Nambour Special School vs St John's College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Queensland, 576 m apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Nambour Special School
Burnside · Government special · Prep-12
132 students · ICSEA 1002
St John's College
Nambour · Catholic high school · 7-12
927 students · ICSEA 1059
| Measure | Nambour Special School Burnside QLD | St John's College Nambour QLD |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 62 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #53 of 269 |
| National rank (type) | – | #462 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Secondary |
| Year range | Prep-12 | 7-12 |
| Students | 132 | 927 |
| Girls / boys | 40 / 92 | 473 / 454 |
| Foundation intake | 6 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 8 | 175 |
| Year 12 cohort | 9 | 135 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -11% | +10% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1002 | 1059 |
| ICSEA percentile | 48th | 72th |
| Top SEA quarter | 15% | 21% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 34% | 10% |
| Students per teacher | 3.5 | 14.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 37.5 | 65.9 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 36.1 | 30.6 |
| Language background other than English | 7% | 3% |
| Indigenous students | 9% | 3% |
| Suburb | Burnside 4560 | Nambour 4560 |
| Council area | Sunshine Coast | Sunshine Coast |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | nambourspecs.eq.edu.au | www.stjohns.qld.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St John's College has the higher ICSEA (1059 vs 1002), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Nambour Special School has fewer students per teacher (3.5 vs 14.1).
- •St John's College is the larger school with 927 students compared with 132.
- •St John's College has grown faster over five years (10% vs -11%).
- •Nambour Special School is a government school while St John's College 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 Nambour Special School better than St John's College?
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 Nambour Special School and St John's College?
About 576 m in a straight line, between Burnside and Nambour in Queensland.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Nambour Special School has 3.5 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St John's College has 14.1.
How do Nambour Special School and St John's College rank in QLD?
Nambour Special School is unranked and St John's College is 53rd of 269 among special schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.