Emerson School vs Lyndale Secondary College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Victoria, 1.3 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Emerson School
Dandenong · Government special · U
371 students · ICSEA 953
Lyndale Secondary College
Dandenong North · Government high school · 7-12
850 students · ICSEA 935
| Measure | Emerson School Dandenong VIC | Lyndale Secondary College Dandenong North VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 27 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #328 of 348 |
| National rank (type) | – | #1251 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Special | Secondary |
| Year range | U | 7-12 |
| Students | 371 | 850 |
| Girls / boys | 114 / 257 | 428 / 422 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 142 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 115 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | 27 |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | 3% |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -10% | -3% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 953 | 935 |
| ICSEA percentile | 26th | 19th |
| Top SEA quarter | 8% | 4% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 54% | 58% |
| Students per teacher | 5.9 | 11.3 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 62.7 | 74.9 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 50.2 | 37.1 |
| Language background other than English | 52% | 83% |
| Indigenous students | 3% | 1% |
| Suburb | Dandenong 3175 | Dandenong North 3175 |
| Council area | Greater Dandenong | Greater Dandenong |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.emersonsc.vic.edu.au/ | www.lyndale.vic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Emerson School has the higher ICSEA (953 vs 935), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Emerson School has fewer students per teacher (5.9 vs 11.3).
- •Lyndale Secondary College is the larger school with 850 students compared with 371.
- •Lyndale Secondary College has grown faster over five years (-3% vs -10%).
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 Emerson School better than Lyndale Secondary College?
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 Emerson School and Lyndale Secondary College?
About 1.3 km in a straight line, between Dandenong and Dandenong North in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Emerson School has 5.9 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Lyndale Secondary College has 11.3.
How do Emerson School and Lyndale Secondary College rank in VIC?
Emerson School is unranked and Lyndale Secondary College is 328th of 348 among special schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.