Nambour Special School vs St Joseph's Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Queensland, 1.4 km 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 Joseph's Primary School
Nambour · Catholic primary · Prep-6
341 students · ICSEA 1045
| Measure | Nambour Special School Burnside QLD | St Joseph's Primary School Nambour QLD |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 53 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #299 of 804 |
| National rank (type) | – | #2504 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Primary |
| Year range | Prep-12 | Prep-6 |
| Students | 132 | 341 |
| Girls / boys | 40 / 92 | 176 / 165 |
| Foundation intake | 6 | 37 |
| Year 7 cohort | 8 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 9 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -11% | -10% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1002 | 1045 |
| ICSEA percentile | 48th | 66th |
| Top SEA quarter | 15% | 16% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 34% | 12% |
| Students per teacher | 3.5 | 16.2 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 37.5 | 21.0 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 36.1 | 10.0 |
| Language background other than English | 7% | 8% |
| Indigenous students | 9% | 5% |
| Suburb | Burnside 4560 | Nambour 4560 |
| Council area | Sunshine Coast | Sunshine Coast |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | nambourspecs.eq.edu.au | www.stjosephsnambour.qld.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Joseph's Primary School has the higher ICSEA (1045 vs 1002), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Nambour Special School has fewer students per teacher (3.5 vs 16.2).
- •St Joseph's Primary School is the larger school with 341 students compared with 132.
- •Nambour Special School is a government school while St Joseph'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 Nambour Special School better than St Joseph'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 Nambour Special School and St Joseph's Primary School?
About 1.4 km 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 Joseph's Primary School has 16.2.
How do Nambour Special School and St Joseph's Primary School rank in QLD?
Nambour Special School is unranked and St Joseph's Primary School is 299th of 804 among special schools in Queensland on the 2025 Success Index.