Cairns State Special School vs St Mary's Catholic College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Queensland, 1.0 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
St Mary's Catholic College
Woree · Catholic high school · 7-12
949 students · ICSEA 1023
| Measure | Cairns State Special School Woree QLD | St Mary's Catholic College Woree QLD |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 53 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #98 of 269 |
| National rank (type) | – | #683 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Secondary |
| Year range | Prep-12 | 7-12 |
| Students | 130 | 949 |
| Girls / boys | 38 / 92 | 518 / 431 |
| Foundation intake | 9 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 10 | 158 |
| Year 12 cohort | 15 | 144 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +67% | -3% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 913 | 1023 |
| ICSEA percentile | 14th | 57th |
| Top SEA quarter | 8% | 13% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 43% | 16% |
| Students per teacher | 4.0 | 12.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 32.8 | 78.2 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 42.5 | 43.6 |
| Language background other than English | 24% | 14% |
| Indigenous students | 42% | 7% |
| Suburb | Woree 4868 | Woree 4868 |
| Council area | Cairns | Cairns |
| Remoteness | Outer Regional | Outer Regional |
| Website | cairnsstatespecs.eq.edu.au | www.smcc.qld.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Mary's Catholic College has the higher ICSEA (1023 vs 913), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Cairns State Special School has fewer students per teacher (4.0 vs 12.1).
- •St Mary's Catholic College is the larger school with 949 students compared with 130.
- •Cairns State Special School has grown faster over five years (67% vs -3%).
- •Cairns State Special School is a government school while St Mary's Catholic College 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 Cairns State Special School better than St Mary's Catholic 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 Cairns State Special School and St Mary's Catholic College?
About 1.0 km in a straight line, between Woree and Woree in Queensland.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Cairns State Special School has 4.0 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Mary's Catholic College has 12.1.
How do Cairns State Special School and St Mary's Catholic College rank in QLD?
Cairns State Special School is unranked and St Mary's Catholic College is 98th of 269 among special schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.