Hervey Bay Special School vs Hervey Bay State High School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Queensland, 2.6 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Hervey Bay Special School
Kawungan · Government special · Prep-12
105 students · ICSEA 970
Hervey Bay State High School
Pialba · Government high school · 7-12
1,280 students · ICSEA 963
| Measure | Hervey Bay Special School Kawungan QLD | Hervey Bay State High School Pialba QLD |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 48 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #123 of 269 |
| National rank (type) | – | #788 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Special | Secondary |
| Year range | Prep-12 | 7-12 |
| Students | 105 | 1,280 |
| Girls / boys | 36 / 69 | 653 / 627 |
| Foundation intake | 5 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 10 | 258 |
| Year 12 cohort | 6 | 143 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +5% | +3% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 970 | 963 |
| ICSEA percentile | 33th | 30th |
| Top SEA quarter | 10% | 7% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 38% | 45% |
| Students per teacher | 4.2 | 11.5 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 24.9 | 111.3 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 25.1 | 46.7 |
| Language background other than English | 8% | 5% |
| Indigenous students | 17% | 14% |
| Suburb | Kawungan 4655 | Pialba 4655 |
| Council area | Fraser Coast | Fraser Coast |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | herveybayspecs.eq.edu.au | herveybayshs.eq.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Hervey Bay Special School has the higher ICSEA (970 vs 963), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Hervey Bay Special School has fewer students per teacher (4.2 vs 11.5).
- •Hervey Bay State High School is the larger school with 1,280 students compared with 105.
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 Hervey Bay Special School better than Hervey Bay 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 Hervey Bay Special School and Hervey Bay State High School?
About 2.6 km in a straight line, between Kawungan and Pialba in Queensland.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Hervey Bay Special School has 4.2 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Hervey Bay State High School has 11.5.
How do Hervey Bay Special School and Hervey Bay State High School rank in QLD?
Hervey Bay Special School is unranked and Hervey Bay State High School is 123rd of 269 among special schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.