Cook School vs Les Powell School
A head-to-head comparison of two special schools in New South Wales, 20 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Cook School
Loftus · Government special · U
66 students · ICSEA 956
Les Powell School
Mount Pritchard · Government special · U
76 students · ICSEA 956
| Measure | Cook School Loftus NSW | Les Powell School Mount Pritchard 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 | 76 |
| Girls / boys | 20 / 46 | 30 / 46 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +69% | +1% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 956 | 956 |
| ICSEA percentile | 27th | 27th |
| Top SEA quarter | 8% | 9% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 47% | 54% |
| Students per teacher | 4.1 | 4.9 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 16.1 | 15.5 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 15.8 | 14.8 |
| Language background other than English | 31% | 92% |
| Indigenous students | 14% | 4% |
| Suburb | Loftus 2232 | Mount Pritchard 2170 |
| Council area | Sutherland | Fairfield |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | cook-s.schools.nsw.gov.au | lespowell-s.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •Cook School has fewer students per teacher (4.1 vs 4.9).
- •Les Powell School is the larger school with 76 students compared with 66.
- •Cook School has grown faster over five years (69% vs 1%).
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 Les Powell 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 Les Powell School?
About 20 km in a straight line, between Loftus and Mount Pritchard in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Cook School has 4.1 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Les Powell School has 4.9.
How do Cook School and Les Powell School rank in NSW?
Cook School is unranked and Les Powell School is unranked among special schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.