Stella Maris Parish School vs Suneden Specialist School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in South Australia, 1.9 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Stella Maris Parish School
Seacombe Gardens · Catholic primary · R-6
429 students · ICSEA 1086
Suneden Specialist School
Mitchell Park · Independent special · U
72 students · ICSEA 1065
| Measure | Stella Maris Parish School Seacombe Gardens SA | Suneden Specialist School Mitchell Park SA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 71 Top 25% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #52 of 348 | – |
| National rank (type) | #888 of 4,908 | – |
| Sector | Catholic | Independent |
| Type | Primary | Special |
| Year range | R-6 | U |
| Students | 429 | 72 |
| Girls / boys | 209 / 220 | 24 / 48 |
| Foundation intake | 52 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +34% | +6% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1086 | 1065 |
| ICSEA percentile | 80th | 74th |
| Top SEA quarter | 35% | 27% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 9% | 14% |
| Students per teacher | 15.7 | 6.0 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 27.3 | 12.0 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 18.2 | 25.7 |
| Language background other than English | 21% | 11% |
| Indigenous students | 1% | 3% |
| Suburb | Seacombe Gardens 5047 | Mitchell Park 5043 |
| Council area | Marion | Marion |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.smps.catholic.edu.au | www.suneden.sa.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Stella Maris Parish School has the higher ICSEA (1086 vs 1065), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Suneden Specialist School has fewer students per teacher (6.0 vs 15.7).
- •Stella Maris Parish School is the larger school with 429 students compared with 72.
- •Stella Maris Parish School has grown faster over five years (34% vs 6%).
- •Stella Maris Parish School is a catholic school while Suneden Specialist 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 Stella Maris Parish School better than Suneden Specialist 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 Stella Maris Parish School and Suneden Specialist School?
About 1.9 km in a straight line, between Seacombe Gardens and Mitchell Park in South Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Stella Maris Parish School has 15.7 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Suneden Specialist School has 6.0.
How do Stella Maris Parish School and Suneden Specialist School rank in SA?
Stella Maris Parish School is 52nd of 348 and Suneden Specialist School is unranked among primary schools in South Australia on the 2025 Success Index.