Hester Hornbrook Academy vs River Nile School
A head-to-head comparison of two special schools in Victoria, 1.2 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Hester Hornbrook Academy
Melbourne · Independent special · 10-12
701 students · ICSEA 943
River Nile School
North Melbourne · Independent special · 11-12
121 students · ICSEA 820
| Measure | Hester Hornbrook Academy Melbourne VIC | River Nile School North Melbourne VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | – | – |
| National rank (type) | – | – |
| Sector | Independent | Independent |
| Type | Special | Special |
| Year range | 10-12 | 11-12 |
| Students | 701 | 121 |
| Girls / boys | 390 / 311 | 121 / 0 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 5 | 30 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +223% | +17% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 943 | 820 |
| ICSEA percentile | 22th | 3th |
| Top SEA quarter | 8% | 1% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 54% | 88% |
| Students per teacher | 14.0 | 8.6 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 49.9 | 14.0 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 125.0 | 24.4 |
| Language background other than English | 9% | 99% |
| Indigenous students | 7% | 0% |
| Suburb | Melbourne 3000 | North Melbourne 3051 |
| Council area | Melbourne | Melbourne |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.hhacademy.vic.edu.au | www.rivernileschool.vic.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •Hester Hornbrook Academy has the higher ICSEA (943 vs 820), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •River Nile School has fewer students per teacher (8.6 vs 14.0).
- •Hester Hornbrook Academy is the larger school with 701 students compared with 121.
- •Hester Hornbrook Academy has grown faster over five years (223% vs 17%).
The Success Index summarises community advantage, resourcing and momentum from ACARA data. It does not measure teaching quality, results or fit. Methodology.
Free academic assessment
Torn between two schools? Start with your child.
Whichever you choose, a free Success Tutoring assessment shows exactly where your child is in English and Maths and how to get ahead before the next school year.
- Personalised learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum
- English & Maths from Kindergarten to Year 12
- Flexible memberships, no lock-in contracts
- Your nearest centre: Success Tutoring Docklands
Frequently asked questions
Is Hester Hornbrook Academy better than River Nile 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 Hester Hornbrook Academy and River Nile School?
About 1.2 km in a straight line, between Melbourne and North Melbourne in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Hester Hornbrook Academy has 14.0 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and River Nile School has 8.6.
How do Hester Hornbrook Academy and River Nile School rank in VIC?
Hester Hornbrook Academy is unranked and River Nile School is unranked among special schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.