Ballarat Steiner School vs Beechworth Montessori School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in Victoria, 289 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Ballarat Steiner School
Mount Helen · Independent primary · Prep-6
64 students · ICSEA 1076
Beechworth Montessori School
Beechworth · Independent primary · Prep-6
87 students · ICSEA 1081
| Measure | Ballarat Steiner School Mount Helen VIC | Beechworth Montessori School Beechworth VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 69 Top 25% | 68 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | – | #448 of 1,290 |
| National rank (type) | – | #1157 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Independent | Independent |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | Prep-6 | Prep-6 |
| Students | 64 | 87 |
| Girls / boys | 37 / 27 | 44 / 43 |
| Foundation intake | 14 | 11 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -33% | -13% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1076 | 1081 |
| ICSEA percentile | 77th | 79th |
| Top SEA quarter | 31% | 35% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 11% | 4% |
| Students per teacher | 6.8 | 12.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 9.3 | 7.2 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 5.0 | 7.9 |
| Language background other than English | 14% | 13% |
| Indigenous students | 3% | 8% |
| Suburb | Mount Helen 3350 | Beechworth 3747 |
| Council area | Ballarat | Indigo |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | www.ballaratsteinerschool.com.au | www.bms.vic.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (68.6 vs 68.4).
- •Beechworth Montessori School has the higher ICSEA (1081 vs 1076), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Ballarat Steiner School has fewer students per teacher (6.8 vs 12.1).
- •Beechworth Montessori School is the larger school with 87 students compared with 64.
- •Beechworth Montessori School has grown faster over five years (-13% vs -33%).
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 Ballarat Steiner School better than Beechworth Montessori 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 Ballarat Steiner School and Beechworth Montessori School?
About 289 km in a straight line, between Mount Helen and Beechworth in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Ballarat Steiner School has 6.8 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Beechworth Montessori School has 12.1.
How do Ballarat Steiner School and Beechworth Montessori School rank in VIC?
Ballarat Steiner School is unranked and Beechworth Montessori School is 448th of 1,290 among primary schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.