Mount Barker South Primary School vs St Francis de Sales College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in South Australia, 1.6 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Mount Barker South Primary School
Mount Barker · Government primary · U, R-6
399 students · ICSEA 1011
St Francis de Sales College
Mount Barker · Catholic combined · R-12
1,047 students · ICSEA 1051
| Measure | Mount Barker South Primary School Mount Barker SA | St Francis de Sales College Mount Barker SA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 51 Top 50% | 55 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | #172 of 348 | #43 of 145 |
| National rank (type) | #2597 of 4,908 | #553 of 1,259 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Combined |
| Year range | U, R-6 | R-12 |
| Students | 399 | 1,047 |
| Girls / boys | 195 / 204 | 535 / 512 |
| Foundation intake | 64 | 67 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 121 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 69 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +21% | +51% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1011 | 1051 |
| ICSEA percentile | 52th | 69th |
| Top SEA quarter | 12% | 20% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 29% | 14% |
| Students per teacher | 16.1 | 15.3 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 24.8 | 68.4 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 18.1 | 40.1 |
| Language background other than English | 11% | 5% |
| Indigenous students | 5% | 4% |
| Suburb | Mount Barker 5251 | Mount Barker 5251 |
| Council area | Mount Barker | Mount Barker |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.mtbsouthps.sa.edu.au | www.stfrancis.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Francis de Sales College scores higher on the Success Index (54.7 vs 51.3).
- •St Francis de Sales College has the higher ICSEA (1051 vs 1011), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Francis de Sales College has fewer students per teacher (15.3 vs 16.1).
- •St Francis de Sales College is the larger school with 1,047 students compared with 399.
- •St Francis de Sales College has grown faster over five years (51% vs 21%).
- •Mount Barker South Primary School is a government school while St Francis de Sales 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 Mount Barker South Primary School better than St Francis de Sales College?
On the Success Index, St Francis de Sales College ranks higher (54.7 vs 51.3 out of 100). The index measures community advantage and momentum from ACARA data, not teaching quality, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Mount Barker South Primary School and St Francis de Sales College?
About 1.6 km in a straight line, between Mount Barker and Mount Barker in South Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Mount Barker South Primary School has 16.1 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Francis de Sales College has 15.3.
How do Mount Barker South Primary School and St Francis de Sales College rank in SA?
Mount Barker South Primary School is 172nd of 348 and St Francis de Sales College is 43rd of 145 among primary schools in South Australia on the 2025 Success Index.