Hervey Bay Special School vs Pialba State School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Queensland, 2.7 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
Pialba State School
Pialba · Government primary · Prep-6
367 students · ICSEA 901
| Measure | Hervey Bay Special School Kawungan QLD | Pialba State School Pialba QLD |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 28 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #630 of 804 |
| National rank (type) | – | #4277 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Special | Primary |
| Year range | Prep-12 | Prep-6 |
| Students | 105 | 367 |
| Girls / boys | 36 / 69 | 164 / 203 |
| Foundation intake | 5 | 35 |
| Year 7 cohort | 10 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 6 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +5% | -10% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 970 | 901 |
| ICSEA percentile | 33th | 11th |
| Top SEA quarter | 10% | 4% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 38% | 64% |
| Students per teacher | 4.2 | 12.4 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 24.9 | 29.7 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 25.1 | 19.8 |
| Language background other than English | 8% | 7% |
| Indigenous students | 17% | 26% |
| Suburb | Kawungan 4655 | Pialba 4655 |
| Council area | Fraser Coast | Fraser Coast |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | herveybayspecs.eq.edu.au | pialbass.eq.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Hervey Bay Special School has the higher ICSEA (970 vs 901), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Hervey Bay Special School has fewer students per teacher (4.2 vs 12.4).
- •Pialba State School is the larger school with 367 students compared with 105.
- •Hervey Bay Special School has grown faster over five years (5% vs -10%).
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 Pialba 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 Hervey Bay Special School and Pialba State School?
About 2.7 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 Pialba State School has 12.4.
How do Hervey Bay Special School and Pialba State School rank in QLD?
Hervey Bay Special School is unranked and Pialba State School is 630th of 804 among special schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.