Ipswich West Special School vs Mackay District Special School
A head-to-head comparison of two special schools in Queensland, 811 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Ipswich West Special School
West Ipswich · Government special · Prep-12
135 students · ICSEA 950
Mackay District Special School
Beaconsfield · Government special · Prep-12
82 students · ICSEA 949
| Measure | Ipswich West Special School West Ipswich QLD | Mackay District Special School Beaconsfield 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 | 135 | 82 |
| Girls / boys | 34 / 101 | 22 / 60 |
| Foundation intake | 12 | 7 |
| Year 7 cohort | 11 | 3 |
| Year 12 cohort | 10 | 6 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +35% | +0% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 950 | 949 |
| ICSEA percentile | 25th | 24th |
| Top SEA quarter | 7% | 8% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 49% | 49% |
| Students per teacher | 4.2 | 4.0 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 32.2 | 20.4 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 28.4 | 21.7 |
| Language background other than English | 15% | 9% |
| Indigenous students | 19% | 18% |
| Suburb | West Ipswich 4305 | Beaconsfield 4740 |
| Council area | Ipswich | Mackay |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Inner Regional |
| Website | ipswwestspecs.eq.edu.au | mackaydistrictspecs.eq.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Ipswich West Special School has the higher ICSEA (950 vs 949), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Ipswich West Special School is the larger school with 135 students compared with 82.
- •Ipswich West Special School has grown faster over five years (35% vs 0%).
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 West Special School better than Mackay District 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 West Special School and Mackay District Special School?
About 811 km in a straight line, between West Ipswich and Beaconsfield in Queensland.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Ipswich West Special School has 4.2 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Mackay District Special School has 4.0.
How do Ipswich West Special School and Mackay District Special School rank in QLD?
Ipswich West Special School is unranked and Mackay District Special School is unranked among special schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.