Currumbin Community Special School vs Nambour Special School
A head-to-head comparison of two special schools in Queensland, 177 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Currumbin Community Special School
Currumbin Waters · Government special · Prep-12
95 students · ICSEA 1003
Nambour Special School
Burnside · Government special · Prep-12
132 students · ICSEA 1002
| Measure | Currumbin Community Special School Currumbin Waters QLD | Nambour Special School Burnside 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 | 95 | 132 |
| Girls / boys | 24 / 71 | 40 / 92 |
| Foundation intake | 6 | 6 |
| Year 7 cohort | 11 | 8 |
| Year 12 cohort | 8 | 9 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -4% | -11% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1003 | 1002 |
| ICSEA percentile | 48th | 48th |
| Top SEA quarter | 13% | 15% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 31% | 34% |
| Students per teacher | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 27.1 | 37.5 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 25.2 | 36.1 |
| Language background other than English | 13% | 7% |
| Indigenous students | 9% | 9% |
| Suburb | Currumbin Waters 4223 | Burnside 4560 |
| Council area | Gold Coast | Sunshine Coast |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | currumbinspecs.eq.edu.au | nambourspecs.eq.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Currumbin Community Special School has the higher ICSEA (1003 vs 1002), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Nambour Special School is the larger school with 132 students compared with 95.
- •Currumbin Community Special School has grown faster over five years (-4% vs -11%).
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 Currumbin Community Special School better than Nambour 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 Currumbin Community Special School and Nambour Special School?
About 177 km in a straight line, between Currumbin Waters and Burnside in Queensland.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Currumbin Community Special School has 3.5 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Nambour Special School has 3.5.
How do Currumbin Community Special School and Nambour Special School rank in QLD?
Currumbin Community Special School is unranked and Nambour Special School is unranked among special schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.