Our School

Welcome to Coomandook Area School

Coomandook Area School is located in the rural township of Coomandook, approximately 140 kilometres south-east of Adelaide along the Dukes Highway. Our school is set on expansive grounds featuring established trees, well-maintained lawns, a sports oval, gymnasium and a range of facilities designed to support students from Foundation to Year 12 to achieve their full potential across academic, vocational, and practical learning pathways.

Families from across the Coorong and Mallee districts choose Coomandook Area School for our strong sense of community and commitment to student success. School buses service surrounding areas including Coonalpyn, Peake, Netherton, Ki Ki, Yumali, Cooke Plains and Elwomple, ensuring students can travel to school safely and comfortably each day.

Our on-site Trade Training Hub for RST complements the school’s strong Agricultural Program, offering students valuable hands-on experience and skill development. Coomandook Area School also encourages student involvement in co-curricular activities such as Pedal Prix, Royal Adelaide Show Team, Sports SA competitions, the Arts and Music. These programs are strongly supported by our engaged and caring community, whose contribution is greatly appreciated.

At Coomandook Area School, your child will be known, valued, and supported every step of the way.

History of Coomandook Area School

Before the establishment of Coomandook Area School, the district was served by seven small primary schools located in surrounding towns. Secondary students were required to travel to Murray Bridge or Adelaide to continue their education.

In response to growing community needs, the State Government approved the development of an Area School at Coomandook. This community vision laid the foundation for the school to grow and play a central role in the lives of families across the region. With the establishment of an area school in the district, the primary schools at Cooke Plains, Netherton, Coomandook, Ki Ki, Moorlands, and Yumali closed in 1960, followed by Sherlock in 1970.

Coomandook Area School was officially opened in 1962 by the Governor of South Australia at the time, Sir Eric Bastyan. The founding Principal, Mr John Steinle, led a small team of five teachers, 135 primary and 38 secondary students. In the early days, teachers also fulfilled the role of school bus drivers, ensuring that students from surrounding rural areas could access education, reflecting the school’s commitment to supporting its isolated communities.

In 1986, a kindergarten was built on the school grounds, creating a valuable early year learning hub. The close relationship between the kindergarten and primary school has helped ensure a positive and seamless transition for children entering school for the first time. This integrated approach to education remains a distinctive feature of the school’s commitment to lifelong learning.

The school emblem, designed by Mr R. Bannon, incorporates a boomerang, compass, and the Southern Cross. Each element symbolises key aspects of the school’s identity:

• The boomerang represents the daily travel of students to and from school.
• The compass reflects the various directions from which families come across the Coorong and Mallee regions.
• The Southern Cross signifies unity and shared purpose.

Coomandook Area School is guided by the motto ‘Warrendi’, an Indigenous Australian word meaning “to seek,” which reflects the school’s focus on curiosity, learning, and personal growth. Our mission statement, Striving to Make the Difference, captures the ongoing dedication to providing inclusive, high-quality education which meets the diverse needs of our students and families.

Over the decades, Coomandook Area School has continued to evolve, driven by strong community partnerships and a commitment to educational excellence. Today, the school remains a vital part of the local community, preparing young people for the future while honouring the vision and values on which it was founded.