Gordon Education Centre vs Tenison Woods College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in South Australia, 1.2 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
Tenison Woods College
Mount Gambier · Catholic combined · R-12
1,552 students · ICSEA 1031
| Measure | Gordon Education Centre Mount Gambier SA | Tenison Woods College Mount Gambier SA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 51 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #50 of 145 |
| National rank (type) | – | #636 of 1,259 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Combined |
| Year range | U | R-12 |
| Students | 62 | 1,552 |
| Girls / boys | 20 / 42 | 741 / 811 |
| Foundation intake | – | 95 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 167 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 107 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -6% | +27% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 951 | 1031 |
| ICSEA percentile | 25th | 60th |
| Top SEA quarter | 7% | 20% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 46% | 23% |
| Students per teacher | 5.0 | 12.3 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 12.4 | 126.2 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 21.9 | 72.7 |
| Language background other than English | 5% | 12% |
| Indigenous students | 15% | 3% |
| 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.tenison.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Tenison Woods College has the higher ICSEA (1031 vs 951), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Gordon Education Centre has fewer students per teacher (5.0 vs 12.3).
- •Tenison Woods College is the larger school with 1,552 students compared with 62.
- •Tenison Woods College has grown faster over five years (27% vs -6%).
- •Gordon Education Centre is a government school while Tenison Woods College is a catholic 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 Gordon Education Centre better than Tenison Woods College?
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 Tenison Woods College?
About 1.2 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 Tenison Woods College has 12.3.
How do Gordon Education Centre and Tenison Woods College rank in SA?
Gordon Education Centre is unranked and Tenison Woods College is 50th of 145 among special schools in South Australia on the 2025 Success Index.