NextSense School - Sign Bilingual Program vs North Coast Pathway
A head-to-head comparison of two special schools in New South Wales, 591 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
NextSense School - Sign Bilingual Program
Macquarie Park · Independent special · U
17 students · ICSEA 1001
North Coast Pathway
Alstonville · Independent special · 9-10
26 students · ICSEA 998
| Measure | NextSense School - Sign Bilingual Program Macquarie Park NSW | North Coast Pathway Alstonville NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | – | – |
| National rank (type) | – | – |
| Sector | Independent | Independent |
| Type | Special | Special |
| Year range | U | 9-10 |
| Students | 17 | 26 |
| Girls / boys | 11 / 6 | 17 / 9 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | – | – |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1001 | 998 |
| ICSEA percentile | 47th | 46th |
| Top SEA quarter | 16% | 14% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 32% | 43% |
| Students per teacher | – | 6.8 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 4.6 | 3.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 3.1 | 0.6 |
| Language background other than English | 87% | 0% |
| Indigenous students | 6% | 15% |
| Suburb | Macquarie Park 2113 | Alstonville 2477 |
| Council area | Ryde | Ballina |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Inner Regional |
| Website | www.ridbc.org.au | ncpathway.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •NextSense School - Sign Bilingual Program has the higher ICSEA (1001 vs 998), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •North Coast Pathway is the larger school with 26 students compared with 17.
The Success Index summarises community advantage, resourcing and momentum from ACARA data. It does not measure teaching quality, results or fit. Methodology.
Free academic assessment
Torn between two schools? Start with your child.
Whichever you choose, a free Success Tutoring assessment shows exactly where your child is in English and Maths and how to get ahead before the next school year.
- Personalised learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum
- English & Maths from Kindergarten to Year 12
- Flexible memberships, no lock-in contracts
- Your nearest centre: Success Tutoring Epping
Frequently asked questions
Is NextSense School - Sign Bilingual Program better than North Coast Pathway?
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 NextSense School - Sign Bilingual Program and North Coast Pathway?
About 591 km in a straight line, between Macquarie Park and Alstonville in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Staffing data is not available for one of the schools.
How do NextSense School - Sign Bilingual Program and North Coast Pathway rank in NSW?
NextSense School - Sign Bilingual Program is unranked and North Coast Pathway is unranked among special schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.