Mary Help of Christians Catholic College vs The Willows State School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Queensland, 2.9 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Mary Help of Christians Catholic College
Shaw · Catholic high school · 7
127 students · ICSEA 990
The Willows State School
Kirwan · Government primary · Prep-6
876 students · ICSEA 956
| Measure | Mary Help of Christians Catholic College Shaw QLD | The Willows State School Kirwan QLD |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 50 Top 50% | 32 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | #110 of 269 | #575 of 804 |
| National rank (type) | #739 of 1,472 | #3989 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Catholic | Government |
| Type | Secondary | Primary |
| Year range | 7 | Prep-6 |
| Students | 127 | 876 |
| Girls / boys | 58 / 69 | 437 / 439 |
| Foundation intake | – | 121 |
| Year 7 cohort | 127 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | – | -3% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 990 | 956 |
| ICSEA percentile | 42th | 27th |
| Top SEA quarter | 11% | 5% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 24% | 38% |
| Students per teacher | 9.1 | 14.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 14.0 | 62.0 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 9.3 | 27.3 |
| Language background other than English | 7% | 10% |
| Indigenous students | 17% | 19% |
| Suburb | Shaw 4818 | Kirwan 4817 |
| Council area | Townsville | Townsville |
| Remoteness | Outer Regional | Outer Regional |
| Website | www.mhoc.catholic.edu.au/ | thewillowsss.eq.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Mary Help of Christians Catholic College scores higher on the Success Index (50.3 vs 31.9).
- •Mary Help of Christians Catholic College has the higher ICSEA (990 vs 956), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Mary Help of Christians Catholic College has fewer students per teacher (9.1 vs 14.1).
- •The Willows State School is the larger school with 876 students compared with 127.
- •Mary Help of Christians Catholic College is a catholic school while The Willows State School is a government 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 Mary Help of Christians Catholic College better than The Willows State School?
On the Success Index, Mary Help of Christians Catholic College ranks higher (50.3 vs 31.9 out of 100). The index measures community advantage and momentum from ACARA data, not teaching quality, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Mary Help of Christians Catholic College and The Willows State School?
About 2.9 km in a straight line, between Shaw and Kirwan in Queensland.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Mary Help of Christians Catholic College has 9.1 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and The Willows State School has 14.1.
How do Mary Help of Christians Catholic College and The Willows State School rank in QLD?
Mary Help of Christians Catholic College is 110th of 269 and The Willows State School is 575th of 804 among secondary schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.