Hamilton Secondary College vs Suneden Specialist School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in South Australia, 1.8 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Hamilton Secondary College
Mitchell Park · Government high school · U, 7-12
609 students · ICSEA 994
Suneden Specialist School
Mitchell Park · Independent special · U
72 students · ICSEA 1065
| Measure | Hamilton Secondary College Mitchell Park SA | Suneden Specialist School Mitchell Park SA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 46 Lower 50% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #39 of 84 | – |
| National rank (type) | #817 of 1,472 | – |
| Sector | Government | Independent |
| Type | Secondary | Special |
| Year range | U, 7-12 | U |
| Students | 609 | 72 |
| Girls / boys | 271 / 338 | 24 / 48 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 79 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 75 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +21% | +6% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 994 | 1065 |
| ICSEA percentile | 44th | 74th |
| Top SEA quarter | 13% | 27% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 35% | 14% |
| Students per teacher | 14.4 | 6.0 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 41.6 | 12.0 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 15.5 | 25.7 |
| Language background other than English | 38% | 11% |
| Indigenous students | 8% | 3% |
| Suburb | Mitchell Park 5043 | Mitchell Park 5043 |
| Council area | Marion | Marion |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.hamcoll.sa.edu.au | www.suneden.sa.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Suneden Specialist School has the higher ICSEA (1065 vs 994), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Suneden Specialist School has fewer students per teacher (6.0 vs 14.4).
- •Hamilton Secondary College is the larger school with 609 students compared with 72.
- •Hamilton Secondary College has grown faster over five years (21% vs 6%).
- •Hamilton Secondary College 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 Hamilton Secondary College 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 Hamilton Secondary College and Suneden Specialist School?
About 1.8 km in a straight line, between Mitchell Park and Mitchell Park in South Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Hamilton Secondary College has 14.4 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Suneden Specialist School has 6.0.
How do Hamilton Secondary College and Suneden Specialist School rank in SA?
Hamilton Secondary College is 39th of 84 and Suneden Specialist School is unranked among secondary schools in South Australia on the 2025 Success Index.