Cooktown State School first opened on the 25th January 1875 with Mr Mathews as the head teacher, or “Master” as his position was called then. The other teacher was Mrs Mathews, who was employed to assist her husband, even though she had no formal qualifications. Average attendance was reported as being 147.
Today Cooktown State School is prep to year 12, operating over a primary, junior secondary and senior secondary campus. Currently there are 365 enrolled at the school, with a staff of 76.