St Catherine's School vs The Hills Montessori School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in South Australia, 3.7 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
St Catherine's School
Stirling · Catholic primary · R-6
185 students · ICSEA 1133
The Hills Montessori School
Aldgate · Independent combined · R-9
133 students · ICSEA 1105
| Measure | St Catherine's School Stirling SA | The Hills Montessori School Aldgate SA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 77 Top 10% | 68 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | #10 of 348 | #17 of 145 |
| National rank (type) | #384 of 4,908 | #302 of 1,259 |
| Sector | Catholic | Independent |
| Type | Primary | Combined |
| Year range | R-6 | R-9 |
| Students | 185 | 133 |
| Girls / boys | 83 / 102 | 76 / 57 |
| Foundation intake | 31 | 16 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 5 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -9% | -24% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1133 | 1105 |
| ICSEA percentile | 92th | 86th |
| Top SEA quarter | 55% | 45% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 5% | 9% |
| Students per teacher | 15.9 | 10.6 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 11.6 | 12.5 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 6.6 | 9.4 |
| Language background other than English | 3% | 4% |
| Indigenous students | 0% | 0% |
| Suburb | Stirling 5152 | Aldgate 5154 |
| Council area | Adelaide Hills | Adelaide Hills |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.stcaths.catholic.edu.au/ | www.montessori.sa.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Catherine's School scores higher on the Success Index (77.2 vs 68.1).
- •St Catherine's School has the higher ICSEA (1133 vs 1105), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •The Hills Montessori School has fewer students per teacher (10.6 vs 15.9).
- •St Catherine's School is the larger school with 185 students compared with 133.
- •St Catherine's School has grown faster over five years (-9% vs -24%).
- •St Catherine's School is a catholic school while The Hills Montessori School is an independent 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 St Catherine's School better than The Hills Montessori School?
On the Success Index, St Catherine's School ranks higher (77.2 vs 68.1 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 St Catherine's School and The Hills Montessori School?
About 3.7 km in a straight line, between Stirling and Aldgate in South Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
St Catherine's School has 15.9 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and The Hills Montessori School has 10.6.
How do St Catherine's School and The Hills Montessori School rank in SA?
St Catherine's School is 10th of 348 and The Hills Montessori School is 17th of 145 among primary schools in South Australia on the 2025 Success Index.