Darling Point Special School vs Lota State 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.
Darling Point Special School
Manly · Government special · Prep-12
182 students · ICSEA 1021
Lota State School
Lota · Government primary · Prep-6
244 students · ICSEA 1061
| Measure | Darling Point Special School Manly QLD | Lota State School Lota QLD |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 69 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | – | #110 of 804 |
| National rank (type) | – | #1092 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Special | Primary |
| Year range | Prep-12 | Prep-6 |
| Students | 182 | 244 |
| Girls / boys | 53 / 129 | 127 / 117 |
| Foundation intake | 11 | 37 |
| Year 7 cohort | 15 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 19 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +53% | +21% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1021 | 1061 |
| ICSEA percentile | 56th | 72th |
| Top SEA quarter | 22% | 27% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 26% | 13% |
| Students per teacher | 4.6 | 15.3 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 39.9 | 16.0 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 38.3 | 9.4 |
| Language background other than English | 11% | 12% |
| Indigenous students | 13% | 3% |
| Suburb | Manly 4179 | Lota 4179 |
| Council area | Brisbane | Brisbane |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | darlingpointspecs.eq.edu.au | lotass.eq.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Lota State School has the higher ICSEA (1061 vs 1021), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Darling Point Special School has fewer students per teacher (4.6 vs 15.3).
- •Lota State School is the larger school with 244 students compared with 182.
- •Darling Point Special School has grown faster over five years (53% vs 21%).
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 Darling Point Special School better than Lota State 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 Darling Point Special School and Lota State School?
About 2.3 km in a straight line, between Manly and Lota in Queensland.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Darling Point Special School has 4.6 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Lota State School has 15.3.
How do Darling Point Special School and Lota State School rank in QLD?
Darling Point Special School is unranked and Lota State School is 110th of 804 among special schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.