Charters Towers Central State School vs Columba Catholic College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Queensland, 2.3 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Charters Towers Central State School
Charters Towers City · Government primary · Prep-6
113 students · ICSEA 859
Columba Catholic College
Charters Towers · Catholic combined · Prep-12
425 students · ICSEA 926
| Measure | Charters Towers Central State School Charters Towers City QLD | Columba Catholic College Charters Towers QLD |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 24 Lower 50% | 24 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | #695 of 804 | #262 of 275 |
| National rank (type) | #4549 of 4,908 | #1196 of 1,259 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Combined |
| Year range | Prep-6 | Prep-12 |
| Students | 113 | 425 |
| Girls / boys | 50 / 63 | 219 / 206 |
| Foundation intake | 10 | 23 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 48 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 43 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -32% | -11% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 859 | 926 |
| ICSEA percentile | 5th | 17th |
| Top SEA quarter | 4% | 4% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 65% | 45% |
| Students per teacher | 8.8 | 11.2 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 12.8 | 37.9 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 10.1 | 55.1 |
| Language background other than English | 2% | 6% |
| Indigenous students | 36% | 28% |
| Suburb | Charters Towers City 4820 | Charters Towers 4820 |
| Council area | Charters Towers | Charters Towers |
| Remoteness | Outer Regional | Outer Regional |
| Website | charterstowerscentralss.eq.edu.au | www.columba.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (24.1 vs 23.7).
- •Columba Catholic College has the higher ICSEA (926 vs 859), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Charters Towers Central State School has fewer students per teacher (8.8 vs 11.2).
- •Columba Catholic College is the larger school with 425 students compared with 113.
- •Columba Catholic College has grown faster over five years (-11% vs -32%).
- •Charters Towers Central State School is a government school while Columba 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 Charters Towers Central State School better than Columba 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 Charters Towers Central State School and Columba Catholic College?
About 2.3 km in a straight line, between Charters Towers City and Charters Towers in Queensland.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Charters Towers Central State School has 8.8 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Columba Catholic College has 11.2.
How do Charters Towers Central State School and Columba Catholic College rank in QLD?
Charters Towers Central State School is 695th of 804 and Columba Catholic College is 262nd of 275 among primary schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.