Ballarat Specialist School vs Loreto College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Victoria, 647 m apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Ballarat Specialist School
Lake Gardens · Government special · U
453 students · ICSEA 950
Loreto College
Ballarat · Catholic high school · 7-12
948 students · ICSEA 1073
| Measure | Ballarat Specialist School Lake Gardens VIC | Loreto College Ballarat VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 70 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | – | #104 of 348 |
| National rank (type) | – | #288 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Secondary |
| Year range | U | 7-12 |
| Students | 453 | 948 |
| Girls / boys | 139 / 314 | 948 / 0 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 183 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 136 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | 29 |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | 4.7% |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +1% | -3% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 950 | 1073 |
| ICSEA percentile | 25th | 76th |
| Top SEA quarter | 7% | 27% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 53% | 11% |
| Students per teacher | 6.3 | 11.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 71.9 | 85.3 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 166.1 | 54.3 |
| Language background other than English | 8% | 5% |
| Indigenous students | 10% | 2% |
| Suburb | Lake Gardens 3355 | Ballarat 3350 |
| Council area | Ballarat | Ballarat |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | www.ballaratss.vic.edu.au | www.loreto.vic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Loreto College has the higher ICSEA (1073 vs 950), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Ballarat Specialist School has fewer students per teacher (6.3 vs 11.1).
- •Loreto College is the larger school with 948 students compared with 453.
- •Ballarat Specialist School is a government school while Loreto College 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 Wyndham Vale
Frequently asked questions
Is Ballarat Specialist School better than Loreto College?
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 Ballarat Specialist School and Loreto College?
About 647 m in a straight line, between Lake Gardens and Ballarat in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Ballarat Specialist School has 6.3 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Loreto College has 11.1.
How do Ballarat Specialist School and Loreto College rank in VIC?
Ballarat Specialist School is unranked and Loreto College is 104th of 348 among special schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.