Ipswich Central State School vs Ipswich West Special School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Queensland, 1.6 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Ipswich Central State School
Ipswich · Government primary · Prep-6
529 students · ICSEA 980
Ipswich West Special School
West Ipswich · Government special · Prep-12
135 students · ICSEA 950
| Measure | Ipswich Central State School Ipswich QLD | Ipswich West Special School West Ipswich QLD |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 38 Lower 50% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #498 of 804 | – |
| National rank (type) | #3557 of 4,908 | – |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Primary | Special |
| Year range | Prep-6 | Prep-12 |
| Students | 529 | 135 |
| Girls / boys | 265 / 264 | 34 / 101 |
| Foundation intake | 48 | 12 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 11 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 10 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -25% | +35% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 980 | 950 |
| ICSEA percentile | 38th | 25th |
| Top SEA quarter | 9% | 7% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 37% | 49% |
| Students per teacher | 13.2 | 4.2 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 40.0 | 32.2 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 23.2 | 28.4 |
| Language background other than English | 13% | 15% |
| Indigenous students | 15% | 19% |
| Suburb | Ipswich 4305 | West Ipswich 4305 |
| Council area | Ipswich | Ipswich |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | ipswichcentralss.eq.edu.au | ipswwestspecs.eq.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Ipswich Central State School has the higher ICSEA (980 vs 950), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Ipswich West Special School has fewer students per teacher (4.2 vs 13.2).
- •Ipswich Central State School is the larger school with 529 students compared with 135.
- •Ipswich West Special School has grown faster over five years (35% vs -25%).
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 Ipswich Central State School better than Ipswich West 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 Ipswich Central State School and Ipswich West Special School?
About 1.6 km in a straight line, between Ipswich and West Ipswich in Queensland.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Ipswich Central State School has 13.2 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Ipswich West Special School has 4.2.
How do Ipswich Central State School and Ipswich West Special School rank in QLD?
Ipswich Central State School is 498th of 804 and Ipswich West Special School is unranked among primary schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.