Hester Hornbrook Academy vs Sacred Heart School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Victoria, 1.1 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
Sacred Heart School
Fitzroy · Catholic primary · Prep-6
152 students · ICSEA 936
| Measure | Hester Hornbrook Academy Melbourne VIC | Sacred Heart School Fitzroy VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 35 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #1159 of 1,290 |
| National rank (type) | – | #3745 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Independent | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Primary |
| Year range | 10-12 | Prep-6 |
| Students | 701 | 152 |
| Girls / boys | 390 / 311 | 62 / 90 |
| Foundation intake | – | 20 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 5 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +223% | +38% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 943 | 936 |
| ICSEA percentile | 22th | 20th |
| Top SEA quarter | 8% | 2% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 54% | 62% |
| Students per teacher | 14.0 | 8.6 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 49.9 | 17.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 125.0 | 10.3 |
| Language background other than English | 9% | 95% |
| Indigenous students | 7% | 0% |
| Suburb | Melbourne 3000 | Fitzroy 3065 |
| Council area | Melbourne | Yarra |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.hhacademy.vic.edu.au | www.shsfitzroy.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Hester Hornbrook Academy has the higher ICSEA (943 vs 936), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Sacred Heart School has fewer students per teacher (8.6 vs 14.0).
- •Hester Hornbrook Academy is the larger school with 701 students compared with 152.
- •Hester Hornbrook Academy has grown faster over five years (223% vs 38%).
- •Hester Hornbrook Academy is a independent school while Sacred Heart 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 Hester Hornbrook Academy better than Sacred Heart 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 Sacred Heart School?
About 1.1 km in a straight line, between Melbourne and Fitzroy in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Hester Hornbrook Academy has 14.0 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Sacred Heart School has 8.6.
How do Hester Hornbrook Academy and Sacred Heart School rank in VIC?
Hester Hornbrook Academy is unranked and Sacred Heart School is 1159th of 1,290 among special schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.