Riverdale Primary School vs The Pines School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in South Australia, 902 m apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Riverdale Primary School
Salisbury Downs · Government primary · U, R-6
241 students · ICSEA 937
The Pines School
Parafield Gardens · Government primary · U, R-6
671 students · ICSEA 967
| Measure | Riverdale Primary School Salisbury Downs SA | The Pines School Parafield Gardens SA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 33 Lower 50% | 33 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | #274 of 348 | #277 of 348 |
| National rank (type) | #3895 of 4,908 | #3914 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | U, R-6 | U, R-6 |
| Students | 241 | 671 |
| Girls / boys | 113 / 128 | 330 / 341 |
| Foundation intake | 42 | 92 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -13% | -9% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 937 | 967 |
| ICSEA percentile | 20th | 32th |
| Top SEA quarter | 5% | 10% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 58% | 49% |
| Students per teacher | 11.4 | 15.5 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 21.2 | 43.4 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 22.4 | 22.4 |
| Language background other than English | 33% | 71% |
| Indigenous students | 8% | 6% |
| Suburb | Salisbury Downs 5108 | Parafield Gardens 5107 |
| Council area | Salisbury | Salisbury |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | riverdaleps.sa.edu.au/ | www.thepines.sa.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (33.3 vs 33.1).
- •The Pines School has the higher ICSEA (967 vs 937), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Riverdale Primary School has fewer students per teacher (11.4 vs 15.5).
- •The Pines School is the larger school with 671 students compared with 241.
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 Riverdale Primary School better than The Pines 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 Riverdale Primary School and The Pines School?
About 902 m in a straight line, between Salisbury Downs and Parafield Gardens in South Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Riverdale Primary School has 11.4 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and The Pines School has 15.5.
How do Riverdale Primary School and The Pines School rank in SA?
Riverdale Primary School is 274th of 348 and The Pines School is 277th of 348 among primary schools in South Australia on the 2025 Success Index.