Maclean High School vs Valley Hope Christian School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 1.7 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Maclean High School
Maclean · Government high school · 7-12
689 students · ICSEA 959
Valley Hope Christian School
Townsend · Independent special · U
51 students · ICSEA 951
| Measure | Maclean High School Maclean NSW | Valley Hope Christian School Townsend NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 42 Lower 50% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #328 of 539 | – |
| National rank (type) | #909 of 1,472 | – |
| Sector | Government | Independent |
| Type | Secondary | Special |
| Year range | 7-12 | U |
| Students | 689 | 51 |
| Girls / boys | 346 / 343 | 18 / 33 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 99 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 89 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -13% | – |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 959 | 951 |
| ICSEA percentile | 28th | 25th |
| Top SEA quarter | 8% | 8% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 42% | 40% |
| Students per teacher | 10.1 | 6.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 67.9 | 8.4 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 19.1 | 10.3 |
| Language background other than English | 7% | 4% |
| Indigenous students | 17% | 25% |
| Suburb | Maclean 2463 | Townsend 2463 |
| Council area | Clarence Valley | Clarence Valley |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | maclean-h.schools.nsw.gov.au | www.valleyhope.nsw.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •Maclean High School has the higher ICSEA (959 vs 951), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Valley Hope Christian School has fewer students per teacher (6.1 vs 10.1).
- •Maclean High School is the larger school with 689 students compared with 51.
- •Maclean High School is a government school while Valley Hope Christian School is an independent 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 Maclean High School better than Valley Hope Christian 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 Maclean High School and Valley Hope Christian School?
About 1.7 km in a straight line, between Maclean and Townsend in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Maclean High School has 10.1 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Valley Hope Christian School has 6.1.
How do Maclean High School and Valley Hope Christian School rank in NSW?
Maclean High School is 328th of 539 and Valley Hope Christian School is unranked among secondary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.