Arethusa College vs Burpengary State Secondary College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Queensland, 1.3 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Arethusa College
Deception Bay · Independent special · 7-12
1,733 students · ICSEA 938
Burpengary State Secondary College
Burpengary · Government high school · 7-12
1,121 students · ICSEA 964
| Measure | Arethusa College Deception Bay QLD | Burpengary State Secondary College Burpengary QLD |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 34 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #178 of 269 |
| National rank (type) | – | #1094 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Independent | Government |
| Type | Special | Secondary |
| Year range | 7-12 | 7-12 |
| Students | 1,733 | 1,121 |
| Girls / boys | 807 / 926 | 577 / 544 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 169 | 183 |
| Year 12 cohort | 179 | 131 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +260% | +4% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 938 | 964 |
| ICSEA percentile | 21th | 30th |
| Top SEA quarter | 6% | 4% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 52% | 46% |
| Students per teacher | 11.4 | 12.4 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 152.1 | 90.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 257.6 | 29.8 |
| Language background other than English | 5% | 10% |
| Indigenous students | 21% | 8% |
| Suburb | Deception Bay 4508 | Burpengary 4505 |
| Council area | Moreton Bay | Moreton Bay |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | arethusa.qld.edu.au/ | burpengaryssc.eq.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Burpengary State Secondary College has the higher ICSEA (964 vs 938), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Arethusa College has fewer students per teacher (11.4 vs 12.4).
- •Arethusa College is the larger school with 1,733 students compared with 1,121.
- •Arethusa College has grown faster over five years (260% vs 4%).
- •Arethusa College is a independent school while Burpengary State Secondary College is a government 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 Arethusa College better than Burpengary State Secondary 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 Arethusa College and Burpengary State Secondary College?
About 1.3 km in a straight line, between Deception Bay and Burpengary in Queensland.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Arethusa College has 11.4 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Burpengary State Secondary College has 12.4.
How do Arethusa College and Burpengary State Secondary College rank in QLD?
Arethusa College is unranked and Burpengary State Secondary College is 178th of 269 among special schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.