Cook School vs Hunter River Community School
A head-to-head comparison of two special schools in New South Wales, 151 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Cook School
Loftus · Government special · U
66 students · ICSEA 956
Hunter River Community School
Metford · Government special · U
70 students · ICSEA 958
| Measure | Cook School Loftus NSW | Hunter River Community School Metford NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | – | – |
| National rank (type) | – | – |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Special | Special |
| Year range | U | U |
| Students | 66 | 70 |
| Girls / boys | 20 / 46 | 19 / 51 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +69% | +0% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 956 | 958 |
| ICSEA percentile | 27th | 28th |
| Top SEA quarter | 8% | 6% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 47% | 50% |
| Students per teacher | 4.1 | 4.4 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 16.1 | 15.8 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 15.8 | 13.8 |
| Language background other than English | 31% | 15% |
| Indigenous students | 14% | 11% |
| Suburb | Loftus 2232 | Metford 2323 |
| Council area | Sutherland | Maitland |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | cook-s.schools.nsw.gov.au | hunterrivc-s.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •Hunter River Community School has the higher ICSEA (958 vs 956), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Hunter River Community School is the larger school with 70 students compared with 66.
- •Cook School has grown faster over five years (69% vs 0%).
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 Cook School better than Hunter River Community 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 Cook School and Hunter River Community School?
About 151 km in a straight line, between Loftus and Metford in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Cook School has 4.1 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Hunter River Community School has 4.4.
How do Cook School and Hunter River Community School rank in NSW?
Cook School is unranked and Hunter River Community School is unranked among special schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.