Holy Family Catholic School vs St Patrick's School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in South Australia, 9.6 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Holy Family Catholic School
Parafield Gardens · Catholic primary · R-6
539 students · ICSEA 1000
St Patrick's School
Mansfield Park · Catholic primary · R-6
180 students · ICSEA 1002
| Measure | Holy Family Catholic School Parafield Gardens SA | St Patrick's School Mansfield Park SA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 51 Top 50% | 50 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | #173 of 348 | #176 of 348 |
| National rank (type) | #2622 of 4,908 | #2669 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Catholic | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | R-6 | R-6 |
| Students | 539 | 180 |
| Girls / boys | 255 / 284 | 91 / 89 |
| Foundation intake | 90 | 20 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -2% | -21% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1000 | 1002 |
| ICSEA percentile | 47th | 48th |
| Top SEA quarter | 10% | 11% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 33% | 34% |
| Students per teacher | 14.4 | 11.0 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 37.5 | 16.4 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 35.7 | 12.3 |
| Language background other than English | 61% | 80% |
| Indigenous students | 3% | 1% |
| Suburb | Parafield Gardens 5107 | Mansfield Park 5012 |
| Council area | Salisbury | Port Adelaide Enfield |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.holyfamily.catholic.edu.au | www.stpatsmp.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (51.0 vs 50.2).
- •St Patrick's School has the higher ICSEA (1002 vs 1000), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Patrick's School has fewer students per teacher (11.0 vs 14.4).
- •Holy Family Catholic School is the larger school with 539 students compared with 180.
- •Holy Family Catholic School has grown faster over five years (-2% vs -21%).
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 Holy Family Catholic School better than St Patrick's 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 Holy Family Catholic School and St Patrick's School?
About 9.6 km in a straight line, between Parafield Gardens and Mansfield Park in South Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Holy Family Catholic School has 14.4 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Patrick's School has 11.0.
How do Holy Family Catholic School and St Patrick's School rank in SA?
Holy Family Catholic School is 173rd of 348 and St Patrick's School is 176th of 348 among primary schools in South Australia on the 2025 Success Index.