Caritas College vs Port Augusta Special School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in South Australia, 1.3 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Caritas College
Port Augusta West · Catholic combined · R-12
541 students · ICSEA 995
Port Augusta Special School
Port Augusta · Government special · U
40 students · ICSEA 860
| Measure | Caritas College Port Augusta West SA | Port Augusta Special School Port Augusta SA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 38 Lower 50% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #90 of 145 | – |
| National rank (type) | #894 of 1,259 | – |
| Sector | Catholic | Government |
| Type | Combined | Special |
| Year range | R-12 | U |
| Students | 541 | 40 |
| Girls / boys | 291 / 250 | 10 / 30 |
| Foundation intake | 39 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 62 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 32 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +22% | +5% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 995 | 860 |
| ICSEA percentile | 45th | 5th |
| Top SEA quarter | 14% | 8% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 26% | 58% |
| Students per teacher | 12.3 | 6.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 43.8 | 6.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 19.4 | 7.9 |
| Language background other than English | 11% | 13% |
| Indigenous students | 16% | 55% |
| Suburb | Port Augusta West 5700 | Port Augusta 5700 |
| Council area | Port Augusta | Port Augusta |
| Remoteness | Outer Regional | Outer Regional |
| Website | www.cc.catholic.edu.au | www.ptaugsps.sa.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Caritas College has the higher ICSEA (995 vs 860), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Port Augusta Special School has fewer students per teacher (6.1 vs 12.3).
- •Caritas College is the larger school with 541 students compared with 40.
- •Caritas College has grown faster over five years (22% vs 5%).
- •Caritas College is a catholic school while Port Augusta Special School is a government 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 Caritas College better than Port Augusta Special 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 Caritas College and Port Augusta Special School?
About 1.3 km in a straight line, between Port Augusta West and Port Augusta in South Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Caritas College has 12.3 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Port Augusta Special School has 6.1.
How do Caritas College and Port Augusta Special School rank in SA?
Caritas College is 90th of 145 and Port Augusta Special School is unranked among combined schools in South Australia on the 2025 Success Index.