Mackay State High School welcomed its first cohort of students on 1st January 1912. It was one of the first state high schools opened in Queensland and recognized the growth that was taking place in Mackay and the Pioneer Valley. Since that time, it has continued to develop with the town, establishing a positive and rich reputation. Over the past 108 years many students have graduated to become leaders within the Mackay District and broader community – a history that we are proud of.

Mackay State High School is proud to be a large, diverse school community and has grown to more than 1150 students and staff. Our mission is to provide educational excellence and diverse pathways for students, based on a culture of pride, inclusion and high expectations. Our committed and caring staff focus on developing individual students to attain their full potential in academic, sporting, cultural and arts fields.

In preparing students to be tomorrow’s citizens, our curricula and co-curricula programs are infused with a focus on pathways that meet individual learning needs and career aspirations. We believe that this is best achieved when teachers, students, parents and the community work together to build positive and supporting relationships. At the heart of the school are the core values of Respect, Responsibility and Resilience and our 3 R’s guide all of our practices and expectations for behaviour.