Lake Colac School vs St Mary's School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Victoria, 1.7 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Lake Colac School
Colac · Government special · U
82 students · ICSEA 933
St Mary's School
Colac · Catholic primary · Prep-6
266 students · ICSEA 1025
| Measure | Lake Colac School Colac VIC | St Mary's School Colac VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 55 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #773 of 1,290 |
| National rank (type) | – | #2317 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Primary |
| Year range | U | Prep-6 |
| Students | 82 | 266 |
| Girls / boys | 25 / 57 | 129 / 137 |
| Foundation intake | – | 46 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +39% | -9% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 933 | 1025 |
| ICSEA percentile | 19th | 58th |
| Top SEA quarter | 1% | 12% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 59% | 25% |
| Students per teacher | 4.2 | 13.3 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 19.0 | 19.9 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 21.4 | 11.7 |
| Language background other than English | 6% | 19% |
| Indigenous students | 10% | 1% |
| Suburb | Colac 3250 | Colac 3250 |
| Council area | Colac Otway | Colac Otway |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | lakecolacschool.vic.edu.au/ | www.smcolac.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Mary's School has the higher ICSEA (1025 vs 933), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Lake Colac School has fewer students per teacher (4.2 vs 13.3).
- •St Mary's School is the larger school with 266 students compared with 82.
- •Lake Colac School has grown faster over five years (39% vs -9%).
- •Lake Colac School is a government school while St Mary's 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.
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 Torquay
Frequently asked questions
Is Lake Colac 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 Lake Colac School and St Mary's School?
About 1.7 km in a straight line, between Colac and Colac in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Lake Colac School has 4.2 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Mary's School has 13.3.
How do Lake Colac School and St Mary's School rank in VIC?
Lake Colac School is unranked and St Mary's School is 773rd of 1,290 among special schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.