Hester Hornbrook Academy vs Simonds Catholic College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Victoria, 1.4 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
Simonds Catholic College
West Melbourne · Catholic high school · 7-12
359 students · ICSEA 1053
| Measure | Hester Hornbrook Academy Melbourne VIC | Simonds Catholic College West Melbourne VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 73 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | – | #84 of 348 |
| National rank (type) | – | #207 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Independent | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Secondary |
| Year range | 10-12 | 7-12 |
| Students | 701 | 359 |
| Girls / boys | 390 / 311 | 0 / 359 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 65 |
| Year 12 cohort | 5 | 57 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | 29 |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | 3.4% |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +223% | -14% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 943 | 1053 |
| ICSEA percentile | 22th | 69th |
| Top SEA quarter | 8% | 29% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 54% | 24% |
| Students per teacher | 14.0 | 9.5 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 49.9 | 37.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 125.0 | 18.5 |
| Language background other than English | 9% | 36% |
| Indigenous students | 7% | 0% |
| Suburb | Melbourne 3000 | West Melbourne 3003 |
| Council area | Melbourne | Melbourne |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.hhacademy.vic.edu.au | www.sccmelb.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Simonds Catholic College has the higher ICSEA (1053 vs 943), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Simonds Catholic College has fewer students per teacher (9.5 vs 14.0).
- •Hester Hornbrook Academy is the larger school with 701 students compared with 359.
- •Hester Hornbrook Academy has grown faster over five years (223% vs -14%).
- •Hester Hornbrook Academy is a independent school while Simonds Catholic 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 Simonds Catholic 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 Simonds Catholic College?
About 1.4 km in a straight line, between Melbourne and West Melbourne in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Hester Hornbrook Academy has 14.0 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Simonds Catholic College has 9.5.
How do Hester Hornbrook Academy and Simonds Catholic College rank in VIC?
Hester Hornbrook Academy is unranked and Simonds Catholic College is 84th of 348 among special schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.