Arcadia College vs Star of the Sea School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Queensland, 2.4 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Arcadia College
Robina · Independent special · 7-12
715 students · ICSEA 992
Star of the Sea School
Merrimac · Catholic primary · Prep-6
236 students · ICSEA 1045
| Measure | Arcadia College Robina QLD | Star of the Sea School Merrimac QLD |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 59 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #232 of 804 |
| National rank (type) | – | #2055 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Independent | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Primary |
| Year range | 7-12 | Prep-6 |
| Students | 715 | 236 |
| Girls / boys | 400 / 315 | 115 / 121 |
| Foundation intake | – | 46 |
| Year 7 cohort | 22 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 98 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +194% | – |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 992 | 1045 |
| ICSEA percentile | 43th | 66th |
| Top SEA quarter | 10% | 13% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 34% | 11% |
| Students per teacher | 13.2 | 14.9 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 54.0 | 15.8 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 69.2 | 7.7 |
| Language background other than English | 8% | 5% |
| Indigenous students | 9% | 3% |
| Suburb | Robina 4226 | Merrimac 4226 |
| Council area | Gold Coast | Gold Coast |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.arcadia.qld.edu.au/ | www.staroftheseamerrimac.qld.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Star of the Sea School has the higher ICSEA (1045 vs 992), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Arcadia College has fewer students per teacher (13.2 vs 14.9).
- •Arcadia College is the larger school with 715 students compared with 236.
- •Arcadia College is a independent school while Star of the Sea School 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 Arcadia College better than Star of the Sea 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 Arcadia College and Star of the Sea School?
About 2.4 km in a straight line, between Robina and Merrimac in Queensland.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Arcadia College has 13.2 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Star of the Sea School has 14.9.
How do Arcadia College and Star of the Sea School rank in QLD?
Arcadia College is unranked and Star of the Sea School is 232nd of 804 among special schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.