Cooktown State School vs Tara Shire State College
A head-to-head comparison of two combined schools in Queensland, 1418 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Cooktown State School
Cooktown · Government combined · Prep-12
376 students · ICSEA 838
Tara Shire State College
Tara · Government combined · Prep-12
353 students · ICSEA 842
| Measure | Cooktown State School Cooktown QLD | Tara Shire State College Tara QLD |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 22 Lower 50% | 22 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | #271 of 275 | #268 of 275 |
| National rank (type) | #1227 of 1,259 | #1218 of 1,259 |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Combined | Combined |
| Year range | Prep-12 | Prep-12 |
| Students | 376 | 353 |
| Girls / boys | 189 / 187 | 179 / 174 |
| Foundation intake | 28 | 18 |
| Year 7 cohort | 36 | 37 |
| Year 12 cohort | 23 | 15 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -1% | -2% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 838 | 842 |
| ICSEA percentile | 4th | 4th |
| Top SEA quarter | 3% | 1% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 59% | 76% |
| Students per teacher | 10.9 | 9.6 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 34.4 | 36.9 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 16.1 | 23.3 |
| Language background other than English | 45% | 3% |
| Indigenous students | 59% | 33% |
| Suburb | Cooktown 4895 | Tara 4421 |
| Council area | Cook | Western Downs |
| Remoteness | Remote | Outer Regional |
| Website | cooktownss.eq.edu.au | tarashiresc.eq.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (21.7 vs 22.3).
- •Tara Shire State College has the higher ICSEA (842 vs 838), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Tara Shire State College has fewer students per teacher (9.6 vs 10.9).
- •Cooktown State School is the larger school with 376 students compared with 353.
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 Cooktown State School better than Tara Shire State 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 Cooktown State School and Tara Shire State College?
About 1418 km in a straight line, between Cooktown and Tara in Queensland.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Cooktown State School has 10.9 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Tara Shire State College has 9.6.
How do Cooktown State School and Tara Shire State College rank in QLD?
Cooktown State School is 271st of 275 and Tara Shire State College is 268th of 275 among combined schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.