MacKillop Specialist School vs Newcomb Secondary College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Victoria, 772 m 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 Secondary College
Newcomb · Government high school · 7-12
515 students · ICSEA 950
| Measure | MacKillop Specialist School Whittington VIC | Newcomb Secondary College Newcomb VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 41 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #266 of 348 |
| National rank (type) | – | #920 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Catholic | Government |
| Type | Special | Secondary |
| Year range | Prep-12 | 7-12 |
| Students | 196 | 515 |
| Girls / boys | 49 / 147 | 219 / 296 |
| Foundation intake | 2 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 19 | 90 |
| Year 12 cohort | 13 | 60 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | 24 |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | 0.9% |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +56% | +7% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 993 | 950 |
| ICSEA percentile | 44th | 25th |
| Top SEA quarter | 13% | 4% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 46% | 54% |
| Students per teacher | 3.7 | 10.3 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 52.3 | 50.1 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 59.3 | 32.8 |
| Language background other than English | 1% | 6% |
| Indigenous students | 12% | 8% |
| 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.newcombsc.vic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •MacKillop Specialist School has the higher ICSEA (993 vs 950), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •MacKillop Specialist School has fewer students per teacher (3.7 vs 10.3).
- •Newcomb Secondary College is the larger school with 515 students compared with 196.
- •MacKillop Specialist School has grown faster over five years (56% vs 7%).
- •MacKillop Specialist School is a catholic school while Newcomb Secondary College 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 Secondary 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 MacKillop Specialist School and Newcomb Secondary College?
About 772 m 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 Secondary College has 10.3.
How do MacKillop Specialist School and Newcomb Secondary College rank in VIC?
MacKillop Specialist School is unranked and Newcomb Secondary College is 266th of 348 among special schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.