Dominican School vs Portside Christian College
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.
Dominican School
Semaphore · Catholic primary · R-6
230 students · ICSEA 1048
Portside Christian College
New Port · Independent combined · R-12
626 students · ICSEA 1067
| Measure | Dominican School Semaphore SA | Portside Christian College New Port SA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 64 Top 50% | 54 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | #100 of 348 | #46 of 145 |
| National rank (type) | #1536 of 4,908 | #580 of 1,259 |
| Sector | Catholic | Independent |
| Type | Primary | Combined |
| Year range | R-6 | R-12 |
| Students | 230 | 626 |
| Girls / boys | 108 / 122 | 326 / 300 |
| Foundation intake | 57 | 47 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 60 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 43 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +20% | +1% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1048 | 1067 |
| ICSEA percentile | 68th | 74th |
| Top SEA quarter | 22% | 26% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 16% | 12% |
| Students per teacher | 14.4 | 14.0 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 16.0 | 44.7 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 10.4 | 21.5 |
| Language background other than English | 7% | 27% |
| Indigenous students | 7% | 2% |
| Suburb | Semaphore 5019 | New Port 5015 |
| Council area | Port Adelaide Enfield | Port Adelaide Enfield |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.dominican.catholic.edu.au | www.portside.sa.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Dominican School scores higher on the Success Index (64.1 vs 53.5).
- •Portside Christian College has the higher ICSEA (1067 vs 1048), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Portside Christian College is the larger school with 626 students compared with 230.
- •Dominican School has grown faster over five years (20% vs 1%).
- •Dominican School is a catholic school while Portside Christian College 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 Dominican School better than Portside Christian College?
On the Success Index, Dominican School ranks higher (64.1 vs 53.5 out of 100). The index measures community advantage and momentum from ACARA data, not teaching quality, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Dominican School and Portside Christian College?
About 1.9 km in a straight line, between Semaphore and New Port in South Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Dominican School has 14.4 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Portside Christian College has 14.0.
How do Dominican School and Portside Christian College rank in SA?
Dominican School is 100th of 348 and Portside Christian College is 46th of 145 among primary schools in South Australia on the 2025 Success Index.