Ipswich West Special School vs St Mary's Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Queensland, 966 m 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
St Mary's Primary School
Woodend · Catholic primary · Prep-6
556 students · ICSEA 1041
| Measure | Ipswich West Special School West Ipswich QLD | St Mary's Primary School Woodend QLD |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 51 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #316 of 804 |
| National rank (type) | – | #2626 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Primary |
| Year range | Prep-12 | Prep-6 |
| Students | 135 | 556 |
| Girls / boys | 34 / 101 | 341 / 215 |
| Foundation intake | 12 | 74 |
| Year 7 cohort | 11 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 10 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +35% | -2% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 950 | 1041 |
| ICSEA percentile | 25th | 65th |
| Top SEA quarter | 7% | 17% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 49% | 14% |
| Students per teacher | 4.2 | 17.7 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 32.2 | 31.4 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 28.4 | 20.2 |
| Language background other than English | 15% | 7% |
| Indigenous students | 19% | 6% |
| Suburb | West Ipswich 4305 | Woodend 4305 |
| Council area | Ipswich | Ipswich |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | ipswwestspecs.eq.edu.au | www.stmarysipswich.qld.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Mary's Primary School has the higher ICSEA (1041 vs 950), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Ipswich West Special School has fewer students per teacher (4.2 vs 17.7).
- •St Mary's Primary School is the larger school with 556 students compared with 135.
- •Ipswich West Special School has grown faster over five years (35% vs -2%).
- •Ipswich West Special School is a government school while St Mary's Primary School is a catholic school, so fees and enrolment rules differ.
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 St Mary's Primary 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 St Mary's Primary School?
About 966 m in a straight line, between West Ipswich and Woodend in Queensland.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Ipswich West Special School has 4.2 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Mary's Primary School has 17.7.
How do Ipswich West Special School and St Mary's Primary School rank in QLD?
Ipswich West Special School is unranked and St Mary's Primary School is 316th of 804 among special schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.