Adelaide North Special School vs St Columba College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in South Australia, 2.0 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Adelaide North Special School
Munno Para West · Government special · U
178 students · ICSEA 964
St Columba College
Andrews Farm · Catholic combined · R-12
1,519 students · ICSEA 973
| Measure | Adelaide North Special School Munno Para West SA | St Columba College Andrews Farm SA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 29 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #129 of 145 |
| National rank (type) | – | #1098 of 1,259 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Combined |
| Year range | U | R-12 |
| Students | 178 | 1,519 |
| Girls / boys | 58 / 120 | 781 / 738 |
| Foundation intake | – | 100 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 147 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 113 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -4% | +7% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 964 | 973 |
| ICSEA percentile | 30th | 34th |
| Top SEA quarter | 9% | 5% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 46% | 45% |
| Students per teacher | 4.9 | 13.0 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 36.3 | 116.7 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 60.7 | 84.1 |
| Language background other than English | 27% | 40% |
| Indigenous students | 11% | 4% |
| Suburb | Munno Para West 5115 | Andrews Farm 5114 |
| Council area | Playford | Playford |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | anss.sa.edu.au/ | www.stcolumba.com.au |
The verdict
- •St Columba College has the higher ICSEA (973 vs 964), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Adelaide North Special School has fewer students per teacher (4.9 vs 13.0).
- •St Columba College is the larger school with 1,519 students compared with 178.
- •St Columba College has grown faster over five years (7% vs -4%).
- •Adelaide North Special School is a government school while St Columba 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 Adelaide North Special School better than St Columba 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 Adelaide North Special School and St Columba College?
About 2.0 km in a straight line, between Munno Para West and Andrews Farm in South Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Adelaide North Special School has 4.9 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Columba College has 13.0.
How do Adelaide North Special School and St Columba College rank in SA?
Adelaide North Special School is unranked and St Columba College is 129th of 145 among special schools in South Australia on the 2025 Success Index.