Gowrie State School vs Mary MacKillop Catholic College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Queensland, 6.7 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Gowrie State School
Gowrie Junction · Government primary · Prep-6
210 students · ICSEA 1013
Mary MacKillop Catholic College
Highfields · Catholic combined · Prep-12
1,047 students · ICSEA 1046
| Measure | Gowrie State School Gowrie Junction QLD | Mary MacKillop Catholic College Highfields QLD |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 51 Top 50% | 50 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | #318 of 804 | #131 of 275 |
| National rank (type) | #2638 of 4,908 | #652 of 1,259 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Combined |
| Year range | Prep-6 | Prep-12 |
| Students | 210 | 1,047 |
| Girls / boys | 101 / 109 | 525 / 522 |
| Foundation intake | 40 | 63 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 142 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 63 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +6% | +45% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1013 | 1046 |
| ICSEA percentile | 53th | 67th |
| Top SEA quarter | 9% | 20% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 23% | 16% |
| Students per teacher | 14.3 | 14.6 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 14.7 | 71.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 8.8 | 38.2 |
| Language background other than English | 4% | 7% |
| Indigenous students | 10% | 5% |
| Suburb | Gowrie Junction 4352 | Highfields 4352 |
| Council area | Toowoomba | Toowoomba |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | gowriess.eq.edu.au | www.mmcc.catholic.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (50.8 vs 50.2).
- •Mary MacKillop Catholic College has the higher ICSEA (1046 vs 1013), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Mary MacKillop Catholic College is the larger school with 1,047 students compared with 210.
- •Mary MacKillop Catholic College has grown faster over five years (45% vs 6%).
- •Gowrie State School is a government school while Mary MacKillop 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 Gowrie State School better than Mary MacKillop 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 Gowrie State School and Mary MacKillop Catholic College?
About 6.7 km in a straight line, between Gowrie Junction and Highfields in Queensland.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Gowrie State School has 14.3 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Mary MacKillop Catholic College has 14.6.
How do Gowrie State School and Mary MacKillop Catholic College rank in QLD?
Gowrie State School is 318th of 804 and Mary MacKillop Catholic College is 131st of 275 among primary schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.