Alesco Secondary College vs Macquarie College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 1.1 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Alesco Secondary College
Cooks Hill · Independent special · 9-12
664 students · ICSEA 949
Macquarie College
Wallsend · Independent combined · K-12
1,060 students · ICSEA 1110
| Measure | Alesco Secondary College Cooks Hill NSW | Macquarie College Wallsend NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 59 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #150 of 314 |
| National rank (type) | – | #474 of 1,259 |
| Sector | Independent | Independent |
| Type | Special | Combined |
| Year range | 9-12 | K-12 |
| Students | 664 | 1,060 |
| Girls / boys | 461 / 203 | 559 / 501 |
| Foundation intake | – | 65 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 110 |
| Year 12 cohort | 91 | 64 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +66% | +24% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 949 | 1110 |
| ICSEA percentile | 24th | 87th |
| Top SEA quarter | 8% | 45% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 49% | 5% |
| Students per teacher | 10.5 | 14.3 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 63.2 | 73.9 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 42.6 | 45.3 |
| Language background other than English | 0% | 30% |
| Indigenous students | 19% | 3% |
| Suburb | Cooks Hill 2300 | Wallsend 2287 |
| Council area | Newcastle | Lake Macquarie |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | atwea.edu.au/high-school-at-alesco/ | www.macquariecollege.nsw.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Macquarie College has the higher ICSEA (1110 vs 949), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Alesco Secondary College has fewer students per teacher (10.5 vs 14.3).
- •Macquarie College is the larger school with 1,060 students compared with 664.
- •Alesco Secondary College has grown faster over five years (66% vs 24%).
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 Alesco Secondary College better than Macquarie 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 Alesco Secondary College and Macquarie College?
About 1.1 km in a straight line, between Cooks Hill and Wallsend in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Alesco Secondary College has 10.5 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Macquarie College has 14.3.
How do Alesco Secondary College and Macquarie College rank in NSW?
Alesco Secondary College is unranked and Macquarie College is 150th of 314 among special schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.