Holy Spirit School vs St Mary's School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in Victoria, 1.4 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Holy Spirit School
Thornbury · Catholic primary · Prep-6
129 students · ICSEA 1107
St Mary's School
Thornbury · Catholic primary · Prep-6
113 students · ICSEA 1089
| Measure | Holy Spirit School Thornbury VIC | St Mary's School Thornbury VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 71 Top 25% | 72 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | #374 of 1,290 | #362 of 1,290 |
| National rank (type) | #901 of 4,908 | #854 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Catholic | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | Prep-6 | Prep-6 |
| Students | 129 | 113 |
| Girls / boys | 71 / 58 | 61 / 52 |
| Foundation intake | 12 | 8 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -36% | -54% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1107 | 1089 |
| ICSEA percentile | 86th | 81th |
| Top SEA quarter | 41% | 36% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 8% | 13% |
| Students per teacher | 13.6 | 9.7 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 9.5 | 11.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 5.4 | 7.1 |
| Language background other than English | 61% | 16% |
| Indigenous students | 0% | 1% |
| Suburb | Thornbury 3071 | Thornbury 3071 |
| Council area | Darebin | Darebin |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.hsthornburyeast.catholic.edu.au | www.smthornbury.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (71.2 vs 71.7).
- •Holy Spirit School has the higher ICSEA (1107 vs 1089), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Mary's School has fewer students per teacher (9.7 vs 13.6).
- •Holy Spirit School is the larger school with 129 students compared with 113.
- •Holy Spirit School has grown faster over five years (-36% vs -54%).
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 Holy Spirit School better than St Mary'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 Holy Spirit School and St Mary's School?
About 1.4 km in a straight line, between Thornbury and Thornbury in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Holy Spirit School has 13.6 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Mary's School has 9.7.
How do Holy Spirit School and St Mary's School rank in VIC?
Holy Spirit School is 374th of 1,290 and St Mary's School is 362nd of 1,290 among primary schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.