MacKillop Specialist School vs Newcomb Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Victoria, 1.2 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
MacKillop Specialist School
Whittington · Catholic special · Prep-12
196 students · ICSEA 993
Newcomb Primary School
Newcomb · Government primary · Prep-6
142 students · ICSEA 960
| Measure | MacKillop Specialist School Whittington VIC | Newcomb Primary School Newcomb VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 42 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #1043 of 1,290 |
| National rank (type) | – | #3293 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Catholic | Government |
| Type | Special | Primary |
| Year range | Prep-12 | Prep-6 |
| Students | 196 | 142 |
| Girls / boys | 49 / 147 | 72 / 70 |
| Foundation intake | 2 | 27 |
| Year 7 cohort | 19 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 13 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +56% | +51% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 993 | 960 |
| ICSEA percentile | 44th | 29th |
| Top SEA quarter | 13% | 5% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 46% | 52% |
| Students per teacher | 3.7 | 10.3 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 52.3 | 13.8 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 59.3 | 10.4 |
| Language background other than English | 1% | 22% |
| Indigenous students | 12% | 5% |
| Suburb | Whittington 3219 | Newcomb 3219 |
| Council area | Greater Geelong | Greater Geelong |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.mackillop.org.au/mackillop-school-geelong | www.newcombps.vic.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •MacKillop Specialist School has the higher ICSEA (993 vs 960), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •MacKillop Specialist School has fewer students per teacher (3.7 vs 10.3).
- •MacKillop Specialist School is the larger school with 196 students compared with 142.
- •MacKillop Specialist School is a catholic school while Newcomb Primary School is a government 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 MacKillop Specialist School better than Newcomb Primary 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 MacKillop Specialist School and Newcomb Primary School?
About 1.2 km in a straight line, between Whittington and Newcomb in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
MacKillop Specialist School has 3.7 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Newcomb Primary School has 10.3.
How do MacKillop Specialist School and Newcomb Primary School rank in VIC?
MacKillop Specialist School is unranked and Newcomb Primary School is 1043rd of 1,290 among special schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.