Gordon Education Centre vs McDonald Park School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in South Australia, 2.2 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Gordon Education Centre
Mount Gambier · Government special · U
62 students · ICSEA 951
McDonald Park School
Mount Gambier · Government primary · U, R-6
379 students · ICSEA 948
| Measure | Gordon Education Centre Mount Gambier SA | McDonald Park School Mount Gambier SA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 23 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #331 of 348 |
| National rank (type) | – | #4606 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Special | Primary |
| Year range | U | U, R-6 |
| Students | 62 | 379 |
| Girls / boys | 20 / 42 | 200 / 179 |
| Foundation intake | – | 63 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -6% | -31% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 951 | 948 |
| ICSEA percentile | 25th | 24th |
| Top SEA quarter | 7% | 4% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 46% | 52% |
| Students per teacher | 5.0 | 15.8 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 12.4 | 24.0 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 21.9 | 14.0 |
| Language background other than English | 5% | 8% |
| Indigenous students | 15% | 9% |
| Suburb | Mount Gambier 5290 | Mount Gambier 5290 |
| Council area | Mount Gambier | Mount Gambier |
| Remoteness | Outer Regional | Outer Regional |
| Website | www.gecsp.sa.edu.au | www.mcparkr7.sa.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Gordon Education Centre has the higher ICSEA (951 vs 948), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Gordon Education Centre has fewer students per teacher (5.0 vs 15.8).
- •McDonald Park School is the larger school with 379 students compared with 62.
- •Gordon Education Centre has grown faster over five years (-6% vs -31%).
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 Gordon Education Centre better than McDonald Park 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 Gordon Education Centre and McDonald Park School?
About 2.2 km in a straight line, between Mount Gambier and Mount Gambier in South Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Gordon Education Centre has 5.0 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and McDonald Park School has 15.8.
How do Gordon Education Centre and McDonald Park School rank in SA?
Gordon Education Centre is unranked and McDonald Park School is 331st of 348 among special schools in South Australia on the 2025 Success Index.