Catherine McAuley School vs St Columba's Memorial School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in South Australia, 108 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Catherine McAuley School
Craigmore · Catholic primary · R-6
483 students · ICSEA 976
St Columba's Memorial School
Yorketown · Catholic primary · R-6
79 students · ICSEA 984
| Measure | Catherine McAuley School Craigmore SA | St Columba's Memorial School Yorketown SA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 40 Lower 50% | 40 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | #238 of 348 | – |
| National rank (type) | #3454 of 4,908 | – |
| Sector | Catholic | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | R-6 | R-6 |
| Students | 483 | 79 |
| Girls / boys | 226 / 257 | 39 / 40 |
| Foundation intake | 83 | 8 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +34% | -2% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 976 | 984 |
| ICSEA percentile | 36th | 39th |
| Top SEA quarter | 5% | 5% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 43% | 33% |
| Students per teacher | 15.0 | 12.3 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 32.2 | 6.4 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 25.3 | 6.2 |
| Language background other than English | 9% | 0% |
| Indigenous students | 6% | 3% |
| Suburb | Craigmore 5114 | Yorketown 5576 |
| Council area | Playford | Yorke Peninsula |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Remote |
| Website | www.cms.catholic.edu.au/ | www.scms.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (39.5 vs 40.4).
- •St Columba's Memorial School has the higher ICSEA (984 vs 976), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Columba's Memorial School has fewer students per teacher (12.3 vs 15.0).
- •Catherine McAuley School is the larger school with 483 students compared with 79.
- •Catherine McAuley School has grown faster over five years (34% vs -2%).
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 Catherine McAuley School better than St Columba's Memorial 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 Catherine McAuley School and St Columba's Memorial School?
About 108 km in a straight line, between Craigmore and Yorketown in South Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Catherine McAuley School has 15.0 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Columba's Memorial School has 12.3.
How do Catherine McAuley School and St Columba's Memorial School rank in SA?
Catherine McAuley School is 238th of 348 and St Columba's Memorial School is unranked among primary schools in South Australia on the 2025 Success Index.