Mount Isa Special School vs St Kieran's Catholic School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Queensland, 1.2 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Mount Isa Special School
Pioneer · Government special · Prep-12
35 students · ICSEA 877
St Kieran's Catholic School
Mount Isa · Catholic primary · Prep-6
140 students · ICSEA 858
| Measure | Mount Isa Special School Pioneer QLD | St Kieran's Catholic School Mount Isa QLD |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 21 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #744 of 804 |
| National rank (type) | – | #4747 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Primary |
| Year range | Prep-12 | Prep-6 |
| Students | 35 | 140 |
| Girls / boys | 10 / 25 | 74 / 66 |
| Foundation intake | 3 | 15 |
| Year 7 cohort | 9 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 1 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +0% | -14% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 877 | 858 |
| ICSEA percentile | 7th | 5th |
| Top SEA quarter | 9% | 3% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 48% | 51% |
| Students per teacher | 4.0 | 10.5 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 8.8 | 13.2 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 8.6 | 14.6 |
| Language background other than English | 28% | 21% |
| Indigenous students | 54% | 50% |
| Suburb | Pioneer 4825 | Mount Isa 4825 |
| Council area | Mount Isa | Mount Isa |
| Remoteness | Remote | Remote |
| Website | mtisaspecs.eq.edu.au | www.skmtsv.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Mount Isa Special School has the higher ICSEA (877 vs 858), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Mount Isa Special School has fewer students per teacher (4.0 vs 10.5).
- •St Kieran's Catholic School is the larger school with 140 students compared with 35.
- •Mount Isa Special School has grown faster over five years (0% vs -14%).
- •Mount Isa Special School is a government school while St Kieran's Catholic 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 Mount Isa Special School better than St Kieran's Catholic 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 Mount Isa Special School and St Kieran's Catholic School?
About 1.2 km in a straight line, between Pioneer and Mount Isa in Queensland.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Mount Isa Special School has 4.0 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Kieran's Catholic School has 10.5.
How do Mount Isa Special School and St Kieran's Catholic School rank in QLD?
Mount Isa Special School is unranked and St Kieran's Catholic School is 744th of 804 among special schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.