Gympie Special School vs Ipswich Special School
A head-to-head comparison of two special schools in Queensland, 159 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Gympie Special School
Gympie · Government special · Prep-12
88 students · ICSEA 962
Ipswich Special School
Ipswich · Government special · Prep-12
108 students · ICSEA 962
| Measure | Gympie Special School Gympie QLD | Ipswich Special School Ipswich 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 | 88 | 108 |
| Girls / boys | 29 / 59 | 36 / 72 |
| Foundation intake | 10 | 10 |
| Year 7 cohort | 11 | 5 |
| Year 12 cohort | 4 | 5 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +29% | +35% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 962 | 962 |
| ICSEA percentile | 30th | 30th |
| Top SEA quarter | 9% | 11% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 42% | 43% |
| Students per teacher | 3.8 | 3.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 23.2 | 34.4 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 24.2 | 42.5 |
| Language background other than English | 4% | 16% |
| Indigenous students | 15% | 19% |
| Suburb | Gympie 4570 | Ipswich 4305 |
| Council area | Gympie | Ipswich |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Major Cities |
| Website | gympiespecs.eq.edu.au | ipswichspecs.eq.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Ipswich Special School has fewer students per teacher (3.1 vs 3.8).
- •Ipswich Special School is the larger school with 108 students compared with 88.
- •Ipswich Special School has grown faster over five years (35% vs 29%).
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 Gympie Special School better than Ipswich 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 Gympie Special School and Ipswich Special School?
About 159 km in a straight line, between Gympie and Ipswich in Queensland.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Gympie Special School has 3.8 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Ipswich Special School has 3.1.
How do Gympie Special School and Ipswich Special School rank in QLD?
Gympie Special School is unranked and Ipswich Special School is unranked among special schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.