Hervey Bay Special School vs Western Suburbs State Special School
A head-to-head comparison of two special schools in Queensland, 255 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
Western Suburbs State Special School
Inala · Government special · Prep-12
220 students · ICSEA 972
| Measure | Hervey Bay Special School Kawungan QLD | Western Suburbs State Special School Inala 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 | 105 | 220 |
| Girls / boys | 36 / 69 | 59 / 161 |
| Foundation intake | 5 | 23 |
| Year 7 cohort | 10 | 18 |
| Year 12 cohort | 6 | 17 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +5% | +25% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 970 | 972 |
| ICSEA percentile | 33th | 34th |
| Top SEA quarter | 10% | 13% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 38% | 39% |
| Students per teacher | 4.2 | 4.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 24.9 | 53.1 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 25.1 | 63.3 |
| Language background other than English | 8% | 55% |
| Indigenous students | 17% | 13% |
| Suburb | Kawungan 4655 | Inala 4077 |
| Council area | Fraser Coast | Brisbane |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Major Cities |
| Website | herveybayspecs.eq.edu.au | westernsuburbsspecs.eq.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Western Suburbs State Special School has the higher ICSEA (972 vs 970), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Western Suburbs State Special School is the larger school with 220 students compared with 105.
- •Western Suburbs State Special School has grown faster over five years (25% vs 5%).
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 Western Suburbs State 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 Hervey Bay Special School and Western Suburbs State Special School?
About 255 km in a straight line, between Kawungan and Inala in Queensland.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Hervey Bay Special School has 4.2 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Western Suburbs State Special School has 4.1.
How do Hervey Bay Special School and Western Suburbs State Special School rank in QLD?
Hervey Bay Special School is unranked and Western Suburbs State Special School is unranked among special schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.