Parkside Primary School vs St Patrick's Special School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in South Australia, 1.5 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Parkside Primary School
Parkside · Government primary · R-6
331 students · ICSEA 1126
St Patrick's Special School
Dulwich · Catholic special · U
51 students · ICSEA 1115
| Measure | Parkside Primary School Parkside SA | St Patrick's Special School Dulwich SA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 70 Top 25% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #61 of 348 | – |
| National rank (type) | #1049 of 4,908 | – |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Special |
| Year range | R-6 | U |
| Students | 331 | 51 |
| Girls / boys | 159 / 172 | 15 / 36 |
| Foundation intake | 49 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -17% | +2% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1126 | 1115 |
| ICSEA percentile | 90th | 88th |
| Top SEA quarter | 49% | 45% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 3% | 5% |
| Students per teacher | 18.3 | 3.6 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 18.1 | 14.2 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 9.3 | 25.4 |
| Language background other than English | 45% | 10% |
| Indigenous students | 2% | 4% |
| Suburb | Parkside 5063 | Dulwich 5065 |
| Council area | Unley | Burnside |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.parksideps.sa.edu.au | www.stpats.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Parkside Primary School has the higher ICSEA (1126 vs 1115), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Patrick's Special School has fewer students per teacher (3.6 vs 18.3).
- •Parkside Primary School is the larger school with 331 students compared with 51.
- •St Patrick's Special School has grown faster over five years (2% vs -17%).
- •Parkside Primary School is a government school while St Patrick's Special School 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.
Free academic assessment
Torn between two schools? Start with your child.
Whichever you choose, a free Success Tutoring assessment shows exactly where your child is in English and Maths and how to get ahead before the next school year.
- Personalised learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum
- English & Maths from Kindergarten to Year 12
- Flexible memberships, no lock-in contracts
- Your nearest centre: Success Tutoring Windsor Gardens
Frequently asked questions
Is Parkside Primary School 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 Parkside Primary School and St Patrick's Special School?
About 1.5 km in a straight line, between Parkside and Dulwich in South Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Parkside Primary School has 18.3 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Patrick's Special School has 3.6.
How do Parkside Primary School and St Patrick's Special School rank in SA?
Parkside Primary School is 61st of 348 and St Patrick's Special School is unranked among primary schools in South Australia on the 2025 Success Index.