SCHOOL attendance rates are bouncing back from pandemic lows, along with very high satisfaction levels with Queensland state schools according to a newly released report.
The data released includes the latest attendance figures, the August student enrolment census, state school class size and the school opinion survey results.
According to the data, overall attendance rates in Queensland state schools increased from 85.6 per cent in 2022 to 87.1 per cent in 2023.
Attendance rates increased across all year levels, with an increase of 1.8 percentage points to 89.1 per cent in primary year levels.
There was a one percentage point increase, to 84.2 per cent, in secondary year levels.
Education Minister Grace Grace said it was great to see more kids back in school.
“It’s very pleasing to see attendance rates on the rise in Queensland state schools and we’re optimistic that we’ve turned the corner from the pandemic lows,” she said.
“I want to acknowledge the outstanding work of our principals, teachers and support staff in successfully navigating the challenges our schools faced at the height of the pandemic.
“I’m also very encouraged that an overwhelming majority believe they have a ‘good school’, whether it’s students, teachers or parents and caregivers.”
The 2023 School Opinion Survey revealed an overwhelming majority of key groups believe they have a “good school”, this included staff (91 per cent), parents and carers (91 per cent) and students (80 per cent).
The Department of Education’s August 2023 enrolment census found 570,259 students were enrolled in state schools, a very small decrease of 0.2 per cent from August 2022.
Queensland is not unique in seeing declines in state school enrolments, with Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows similar declines in most states and territories.
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