Darlington Primary School vs Suneden Specialist School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in South Australia, 1.9 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Darlington Primary School
Seacombe Gardens · Government primary · U, R-6
184 students · ICSEA 964
Suneden Specialist School
Mitchell Park · Independent special · U
72 students · ICSEA 1065
| Measure | Darlington Primary School Seacombe Gardens SA | Suneden Specialist School Mitchell Park SA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 42 Lower 50% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #227 of 348 | – |
| National rank (type) | #3284 of 4,908 | – |
| Sector | Government | Independent |
| Type | Primary | Special |
| Year range | U, R-6 | U |
| Students | 184 | 72 |
| Girls / boys | 95 / 89 | 24 / 48 |
| Foundation intake | 27 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -22% | +6% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 964 | 1065 |
| ICSEA percentile | 31th | 74th |
| Top SEA quarter | 10% | 27% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 42% | 14% |
| Students per teacher | 11.4 | 6.0 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 16.1 | 12.0 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 10.4 | 25.7 |
| Language background other than English | 66% | 11% |
| Indigenous students | 15% | 3% |
| Suburb | Seacombe Gardens 5047 | Mitchell Park 5043 |
| Council area | Marion | Marion |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.darlngtnps.sa.edu.au | www.suneden.sa.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Suneden Specialist School has the higher ICSEA (1065 vs 964), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Suneden Specialist School has fewer students per teacher (6.0 vs 11.4).
- •Darlington Primary School is the larger school with 184 students compared with 72.
- •Suneden Specialist School has grown faster over five years (6% vs -22%).
- •Darlington Primary School is a government school while Suneden Specialist School is an independent 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 Darlington Primary School better than Suneden Specialist 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 Darlington Primary School and Suneden Specialist School?
About 1.9 km in a straight line, between Seacombe Gardens and Mitchell Park in South Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Darlington Primary School has 11.4 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Suneden Specialist School has 6.0.
How do Darlington Primary School and Suneden Specialist School rank in SA?
Darlington Primary School is 227th of 348 and Suneden Specialist School is unranked among primary schools in South Australia on the 2025 Success Index.