Nautilus Senior College vs St Joseph's Regional College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 6.1 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Nautilus Senior College
Port Macquarie · Independent special · 7-10
113 students · ICSEA 833
St Joseph's Regional College
Port Macquarie · Catholic high school · 7-12
1,026 students · ICSEA 1017
| Measure | Nautilus Senior College Port Macquarie NSW | St Joseph's Regional College Port Macquarie NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 58 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #221 of 539 |
| National rank (type) | – | #559 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Independent | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Secondary |
| Year range | 7-10 | 7-12 |
| Students | 113 | 1,026 |
| Girls / boys | 52 / 61 | 556 / 470 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 1 | 222 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 95 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +176% | +3% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 833 | 1017 |
| ICSEA percentile | 4th | 55th |
| Top SEA quarter | 1% | 14% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 73% | 22% |
| Students per teacher | 10.7 | 11.8 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 10.6 | 86.7 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 31.8 | 33.6 |
| Language background other than English | 1% | 6% |
| Indigenous students | 39% | 9% |
| Suburb | Port Macquarie 2444 | Port Macquarie 2444 |
| Council area | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Port Macquarie-Hastings |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | www.nsc.edu.au/ | www.pmreglism.catholic.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •St Joseph's Regional College has the higher ICSEA (1017 vs 833), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Nautilus Senior College has fewer students per teacher (10.7 vs 11.8).
- •St Joseph's Regional College is the larger school with 1,026 students compared with 113.
- •Nautilus Senior College has grown faster over five years (176% vs 3%).
- •Nautilus Senior College is a independent school while St Joseph's Regional 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 Nautilus Senior College better than St Joseph's Regional 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 Nautilus Senior College and St Joseph's Regional College?
About 6.1 km in a straight line, between Port Macquarie and Port Macquarie in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Nautilus Senior College has 10.7 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Joseph's Regional College has 11.8.
How do Nautilus Senior College and St Joseph's Regional College rank in NSW?
Nautilus Senior College is unranked and St Joseph's Regional College is 221st of 539 among special schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.