Acacia Hill School vs St Philip's College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Northern Territory, 1.9 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Acacia Hill School
Sadadeen · Government special · T-12
96 students · ICSEA 789
St Philip's College
Alice Springs · Independent high school · 7-12
502 students · ICSEA 1031
| Measure | Acacia Hill School Sadadeen NT | St Philip's College Alice Springs NT |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 61 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #2 of 23 |
| National rank (type) | – | #482 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Independent |
| Type | Special | Secondary |
| Year range | T-12 | 7-12 |
| Students | 96 | 502 |
| Girls / boys | 23 / 73 | 260 / 242 |
| Foundation intake | 7 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 5 | 87 |
| Year 12 cohort | 3 | 62 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +17% | -22% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 789 | 1031 |
| ICSEA percentile | 3th | 60th |
| Top SEA quarter | 7% | 28% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 63% | 13% |
| Students per teacher | 4.2 | 10.5 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 22.8 | 47.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 35.5 | 46.6 |
| Language background other than English | 60% | 28% |
| Indigenous students | 82% | 15% |
| Suburb | Sadadeen 0871 | Alice Springs 0871 |
| Council area | Alice Springs | Alice Springs |
| Remoteness | Remote | Remote |
| Website | www.acaciahill.nt.edu.au/ | www.stphilips.nt.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •St Philip's College has the higher ICSEA (1031 vs 789), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Acacia Hill School has fewer students per teacher (4.2 vs 10.5).
- •St Philip's College is the larger school with 502 students compared with 96.
- •Acacia Hill School has grown faster over five years (17% vs -22%).
- •Acacia Hill School is a government school while St Philip's College 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 Acacia Hill School better than St Philip's 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 Acacia Hill School and St Philip's College?
About 1.9 km in a straight line, between Sadadeen and Alice Springs in Northern Territory.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Acacia Hill School has 4.2 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Philip's College has 10.5.
How do Acacia Hill School and St Philip's College rank in NT?
Acacia Hill School is unranked and St Philip's College is 2nd of 23 among special schools in Northern Territory on the 2025 Success Index.