Nhulunbuy High School is located in the mining township of Nhulunbuy, 700km east of Darwin. The population of Nhulunbuy is approximately 4200, and has a relatively small Indigenous population. Nhulunbuy was built in the 1960s and 1970s by the mining company Rio Tinto Alcan (then known as Nabalco) for the sole purpose of housing the workforce employed in its large bauxite mine. The traditional owners of the land on which the town is located are the Rirratjingu people. Nhulunbuy can be accessed by road in a 4WD in the dry season only. Nhulunbuy can also be accessed through regular passenger air transport services and has an all weather airstrip. Nhulunbuy High School provides education from middle years to senior years and has a strong vocational education and training program. The school is recognised for its vocational education and training program and has received a number of awards within the NT for the program. The school has a strong focus on middle schooling principles within the delivery of education services. The school also has a special needs annexe for students with specific needs.