Birdwood High School vs Hamilton Secondary College
A head-to-head comparison of two secondary schools in South Australia, 41 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Birdwood High School
Birdwood · Government high school · 7-12
555 students · ICSEA 996
Hamilton Secondary College
Mitchell Park · Government high school · U, 7-12
609 students · ICSEA 994
| Measure | Birdwood High School Birdwood SA | Hamilton Secondary College Mitchell Park SA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 46 Lower 50% | 46 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | #41 of 84 | #39 of 84 |
| National rank (type) | #822 of 1,472 | #817 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Secondary | Secondary |
| Year range | 7-12 | U, 7-12 |
| Students | 555 | 609 |
| Girls / boys | 260 / 295 | 271 / 338 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 108 | 79 |
| Year 12 cohort | 78 | 75 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +31% | +21% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 996 | 994 |
| ICSEA percentile | 45th | 44th |
| Top SEA quarter | 9% | 13% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 36% | 35% |
| Students per teacher | 13.2 | 14.4 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 41.9 | 41.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 14.6 | 15.5 |
| Language background other than English | 2% | 38% |
| Indigenous students | 5% | 8% |
| Suburb | Birdwood 5234 | Mitchell Park 5043 |
| Council area | Adelaide Hills | Marion |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Major Cities |
| Website | www.birdwoodhs.sa.edu.au | www.hamcoll.sa.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (46.0 vs 46.2).
- •Birdwood High School has the higher ICSEA (996 vs 994), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Birdwood High School has fewer students per teacher (13.2 vs 14.4).
- •Hamilton Secondary College is the larger school with 609 students compared with 555.
- •Birdwood High School has grown faster over five years (31% vs 21%).
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 Birdwood High School better than Hamilton Secondary 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 Birdwood High School and Hamilton Secondary College?
About 41 km in a straight line, between Birdwood and Mitchell Park in South Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Birdwood High School has 13.2 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Hamilton Secondary College has 14.4.
How do Birdwood High School and Hamilton Secondary College rank in SA?
Birdwood High School is 41st of 84 and Hamilton Secondary College is 39th of 84 among secondary schools in South Australia on the 2025 Success Index.