Malvern Central School vs St Joseph's School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in Victoria, 365 m apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Malvern Central School
Malvern · Government primary · Prep-6
529 students · ICSEA 1163
St Joseph's School
Malvern · Catholic primary · Prep-6
183 students · ICSEA 1156
| Measure | Malvern Central School Malvern VIC | St Joseph's School Malvern VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 84 Top 5% | 84 Top 5% |
| State rank (type) | #33 of 1,290 | #29 of 1,290 |
| National rank (type) | #53 of 4,908 | #47 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | Prep-6 | Prep-6 |
| Students | 529 | 183 |
| Girls / boys | 265 / 264 | 68 / 115 |
| Foundation intake | 93 | 36 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +11% | +16% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1163 | 1156 |
| ICSEA percentile | 97th | 96th |
| Top SEA quarter | 66% | 62% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 1% | 3% |
| Students per teacher | 15.2 | 10.8 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 34.8 | 17.0 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 10.4 | 3.8 |
| Language background other than English | 15% | 10% |
| Indigenous students | 1% | 1% |
| Suburb | Malvern 3144 | Malvern 3144 |
| Council area | Stonnington | Stonnington |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.malvern-central.vic.edu.au | www.sjmalvern.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (84.0 vs 84.3).
- •Malvern Central School has the higher ICSEA (1163 vs 1156), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Joseph's School has fewer students per teacher (10.8 vs 15.2).
- •Malvern Central School is the larger school with 529 students compared with 183.
- •St Joseph's School has grown faster over five years (16% vs 11%).
- •Malvern Central School is a government school while St Joseph'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.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Malvern Central School better than St Joseph'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 Malvern Central School and St Joseph's School?
About 365 m in a straight line, between Malvern and Malvern in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Malvern Central School has 15.2 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Joseph's School has 10.8.
How do Malvern Central School and St Joseph's School rank in VIC?
Malvern Central School is 33rd of 1,290 and St Joseph's School is 29th of 1,290 among primary schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.