About our school
About Roxby Downs Area School
Roxby Downs Area School is a South Australian State Government school, operated by the Department for Education. Established in 1987 to support the growth of the Olympic Dam mine, the school has continually adapted to meet the evolving needs of the local community. Roxby Downs is a small township located approximately 570 kilometres north of Adelaide.
Located centrally within the Roxby Downs township, the school caters for students from Foundation to Year 12 (F–12). The campus shares access to the local Leisure Centre, ovals, and tennis courts, fostering strong community connections and opportunities for students.
Roxby Downs Area School is proud to offer a wide range of excellent teaching facilities, including:
- Two Science Laboratories
- Primary Computing Suite
- Computer-Aided Design Studio
- Art Room
- Drama Room
- Library
- Learning Hub
- Open Access Facilities
- A school hall, which also serves the community outside school hours
Our student population has grown steadily from 100 in 1987 to over 515 in 2026. Students from Andamooka (Years 7–12) are also able to access the school by bus.
As of 2026, Roxby Downs Area School employs approximately 85 staff, including over 55 teaching staff. Of our current enrolment of about 515 students, approximately 282 are in primary school (F–6) and 235 are in secondary school (Years 7–12).
Our vision
At Roxby Downs Area School, our vision is to inspire every student to become a confident, resilient, and lifelong learner. We strive to provide a nurturing and inclusive environment where every child is empowered to achieve their personal best, embrace diversity, and contribute positively to our community and beyond. Through partnership, innovation, and high-quality teaching, we aim to cultivate a passion for learning, critical thinking skills, and the values necessary for success in an ever-changing world.
Our values
Respect
Respect is demonstrating that you care about your own and other people’s feelings and wellbeing. Respect is also treating property in a way that it shows we value it.
Responsibility
Responsibility is doing the things you are expected to do and accepting the consequences or results of your actions.
Persistence
Persistence is having the ability and self-control that pushes you to work through challenges.
Be Curious, Not Judgmental
Ask Questions: Embrace curiosity by seeking to understand others. Instead of assuming you know someone’s story or skill level, take the time to ask and learn.
Avoid Assumptions: Judgement closes your mind and can lead to unfair or incorrect labels. Curiosity keeps your mind open, allowing you to discover the truth and build genuine understanding.
Our facilities
Hall
Our school hall is a large heritage building with state-of-the-art facilities. These include rooms equipped with portable devices for students to use, including tablets and iPads.
Oval
Our oval is fully fenced and equipped with toilets, a playground, BBQ facilities, soccer goals, football goals, netball court and 2 shelters.
Gymnasium
Inside our gym is a full basketball court, kitchen, toilets and a stage. The gym has heating and cooling so it can be safely used across all seasons.
Playground and gardens
We have 2 nature-based playgrounds that provide a fun outdoor learning environment. Surrounding each playground is a nature garden where students can plant, nurture and learn.
“The learning experience at Department School is fantastic. There’s full support from the teachers, who encourage and challenge my children to always do their best.”
Parent of Department School Student