The Southport State School was originally built in 1879 in Scarborough Street on what is now the site for Southport Central Towers. From 1916, the primary school included a section, as a temporary measure until more suitable premises were decided upon, for students undertaking secondary education. It was this component of the school which was moved to a Smith Street location in March 1955 resulting in the creation of a custom built high school which served the entirety of the Town of the South Coast region. On 4 October 2019, the school's Block B was destroyed by a suspicious fire.
Facilities
25m, 8 lane outdoor pool with Professional instructing and Swim Club
Southport State High School has a tradition of extending students through a range of excellence programs. These programs nurture and extend high achieving students who have a passion for learning in a specialist area of academia, sport, instrumental music, performing arts and visual arts. The Academic Excellence Program provides a more rich, integrated experience challenging them to take responsibility over their own learning. Students in the Academic Excellence Program are challenged to question, analyse, build intellectual curiosity and develop critical thinking skills. The Southport State High School Creative Arts Excellence program contains a curriculum designed to allow students to flourish in an environment especially designed to guide and facilitate students demonstrated creative ability. The program recognises the talents of each individual student. The Sports Excellence Program at Southport State High School enhances the athletic potential of each and every student. The program supplements the training and professional coaching of each student through a program that develops speed, agility, movement, core strength co-ordination and power. Based on the 'Long Term athlete Development Model' created by Istvan Balyi, the Sports Excellence Program approach emphasises age appropriate skills acquisition to maximise athletic potential.
Apple Distinguished Program
Southport State High School is an internationally recognised and accredited Apple Distinguished Program. As a member of a global community of educational leaders recognised for doing outstanding work with Apple technology in and out of the classroom, teachers are encouraged to explore new ideas, seek new paths and embrace new opportunities.
Violence
In 2009, a student at the school was charged with assault. In the same year, 303 students were suspended from the school. In 2014, a 14-year-old student was stabbed by his classmate.
Notable people
Southport State High School has produced a number of distinguished students including:
