St Patrick's Special School vs St Raphael's School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in South Australia, 1.4 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
St Patrick's Special School
Dulwich · Catholic special · U
51 students · ICSEA 1115
St Raphael's School
Parkside · Catholic primary · R-6
96 students · ICSEA 1048
| Measure | St Patrick's Special School Dulwich SA | St Raphael's School Parkside SA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 63 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #112 of 348 |
| National rank (type) | – | #1663 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Catholic | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Primary |
| Year range | U | R-6 |
| Students | 51 | 96 |
| Girls / boys | 15 / 36 | 39 / 57 |
| Foundation intake | – | 14 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +2% | -21% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1115 | 1048 |
| ICSEA percentile | 88th | 67th |
| Top SEA quarter | 45% | 29% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 5% | 23% |
| Students per teacher | 3.6 | 8.5 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 14.2 | 11.3 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 25.4 | 10.8 |
| Language background other than English | 10% | 20% |
| Indigenous students | 4% | 1% |
| Suburb | Dulwich 5065 | Parkside 5063 |
| Council area | Burnside | Unley |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.stpats.catholic.edu.au | www.raph.catholic.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •St Patrick's Special School has the higher ICSEA (1115 vs 1048), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Patrick's Special School has fewer students per teacher (3.6 vs 8.5).
- •St Raphael's School is the larger school with 96 students compared with 51.
- •St Patrick's Special School has grown faster over five years (2% vs -21%).
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 Patrick's Special School better than St Raphael's 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 St Patrick's Special School and St Raphael's School?
About 1.4 km in a straight line, between Dulwich and Parkside in South Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
St Patrick's Special School has 3.6 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Raphael's School has 8.5.
How do St Patrick's Special School and St Raphael's School rank in SA?
St Patrick's Special School is unranked and St Raphael's School is 112th of 348 among special schools in South Australia on the 2025 Success Index.