City · Australian Capital Territory
Canberra & ACT
Australia's capital has the highest-performing school system by PISA measures — and some of the highest rates of self-reported student anxiety. High-income, high-expectation environments create hidden but significant mental health burdens.
470,000
Estimated population
~170 schools
Approximate schools
Highest
self-reported academic anxiety in Australia
1 in 4
ACT Year 12 students report burnout symptoms
High
PISA scores mask significant underlying distress
Priority Wellbeing Issues
Academic Anxiety & Stress
CriticalHighest self-reported nationally
ACT students attending Australia's highest-performing school system report the highest levels of academic anxiety and stress in the country. PISA 2022 data confirms this paradox.
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Burnout & Workload
Critical1 in 4 Year 12 students
Year 11–12 burnout is acute in the ACT, driven by high-expectation school cultures, university entrance focus, and limited permission to disengage from academic pressure.
Cyberbullying
ElevatedNational urban average
Despite its smaller size, the ACT's tight social networks amplify cyberbullying incidents. Conflicts in small school communities spread rapidly across interconnected peer groups.
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Sleep Deprivation
NotableScreen + study driven
Screen time and study pressure combine to drive significant sleep debt in ACT teens, with 50%+ of 16–17 year olds failing to meet sleep guidelines.
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schoolSchool Profile Data · ACARA 2025
Schools in Canberra & ACT
School Profile Data · ACARA 2025
schoolSchools
40
in this area
groupsStudents
25,485
total enrolments
equalizerAvg ICSEA
1112
112 points above national average
domainBy Sector
Government
57%(23)
Catholic
23%(9)
Independent
20%(8)
diversity_3Equity Indicators
bar_chart
7.6%Socioeconomic disadvantage
in lowest ICSEA quarter
people
3.6%Indigenous students
avg across schools
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29.7%Language other than English
LBOTE avg across schools
info
Source: ACARA National School Profile, data as at March 2025. ICSEA national average is 1000. Schools shown are matched via postcode to SA3 region.
How Data Changes Outcomes
Prevention Insight
ACT schools need wellbeing data that looks beyond academic achievement. A student with straight As can be silently collapsing. Data-led wellbeing tools surface emotional and social signals that grades never reveal.
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