Malvern Primary School vs St Mary's School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in Victoria, 1.3 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Malvern Primary School
Malvern East · Government primary · Prep-6
563 students · ICSEA 1163
St Mary's School
Malvern East · Catholic primary · Prep-6
192 students · ICSEA 1158
| Measure | Malvern Primary School Malvern East VIC | St Mary's School Malvern East VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 81 Top 5% | 86 Top 5% |
| State rank (type) | #92 of 1,290 | #21 of 1,290 |
| National rank (type) | #155 of 4,908 | #30 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | Prep-6 | Prep-6 |
| Students | 563 | 192 |
| Girls / boys | 267 / 296 | 80 / 112 |
| Foundation intake | 92 | 34 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -12% | -8% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1163 | 1158 |
| ICSEA percentile | 97th | 96th |
| Top SEA quarter | 67% | 61% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 1% | 2% |
| Students per teacher | 12.9 | 12.2 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 43.7 | 15.8 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 8.0 | 4.7 |
| Language background other than English | 29% | 4% |
| Indigenous students | 0% | 0% |
| Suburb | Malvern East 3145 | Malvern East 3145 |
| Council area | Stonnington | Stonnington |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.malvernps.vic.edu.au | www.smmalverneast.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Mary's School scores higher on the Success Index (85.5 vs 80.9).
- •Malvern Primary School has the higher ICSEA (1163 vs 1158), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Mary's School has fewer students per teacher (12.2 vs 12.9).
- •Malvern Primary School is the larger school with 563 students compared with 192.
- •Malvern Primary 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.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Malvern Primary School better than St Mary's School?
On the Success Index, St Mary's School ranks higher (85.5 vs 80.9 out of 100). The index measures community advantage and momentum from ACARA data, not teaching quality, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Malvern Primary School and St Mary's School?
About 1.3 km in a straight line, between Malvern East and Malvern East in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Malvern Primary School has 12.9 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Mary's School has 12.2.
How do Malvern Primary School and St Mary's School rank in VIC?
Malvern Primary School is 92nd of 1,290 and St Mary's School is 21st of 1,290 among primary schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.