Canterbury Vale School vs Holy Spirit Catholic College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 700 m apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Canterbury Vale School
Lakemba · Government special · U
36 students · ICSEA 921
Holy Spirit Catholic College
Lakemba · Catholic high school · 7-12
730 students · ICSEA 999
| Measure | Canterbury Vale School Lakemba NSW | Holy Spirit Catholic College Lakemba NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 40 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #340 of 539 |
| National rank (type) | – | #961 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Secondary |
| Year range | U | 7-12 |
| Students | 36 | 730 |
| Girls / boys | 7 / 29 | 352 / 378 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 110 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 113 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +57% | -22% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 921 | 999 |
| ICSEA percentile | 15th | 46th |
| Top SEA quarter | 6% | 6% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 64% | 34% |
| Students per teacher | 2.3 | 12.5 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 16.0 | 58.4 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 10.4 | 15.3 |
| Language background other than English | 60% | 96% |
| Indigenous students | 8% | 1% |
| Suburb | Lakemba 2195 | Lakemba 2195 |
| Council area | Canterbury-Bankstown | Canterbury-Bankstown |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | cantervale-s.schools.nsw.gov.au | holyspiritlakemba.syd.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Holy Spirit Catholic College has the higher ICSEA (999 vs 921), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Canterbury Vale School has fewer students per teacher (2.3 vs 12.5).
- •Holy Spirit Catholic College is the larger school with 730 students compared with 36.
- •Canterbury Vale School has grown faster over five years (57% vs -22%).
- •Canterbury Vale School is a government school while Holy Spirit Catholic 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 Canterbury Vale School better than Holy Spirit Catholic 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 Canterbury Vale School and Holy Spirit Catholic College?
About 700 m in a straight line, between Lakemba and Lakemba in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Canterbury Vale School has 2.3 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Holy Spirit Catholic College has 12.5.
How do Canterbury Vale School and Holy Spirit Catholic College rank in NSW?
Canterbury Vale School is unranked and Holy Spirit Catholic College is 340th of 539 among special schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.