Arundel State School vs Southport Special School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Queensland, 3.4 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Arundel State School
Arundel · Government primary · Prep-6
925 students · ICSEA 1035
Southport Special School
Southport · Government special · Prep-12
212 students · ICSEA 1027
| Measure | Arundel State School Arundel QLD | Southport Special School Southport QLD |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 58 Top 50% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #239 of 804 | – |
| National rank (type) | #2101 of 4,908 | – |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Primary | Special |
| Year range | Prep-6 | Prep-12 |
| Students | 925 | 212 |
| Girls / boys | 439 / 486 | 59 / 153 |
| Foundation intake | 112 | 24 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 23 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 10 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -19% | -27% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1035 | 1027 |
| ICSEA percentile | 62th | 59th |
| Top SEA quarter | 18% | 19% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 21% | 26% |
| Students per teacher | 13.5 | 3.9 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 68.7 | 54.7 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 27.9 | 53.0 |
| Language background other than English | 32% | 30% |
| Indigenous students | 5% | 6% |
| Suburb | Arundel 4214 | Southport 4215 |
| Council area | Gold Coast | Gold Coast |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | arundelss.eq.edu.au | southportspecs.eq.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Arundel State School has the higher ICSEA (1035 vs 1027), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Southport Special School has fewer students per teacher (3.9 vs 13.5).
- •Arundel State School is the larger school with 925 students compared with 212.
- •Arundel State School has grown faster over five years (-19% vs -27%).
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 Arundel State School better than Southport Special 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 Arundel State School and Southport Special School?
About 3.4 km in a straight line, between Arundel and Southport in Queensland.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Arundel State School has 13.5 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Southport Special School has 3.9.
How do Arundel State School and Southport Special School rank in QLD?
Arundel State School is 239th of 804 and Southport Special School is unranked among primary schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.