Furlong Park School For Deaf Children vs St Bernadette's School
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.
Furlong Park School For Deaf Children
Sunshine North · Government special · U
67 students · ICSEA 1043
St Bernadette's School
Sunshine North · Catholic primary · Prep-6
333 students · ICSEA 1005
| Measure | Furlong Park School For Deaf Children Sunshine North VIC | St Bernadette's School Sunshine North VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 57 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #742 of 1,290 |
| National rank (type) | – | #2216 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Primary |
| Year range | U | Prep-6 |
| Students | 67 | 333 |
| Girls / boys | 32 / 35 | 170 / 163 |
| Foundation intake | – | 46 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +6% | -6% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1043 | 1005 |
| ICSEA percentile | 66th | 49th |
| Top SEA quarter | 24% | 11% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 24% | 32% |
| Students per teacher | 4.4 | 13.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 12.3 | 25.4 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 10.4 | 10.8 |
| Language background other than English | 71% | 84% |
| Indigenous students | 0% | 0% |
| Suburb | Sunshine North 3020 | Sunshine North 3020 |
| Council area | Brimbank | Brimbank |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.furlongpark.vic.edu.au | www.stbsunshinenth.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Furlong Park School For Deaf Children has the higher ICSEA (1043 vs 1005), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Furlong Park School For Deaf Children has fewer students per teacher (4.4 vs 13.1).
- •St Bernadette's School is the larger school with 333 students compared with 67.
- •Furlong Park School For Deaf Children has grown faster over five years (6% vs -6%).
- •Furlong Park School For Deaf Children is a government school while St Bernadette'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 Furlong Park School For Deaf Children better than St Bernadette'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 Furlong Park School For Deaf Children and St Bernadette's School?
About 1.3 km in a straight line, between Sunshine North and Sunshine North in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Furlong Park School For Deaf Children has 4.4 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Bernadette's School has 13.1.
How do Furlong Park School For Deaf Children and St Bernadette's School rank in VIC?
Furlong Park School For Deaf Children is unranked and St Bernadette's School is 742nd of 1,290 among special schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.