Hills Adventist College vs Tallowood School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 1.2 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Hills Adventist College
North Kellyville · Independent combined · K-12
823 students · ICSEA 1150
Tallowood School
Kellyville · Government special · U
98 students · ICSEA 1034
| Measure | Hills Adventist College North Kellyville NSW | Tallowood School Kellyville NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 73 Top 25% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #74 of 314 | – |
| National rank (type) | #210 of 1,259 | – |
| Sector | Independent | Government |
| Type | Combined | Special |
| Year range | K-12 | U |
| Students | 823 | 98 |
| Girls / boys | 430 / 393 | 25 / 73 |
| Foundation intake | 39 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 80 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 69 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +30% | +3% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1150 | 1034 |
| ICSEA percentile | 95th | 62th |
| Top SEA quarter | 62% | 20% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 2% | 24% |
| Students per teacher | 15.0 | 4.5 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 54.8 | 21.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 24.2 | 21.0 |
| Language background other than English | 60% | 56% |
| Indigenous students | 0% | 4% |
| Suburb | North Kellyville 2155 | Kellyville 2155 |
| Council area | The Hills | The Hills |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.hills.adventist.edu.au | tallowood-s.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •Hills Adventist College has the higher ICSEA (1150 vs 1034), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Tallowood School has fewer students per teacher (4.5 vs 15.0).
- •Hills Adventist College is the larger school with 823 students compared with 98.
- •Hills Adventist College has grown faster over five years (30% vs 3%).
- •Hills Adventist College is a independent school while Tallowood 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 Hills Adventist College better than Tallowood 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 Hills Adventist College and Tallowood School?
About 1.2 km in a straight line, between North Kellyville and Kellyville in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Hills Adventist College has 15.0 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Tallowood School has 4.5.
How do Hills Adventist College and Tallowood School rank in NSW?
Hills Adventist College is 74th of 314 and Tallowood School is unranked among combined schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.