Throughout its history, Cairns State High School has served the needs of generations of many Cairns families, including a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population from Yarrabah to the Cape through the 1970s and 1980s.
Cairns State High School is currently the largest secondary school in Cairns with a very proud and distinguished history. It enjoys an exceptional reputation and is regarded as a genuine alternative to private schooling both locally and elsewhere.
The school has a strong sense of community and tradition, with many students who have parents, grandparents and in some cased great grandparents as past students of Cairns High. A significant number of teachers have also been past students or have returned to the school after working away at other schools.
These historical links together with a strong sense of school culture and high involvement by students, parents and staff ensure the school community is dynamic and inclusive.