Clarke Road School vs Lucas Gardens School
A head-to-head comparison of two special schools in New South Wales, 17 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Clarke Road School
Hornsby · Government special · U
61 students · ICSEA 1063
Lucas Gardens School
Canada Bay · Government special · U
78 students · ICSEA 1057
| Measure | Clarke Road School Hornsby NSW | Lucas Gardens School Canada Bay NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | – | – |
| National rank (type) | – | – |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Special | Special |
| Year range | U | U |
| Students | 61 | 78 |
| Girls / boys | 16 / 45 | 36 / 42 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -2% | +44% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1063 | 1057 |
| ICSEA percentile | 73th | 71th |
| Top SEA quarter | 28% | 28% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 16% | 21% |
| Students per teacher | 4.8 | 5.2 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 12.6 | 15.0 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 12.5 | 14.8 |
| Language background other than English | 62% | 72% |
| Indigenous students | 0% | 1% |
| Suburb | Hornsby 2077 | Canada Bay 2046 |
| Council area | Hornsby | Canada Bay |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | clarkerd-s.schools.nsw.gov.au | lucasgarde-s.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •Clarke Road School has the higher ICSEA (1063 vs 1057), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Lucas Gardens School is the larger school with 78 students compared with 61.
- •Lucas Gardens School has grown faster over five years (44% vs -2%).
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 Clarke Road School better than Lucas Gardens School?
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 Clarke Road School and Lucas Gardens School?
About 17 km in a straight line, between Hornsby and Canada Bay in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Clarke Road School has 4.8 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Lucas Gardens School has 5.2.
How do Clarke Road School and Lucas Gardens School rank in NSW?
Clarke Road School is unranked and Lucas Gardens School is unranked among special schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.