Burwood East Special Developmental School vs St Christopher's School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Victoria, 1.7 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Burwood East Special Developmental School
Burwood East · Government special · U
79 students · ICSEA 1073
St Christopher's School
Glen Waverley · Catholic primary · Prep-6
148 students · ICSEA 1141
| Measure | Burwood East Special Developmental School Burwood East VIC | St Christopher's School Glen Waverley VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 82 Top 5% |
| State rank (type) | – | #68 of 1,290 |
| National rank (type) | – | #105 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Primary |
| Year range | U | Prep-6 |
| Students | 79 | 148 |
| Girls / boys | 18 / 61 | 65 / 83 |
| Foundation intake | – | 24 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -9% | +85% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1073 | 1141 |
| ICSEA percentile | 76th | 93th |
| Top SEA quarter | 29% | 56% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 15% | 4% |
| Students per teacher | 3.8 | 12.6 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 18.9 | 11.7 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 19.1 | 6.1 |
| Language background other than English | 52% | 76% |
| Indigenous students | 0% | 0% |
| Suburb | Burwood East 3151 | Glen Waverley 3150 |
| Council area | Whitehorse | Monash |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.besds.vic.edu.au/ | www.scsyndal.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Christopher's School has the higher ICSEA (1141 vs 1073), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Burwood East Special Developmental School has fewer students per teacher (3.8 vs 12.6).
- •St Christopher's School is the larger school with 148 students compared with 79.
- •St Christopher's School has grown faster over five years (85% vs -9%).
- •Burwood East Special Developmental School is a government school while St Christopher'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 Burwood East Special Developmental School better than St Christopher'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 Burwood East Special Developmental School and St Christopher's School?
About 1.7 km in a straight line, between Burwood East and Glen Waverley in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Burwood East Special Developmental School has 3.8 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Christopher's School has 12.6.
How do Burwood East Special Developmental School and St Christopher's School rank in VIC?
Burwood East Special Developmental School is unranked and St Christopher's School is 68th of 1,290 among special schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.