Dandenong Valley Special Developmental School vs Heatherwood School
A head-to-head comparison of two special schools in Victoria, 25 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Dandenong Valley Special Developmental School
Narre Warren · Government special · U
201 students · ICSEA 990
Heatherwood School
Donvale · Government special · U
214 students · ICSEA 991
| Measure | Dandenong Valley Special Developmental School Narre Warren VIC | Heatherwood School Donvale VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | – | – |
| National rank (type) | – | – |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Special | Special |
| Year range | U | U |
| Students | 201 | 214 |
| Girls / boys | 53 / 148 | 84 / 130 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -14% | -17% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 990 | 991 |
| ICSEA percentile | 42th | 43th |
| Top SEA quarter | 11% | 11% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 40% | 40% |
| Students per teacher | 5.6 | 4.6 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 31.2 | 46.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 54.5 | 35.2 |
| Language background other than English | 59% | 17% |
| Indigenous students | 1% | 4% |
| Suburb | Narre Warren 3805 | Donvale 3111 |
| Council area | Casey | Manningham |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.dandyvalley.vic.edu.au | www.heatherwood.vic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Heatherwood School has the higher ICSEA (991 vs 990), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Heatherwood School has fewer students per teacher (4.6 vs 5.6).
- •Heatherwood School is the larger school with 214 students compared with 201.
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 Dandenong Valley Special Developmental School better than Heatherwood 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 Dandenong Valley Special Developmental School and Heatherwood School?
About 25 km in a straight line, between Narre Warren and Donvale in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Dandenong Valley Special Developmental School has 5.6 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Heatherwood School has 4.6.
How do Dandenong Valley Special Developmental School and Heatherwood School rank in VIC?
Dandenong Valley Special Developmental School is unranked and Heatherwood School is unranked among special schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.