Melonba High School vs St Luke's Arrunga
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 1.6 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Melonba High School
Melonba · Government high school · 7-12
704 students · ICSEA 1073
St Luke's Arrunga
Marsden Park · Catholic special · U
40 students · ICSEA 1046
| Measure | Melonba High School Melonba NSW | St Luke's Arrunga Marsden Park NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 68 Top 25% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #137 of 539 | – |
| National rank (type) | #334 of 1,472 | – |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Secondary | Special |
| Year range | 7-12 | U |
| Students | 704 | 40 |
| Girls / boys | 311 / 393 | 11 / 29 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 302 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | – | – |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1073 | 1046 |
| ICSEA percentile | 76th | 67th |
| Top SEA quarter | 33% | 18% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 14% | 20% |
| Students per teacher | 14.7 | 6.5 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 47.9 | 6.2 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 12.5 | 6.0 |
| Language background other than English | 84% | 78% |
| Indigenous students | 2% | 3% |
| Suburb | Melonba 2765 | Marsden Park 2765 |
| Council area | Blacktown | Blacktown |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | melonba-h.schools.nsw.gov.au | www.stlukesmarsdenpark.catholic.edu.au/arrunga |
The verdict
- •Melonba High School has the higher ICSEA (1073 vs 1046), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Luke's Arrunga has fewer students per teacher (6.5 vs 14.7).
- •Melonba High School is the larger school with 704 students compared with 40.
- •Melonba High School is a government school while St Luke's Arrunga 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 Melonba High School better than St Luke's Arrunga?
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 Melonba High School and St Luke's Arrunga?
About 1.6 km in a straight line, between Melonba and Marsden Park in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Melonba High School has 14.7 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Luke's Arrunga has 6.5.
How do Melonba High School and St Luke's Arrunga rank in NSW?
Melonba High School is 137th of 539 and St Luke's Arrunga is unranked among secondary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.