John Pirie Secondary School vs Solomontown Primary School
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.
John Pirie Secondary School
Port Pirie · Government high school · U, 7-12
691 students · ICSEA 894
Solomontown Primary School
Port Pirie · Government primary · U, R-6
183 students · ICSEA 881
| Measure | John Pirie Secondary School Port Pirie SA | Solomontown Primary School Port Pirie SA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 28 Lower 50% | 27 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | #68 of 84 | #308 of 348 |
| National rank (type) | #1241 of 1,472 | #4331 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Secondary | Primary |
| Year range | U, 7-12 | U, R-6 |
| Students | 691 | 183 |
| Girls / boys | 335 / 356 | 95 / 88 |
| Foundation intake | – | 30 |
| Year 7 cohort | 127 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 75 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +6% | +28% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 894 | 881 |
| ICSEA percentile | 10th | 7th |
| Top SEA quarter | 3% | 2% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 68% | 68% |
| Students per teacher | 12.1 | 10.8 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 56.7 | 17.0 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 34.3 | 12.8 |
| Language background other than English | 7% | 4% |
| Indigenous students | 20% | 27% |
| Suburb | Port Pirie 5540 | Port Pirie 5540 |
| Council area | Port Pirie | Port Pirie |
| Remoteness | Outer Regional | Outer Regional |
| Website | www.jpss.sa.edu.au | solomontownps.sa.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (27.6 vs 27.3).
- •John Pirie Secondary School has the higher ICSEA (894 vs 881), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Solomontown Primary School has fewer students per teacher (10.8 vs 12.1).
- •John Pirie Secondary School is the larger school with 691 students compared with 183.
- •Solomontown Primary School has grown faster over five years (28% vs 6%).
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 John Pirie Secondary School better than Solomontown Primary 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 John Pirie Secondary School and Solomontown Primary School?
About 1.2 km in a straight line, between Port Pirie and Port Pirie in South Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
John Pirie Secondary School has 12.1 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Solomontown Primary School has 10.8.
How do John Pirie Secondary School and Solomontown Primary School rank in SA?
John Pirie Secondary School is 68th of 84 and Solomontown Primary School is 308th of 348 among secondary schools in South Australia on the 2025 Success Index.