Bass Coast Specialist School vs St Joseph's School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Victoria, 1.1 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Bass Coast Specialist School
Wonthaggi · Government special · U
74 students · ICSEA 922
St Joseph's School
Wonthaggi · Catholic primary · Prep-6
315 students · ICSEA 1031
| Measure | Bass Coast Specialist School Wonthaggi VIC | St Joseph's School Wonthaggi VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 60 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #665 of 1,290 |
| National rank (type) | – | #1960 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Primary |
| Year range | U | Prep-6 |
| Students | 74 | 315 |
| Girls / boys | 19 / 55 | 153 / 162 |
| Foundation intake | – | 37 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +12% | +17% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 922 | 1031 |
| ICSEA percentile | 16th | 60th |
| Top SEA quarter | 5% | 16% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 59% | 27% |
| Students per teacher | 3.8 | 13.7 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 18.3 | 23.0 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 21.8 | 12.0 |
| Language background other than English | 3% | 20% |
| Indigenous students | 11% | 2% |
| Suburb | Wonthaggi 3995 | Wonthaggi 3995 |
| Council area | Bass Coast | Bass Coast |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | basscoastss.vic.edu.au/ | www.stjwonthaggi.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Joseph's School has the higher ICSEA (1031 vs 922), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Bass Coast Specialist School has fewer students per teacher (3.8 vs 13.7).
- •St Joseph's School is the larger school with 315 students compared with 74.
- •Bass Coast Specialist School is a government school while St Joseph's School 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.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Bass Coast Specialist School better than St Joseph'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 Bass Coast Specialist School and St Joseph's School?
About 1.1 km in a straight line, between Wonthaggi and Wonthaggi in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Bass Coast Specialist School has 3.8 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Joseph's School has 13.7.
How do Bass Coast Specialist School and St Joseph's School rank in VIC?
Bass Coast Specialist School is unranked and St Joseph's School is 665th of 1,290 among special schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.