Currumbin Community Special School vs Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School
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.
Currumbin Community Special School
Currumbin Waters · Government special · Prep-12
95 students · ICSEA 1003
Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School
Palm Beach · Government high school · 7-12
2,819 students · ICSEA 1022
| Measure | Currumbin Community Special School Currumbin Waters QLD | Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School Palm Beach QLD |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 51 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #104 of 269 |
| National rank (type) | – | #710 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Special | Secondary |
| Year range | Prep-12 | 7-12 |
| Students | 95 | 2,819 |
| Girls / boys | 24 / 71 | 1,397 / 1,422 |
| Foundation intake | 6 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 11 | 492 |
| Year 12 cohort | 8 | 379 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -4% | +9% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1003 | 1022 |
| ICSEA percentile | 48th | 57th |
| Top SEA quarter | 13% | 15% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 31% | 21% |
| Students per teacher | 3.5 | 14.3 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 27.1 | 196.9 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 25.2 | 76.9 |
| Language background other than English | 13% | 13% |
| Indigenous students | 9% | 8% |
| Suburb | Currumbin Waters 4223 | Palm Beach 4221 |
| Council area | Gold Coast | Gold Coast |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | currumbinspecs.eq.edu.au | pbc-shs.eq.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School has the higher ICSEA (1022 vs 1003), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Currumbin Community Special School has fewer students per teacher (3.5 vs 14.3).
- •Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School is the larger school with 2,819 students compared with 95.
- •Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School has grown faster over five years (9% vs -4%).
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 Palm Beach-Currumbin State High 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 Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School?
About 2.3 km in a straight line, between Currumbin Waters and Palm Beach in Queensland.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Currumbin Community Special School has 3.5 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School has 14.3.
How do Currumbin Community Special School and Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School rank in QLD?
Currumbin Community Special School is unranked and Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School is 104th of 269 among special schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.