Cairns State Special School vs Rockhampton Special School
A head-to-head comparison of two special schools in Queensland, 870 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Cairns State Special School
Woree · Government special · Prep-12
130 students · ICSEA 913
Rockhampton Special School
Rockhampton · Government special · Prep-12
103 students · ICSEA 925
| Measure | Cairns State Special School Woree QLD | Rockhampton Special School Rockhampton QLD |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | – | – |
| National rank (type) | – | – |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Special | Special |
| Year range | Prep-12 | Prep-12 |
| Students | 130 | 103 |
| Girls / boys | 38 / 92 | 35 / 68 |
| Foundation intake | 9 | 4 |
| Year 7 cohort | 10 | 6 |
| Year 12 cohort | 15 | 9 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +67% | +39% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 913 | 925 |
| ICSEA percentile | 14th | 17th |
| Top SEA quarter | 8% | 5% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 43% | 48% |
| Students per teacher | 4.0 | 4.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 32.8 | 25.4 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 42.5 | 21.1 |
| Language background other than English | 24% | 3% |
| Indigenous students | 42% | 26% |
| Suburb | Woree 4868 | Rockhampton 4700 |
| Council area | Cairns | Rockhampton |
| Remoteness | Outer Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | cairnsstatespecs.eq.edu.au | rockhampspecs.eq.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Rockhampton Special School has the higher ICSEA (925 vs 913), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Cairns State Special School is the larger school with 130 students compared with 103.
- •Cairns State Special School has grown faster over five years (67% vs 39%).
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 Cairns State Special School better than Rockhampton 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 Cairns State Special School and Rockhampton Special School?
About 870 km in a straight line, between Woree and Rockhampton in Queensland.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Cairns State Special School has 4.0 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Rockhampton Special School has 4.1.
How do Cairns State Special School and Rockhampton Special School rank in QLD?
Cairns State Special School is unranked and Rockhampton Special School is unranked among special schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.