MacKillop Specialist School vs St Margaret's School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Victoria, 1.6 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
St Margaret's School
East Geelong · Catholic primary · Prep-6
241 students · ICSEA 1063
| Measure | MacKillop Specialist School Whittington VIC | St Margaret's School East Geelong VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 70 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | – | #411 of 1,290 |
| National rank (type) | – | #1030 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Catholic | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Primary |
| Year range | Prep-12 | Prep-6 |
| Students | 196 | 241 |
| Girls / boys | 49 / 147 | 111 / 130 |
| Foundation intake | 2 | 36 |
| Year 7 cohort | 19 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 13 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | 34 |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | 17.1% |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +56% | +8% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 993 | 1063 |
| ICSEA percentile | 44th | 73th |
| Top SEA quarter | 13% | 23% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 46% | 13% |
| Students per teacher | 3.7 | 12.3 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 52.3 | 19.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 59.3 | 12.1 |
| Language background other than English | 1% | 10% |
| Indigenous students | 12% | 3% |
| Suburb | Whittington 3219 | East Geelong 3219 |
| Council area | Greater Geelong | Greater Geelong |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.mackillop.org.au/mackillop-school-geelong | www.smgeelongeast.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Margaret's School has the higher ICSEA (1063 vs 993), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •MacKillop Specialist School has fewer students per teacher (3.7 vs 12.3).
- •St Margaret's School is the larger school with 241 students compared with 196.
- •MacKillop Specialist School has grown faster over five years (56% vs 8%).
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 St Margaret'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 MacKillop Specialist School and St Margaret's School?
About 1.6 km in a straight line, between Whittington and East Geelong in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
MacKillop Specialist School has 3.7 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Margaret's School has 12.3.
How do MacKillop Specialist School and St Margaret's School rank in VIC?
MacKillop Specialist School is unranked and St Margaret's School is 411th of 1,290 among special schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.