Melba Copland Secondary School vs St Francis Xavier College
A head-to-head comparison of two secondary schools in Australian Capital Territory, 1.3 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Melba Copland Secondary School
Melba · Government high school · 7-12
953 students · ICSEA 1041
St Francis Xavier College
Florey · Catholic high school · 7-12
1,323 students · ICSEA 1070
| Measure | Melba Copland Secondary School Melba ACT | St Francis Xavier College Florey ACT |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 73 Top 25% | 72 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | #12 of 27 | #15 of 27 |
| National rank (type) | #206 of 1,472 | #229 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Secondary | Secondary |
| Year range | 7-12 | 7-12 |
| Students | 953 | 1,323 |
| Girls / boys | 436 / 517 | 581 / 742 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 159 | 267 |
| Year 12 cohort | 107 | 137 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +28% | +12% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1041 | 1070 |
| ICSEA percentile | 65th | 75th |
| Top SEA quarter | 24% | 27% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 24% | 10% |
| Students per teacher | 11.2 | 11.4 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 84.5 | 115.9 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 35.3 | 44.6 |
| Language background other than English | 19% | 13% |
| Indigenous students | 4% | 2% |
| Suburb | Melba 2615 | Florey 2615 |
| Council area | Unincorporated ACT | Unincorporated ACT |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | – | www.sfx.act.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (73.1 vs 72.3).
- •St Francis Xavier College has the higher ICSEA (1070 vs 1041), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Francis Xavier College is the larger school with 1,323 students compared with 953.
- •Melba Copland Secondary School has grown faster over five years (28% vs 12%).
- •Melba Copland Secondary School is a government school while St Francis Xavier College is a catholic school, so fees and enrolment rules differ.
The Success Index summarises community advantage, resourcing and momentum from ACARA data. It does not measure teaching quality, results or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Melba Copland Secondary School better than St Francis Xavier College?
The two schools are very close on the Success Index. Differences in sector, size, year range and distance from home will matter more than the score.
How far apart are Melba Copland Secondary School and St Francis Xavier College?
About 1.3 km in a straight line, between Melba and Florey in Australian Capital Territory.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Melba Copland Secondary School has 11.2 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Francis Xavier College has 11.4.
How do Melba Copland Secondary School and St Francis Xavier College rank in ACT?
Melba Copland Secondary School is 12th of 27 and St Francis Xavier College is 15th of 27 among secondary schools in Australian Capital Territory on the 2025 Success Index.