Loreto College vs St Patrick's Special School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in South Australia, 1.3 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Loreto College
Marryatville · Catholic combined · R-12
717 students · ICSEA 1098
St Patrick's Special School
Dulwich · Catholic special · U
51 students · ICSEA 1115
| Measure | Loreto College Marryatville SA | St Patrick's Special School Dulwich SA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 69 Top 25% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #16 of 145 | – |
| National rank (type) | #291 of 1,259 | – |
| Sector | Catholic | Catholic |
| Type | Combined | Special |
| Year range | R-12 | U |
| Students | 717 | 51 |
| Girls / boys | 717 / 0 | 15 / 36 |
| Foundation intake | 30 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 77 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 69 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +44% | +2% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1098 | 1115 |
| ICSEA percentile | 84th | 88th |
| Top SEA quarter | 44% | 45% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 12% | 5% |
| Students per teacher | 10.9 | 3.6 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 65.9 | 14.2 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 33.1 | 25.4 |
| Language background other than English | 14% | 10% |
| Indigenous students | 1% | 4% |
| Suburb | Marryatville 5068 | Dulwich 5065 |
| Council area | Norwood Payneham and St Peters | Burnside |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.loreto.sa.edu.au | www.stpats.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Patrick's Special School has the higher ICSEA (1115 vs 1098), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Patrick's Special School has fewer students per teacher (3.6 vs 10.9).
- •Loreto College is the larger school with 717 students compared with 51.
- •Loreto College has grown faster over five years (44% vs 2%).
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 Loreto College better than St Patrick's Special 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 Loreto College and St Patrick's Special School?
About 1.3 km in a straight line, between Marryatville and Dulwich in South Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Loreto College has 10.9 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Patrick's Special School has 3.6.
How do Loreto College and St Patrick's Special School rank in SA?
Loreto College is 16th of 145 and St Patrick's Special School is unranked among combined schools in South Australia on the 2025 Success Index.