Nemarluk School vs Nightcliff High School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Northern Territory, 2.5 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Nemarluk School
Alawa · Government special · T-6
170 students · ICSEA 929
Nightcliff High School
Nightcliff · Government high school · 7-9
409 students · ICSEA 986
| Measure | Nemarluk School Alawa NT | Nightcliff High School Nightcliff NT |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 50 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #9 of 23 |
| National rank (type) | – | #749 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Special | Secondary |
| Year range | T-6 | 7-9 |
| Students | 170 | 409 |
| Girls / boys | 41 / 129 | 181 / 228 |
| Foundation intake | 22 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 145 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +4% | +12% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 929 | 986 |
| ICSEA percentile | 18th | 40th |
| Top SEA quarter | 13% | 20% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 34% | 31% |
| Students per teacher | 4.7 | 13.6 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 36.0 | 29.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 45.2 | 11.8 |
| Language background other than English | 51% | 51% |
| Indigenous students | 45% | 19% |
| Suburb | Alawa 0810 | Nightcliff 0810 |
| Council area | Darwin | Darwin |
| Remoteness | Outer Regional | Outer Regional |
| Website | nemarlukschool.com.au/ | www.nightcliffmiddle.nt.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Nightcliff High School has the higher ICSEA (986 vs 929), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Nemarluk School has fewer students per teacher (4.7 vs 13.6).
- •Nightcliff High School is the larger school with 409 students compared with 170.
- •Nightcliff High School has grown faster over five years (12% 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 Nemarluk School better than Nightcliff High 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 Nemarluk School and Nightcliff High School?
About 2.5 km in a straight line, between Alawa and Nightcliff in Northern Territory.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Nemarluk School has 4.7 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Nightcliff High School has 13.6.
How do Nemarluk School and Nightcliff High School rank in NT?
Nemarluk School is unranked and Nightcliff High School is 9th of 23 among special schools in Northern Territory on the 2025 Success Index.