Dunlea Centre, Australia's Original Boys' Town vs Heathcote High School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 2.0 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Dunlea Centre, Australia's Original Boys' Town
Engadine · Independent special · 4-12
55 students · ICSEA 962
Heathcote High School
Heathcote · Government high school · 7-12
633 students · ICSEA 1028
| Measure | Dunlea Centre, Australia's Original Boys' Town Engadine NSW | Heathcote High School Heathcote NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 62 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #189 of 539 |
| National rank (type) | – | #475 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Independent | Government |
| Type | Special | Secondary |
| Year range | 4-12 | 7-12 |
| Students | 55 | 633 |
| Girls / boys | 18 / 37 | 302 / 331 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 6 | 99 |
| Year 12 cohort | 4 | 87 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +28% | -11% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 962 | 1028 |
| ICSEA percentile | 30th | 59th |
| Top SEA quarter | 5% | 13% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 43% | 22% |
| Students per teacher | 5.6 | 11.4 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 9.8 | 55.5 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 21.8 | 13.3 |
| Language background other than English | 2% | 7% |
| Indigenous students | 15% | 3% |
| Suburb | Engadine 2233 | Heathcote 2233 |
| Council area | Sutherland | Sutherland |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.dunleacentre.org.au | heathcote-h.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •Heathcote High School has the higher ICSEA (1028 vs 962), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Dunlea Centre, Australia's Original Boys' Town has fewer students per teacher (5.6 vs 11.4).
- •Heathcote High School is the larger school with 633 students compared with 55.
- •Dunlea Centre, Australia's Original Boys' Town has grown faster over five years (28% vs -11%).
- •Dunlea Centre, Australia's Original Boys' Town is a independent school while Heathcote High School is a government 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 Dunlea Centre, Australia's Original Boys' Town better than Heathcote High 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 Dunlea Centre, Australia's Original Boys' Town and Heathcote High School?
About 2.0 km in a straight line, between Engadine and Heathcote in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Dunlea Centre, Australia's Original Boys' Town has 5.6 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Heathcote High School has 11.4.
How do Dunlea Centre, Australia's Original Boys' Town and Heathcote High School rank in NSW?
Dunlea Centre, Australia's Original Boys' Town is unranked and Heathcote High School is 189th of 539 among special schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.