Forrest Parade School vs Nemarluk School
A head-to-head comparison of two special schools in Northern Territory, 19 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Forrest Parade School
Bellamack · Government special · T-6
118 students · ICSEA 939
Nemarluk School
Alawa · Government special · T-6
170 students · ICSEA 929
| Measure | Forrest Parade School Bellamack NT | Nemarluk School Alawa NT |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | – | – |
| National rank (type) | – | – |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Special | Special |
| Year range | T-6 | T-6 |
| Students | 118 | 170 |
| Girls / boys | 27 / 91 | 41 / 129 |
| Foundation intake | 17 | 22 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +36% | +4% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 939 | 929 |
| ICSEA percentile | 21th | 18th |
| Top SEA quarter | 12% | 13% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 37% | 34% |
| Students per teacher | 5.8 | 4.7 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 20.4 | 36.0 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 34.6 | 45.2 |
| Language background other than English | 41% | 51% |
| Indigenous students | 36% | 45% |
| Suburb | Bellamack 0832 | Alawa 0810 |
| Council area | Palmerston | Darwin |
| Remoteness | Outer Regional | Outer Regional |
| Website | forrestparadeschool.nt.edu.au/wp/ | nemarlukschool.com.au/ |
The verdict
- •Forrest Parade School has the higher ICSEA (939 vs 929), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Nemarluk School has fewer students per teacher (4.7 vs 5.8).
- •Nemarluk School is the larger school with 170 students compared with 118.
- •Forrest Parade School has grown faster over five years (36% vs 4%).
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 Forrest Parade School better than Nemarluk 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 Forrest Parade School and Nemarluk School?
About 19 km in a straight line, between Bellamack and Alawa in Northern Territory.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Forrest Parade School has 5.8 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Nemarluk School has 4.7.
How do Forrest Parade School and Nemarluk School rank in NT?
Forrest Parade School is unranked and Nemarluk School is unranked among special schools in Northern Territory on the 2025 Success Index.