Hester Hornbrook Academy vs Saints College
A head-to-head comparison of two special schools in Victoria, 1.3 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
Saints College
North Melbourne · Catholic special · 7-12
1,524 students · ICSEA 935
| Measure | Hester Hornbrook Academy Melbourne VIC | Saints College North Melbourne VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | – | – |
| National rank (type) | – | – |
| Sector | Independent | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Special |
| Year range | 10-12 | 7-12 |
| Students | 701 | 1,524 |
| Girls / boys | 390 / 311 | 788 / 736 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 100 |
| Year 12 cohort | 5 | 292 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +223% | +232% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 943 | 935 |
| ICSEA percentile | 22th | 20th |
| Top SEA quarter | 8% | 8% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 54% | 57% |
| Students per teacher | 14.0 | 15.6 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 49.9 | 97.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 125.0 | 168.5 |
| Language background other than English | 9% | 12% |
| Indigenous students | 7% | 13% |
| Suburb | Melbourne 3000 | North Melbourne 3051 |
| Council area | Melbourne | Melbourne |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.hhacademy.vic.edu.au | www.youthplus.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Hester Hornbrook Academy has the higher ICSEA (943 vs 935), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Hester Hornbrook Academy has fewer students per teacher (14.0 vs 15.6).
- •Saints College is the larger school with 1,524 students compared with 701.
- •Saints College has grown faster over five years (232% vs 223%).
- •Hester Hornbrook Academy is a independent school while Saints College 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 Saints 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 Hester Hornbrook Academy and Saints College?
About 1.3 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 Saints College has 15.6.
How do Hester Hornbrook Academy and Saints College rank in VIC?
Hester Hornbrook Academy is unranked and Saints College is unranked among special schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.