Dunlea Centre, Australia's Original Boys' Town vs St John Bosco College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 198 m 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
St John Bosco College
Engadine · Catholic high school · 7-12
986 students · ICSEA 1081
| Measure | Dunlea Centre, Australia's Original Boys' Town Engadine NSW | St John Bosco College Engadine NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 72 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | – | #84 of 539 |
| National rank (type) | – | #232 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Independent | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Secondary |
| Year range | 4-12 | 7-12 |
| Students | 55 | 986 |
| Girls / boys | 18 / 37 | 494 / 492 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 6 | 203 |
| Year 12 cohort | 4 | 113 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +28% | +11% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 962 | 1081 |
| ICSEA percentile | 30th | 79th |
| Top SEA quarter | 5% | 31% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 43% | 8% |
| Students per teacher | 5.6 | 13.9 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 9.8 | 71.0 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 21.8 | 15.0 |
| Language background other than English | 2% | 18% |
| Indigenous students | 15% | 4% |
| Suburb | Engadine 2233 | Engadine 2233 |
| Council area | Sutherland | Sutherland |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.dunleacentre.org.au | sjbcengadine.syd.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St John Bosco College has the higher ICSEA (1081 vs 962), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Dunlea Centre, Australia's Original Boys' Town has fewer students per teacher (5.6 vs 13.9).
- •St John Bosco College is the larger school with 986 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 St John Bosco 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 Dunlea Centre, Australia's Original Boys' Town better than St John Bosco 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 Dunlea Centre, Australia's Original Boys' Town and St John Bosco College?
About 198 m in a straight line, between Engadine and Engadine 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 St John Bosco College has 13.9.
How do Dunlea Centre, Australia's Original Boys' Town and St John Bosco College rank in NSW?
Dunlea Centre, Australia's Original Boys' Town is unranked and St John Bosco College is 84th of 539 among special schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.