A total of 71 teens were arrested over the week of celebrations, mostly for public nuisance and drug offences. There were also 124 non-schoolies arrested.

In 2015, only 37 schoolies felt the cold steel of handcuffs, almost half of this year's number.

The only positive to take from these totals is things aren't as bad as 2014, when 131 recent graduates were arrested.

Despite these shocking totals, Gold Coast Assistant District Officer Superintendent Michelle Stenner said overall police were"very pleased" with the general behaviour of schoolies.

"Most of the schoolies have acted responsibly and there has been very positive engagement between schoolies and police," she said.

Superintendent Stenner said there also had been no serious assaults or coward punches this year, just a few "minor scuffles".

However there had been some concerning "high-risk behaviour" including five balcony hopping cases.

But there will be no reprieve for Gold Coast police or local residents, with interstate schoolies from New South Wales and Victoria arriving on Saturday and staying until December 3 at the latest.

Superintendent Stenner said because the majority of interstate schoolies were over 18, the police response would change.

"They are able to access the nightclub precinct and so our focus will shift away from an underage precinct ..... to more of a safe night precinct response."

The next two weeks of school leavers celebrations will mainly be policed by Gold Coast officers, without the assistance of interstate reinforcements.

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