Bell Primary School vs Coburg Special Developmental School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Victoria, 1.5 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Bell Primary School
Preston · Government primary · Prep-6
440 students · ICSEA 1165
Coburg Special Developmental School
Coburg · Government special · U
67 students · ICSEA 1028
| Measure | Bell Primary School Preston VIC | Coburg Special Developmental School Coburg VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 80 Top 5% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #113 of 1,290 | – |
| National rank (type) | #203 of 4,908 | – |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Primary | Special |
| Year range | Prep-6 | U |
| Students | 440 | 67 |
| Girls / boys | 215 / 225 | 16 / 51 |
| Foundation intake | 69 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -13% | +20% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1165 | 1028 |
| ICSEA percentile | 97th | 59th |
| Top SEA quarter | 69% | 24% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 2% | 30% |
| Students per teacher | 14.4 | 3.8 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 30.6 | 17.8 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 6.9 | 21.3 |
| Language background other than English | 13% | 62% |
| Indigenous students | 2% | 3% |
| Suburb | Preston 3072 | Coburg 3058 |
| Council area | Darebin | Merri-bek |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.bellps.vic.edu.au | www.coburgsds.vic.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •Bell Primary School has the higher ICSEA (1165 vs 1028), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Coburg Special Developmental School has fewer students per teacher (3.8 vs 14.4).
- •Bell Primary School is the larger school with 440 students compared with 67.
- •Coburg Special Developmental School has grown faster over five years (20% vs -13%).
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 Bell Primary School better than Coburg Special Developmental 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 Bell Primary School and Coburg Special Developmental School?
About 1.5 km in a straight line, between Preston and Coburg in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Bell Primary School has 14.4 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Coburg Special Developmental School has 3.8.
How do Bell Primary School and Coburg Special Developmental School rank in VIC?
Bell Primary School is 113th of 1,290 and Coburg Special Developmental School is unranked among primary schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.