| 2009 | 1,071 | 537 | 534 | - | 993 | 74.9 |
| 2008 | 1,030 | 519 | 511 | - | 993 | 72.3 |
Attendance data for 2020 is unavailable — NSW schools were disrupted by COVID-19 and the Department of Education did not publish figures for that year.