Merri Creek Primary School vs Santa Maria College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Victoria, 1.5 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Merri Creek Primary School
Fitzroy North · Government primary · Prep-6
442 students · ICSEA 1186
Santa Maria College
Northcote · Catholic high school · 7-12
779 students · ICSEA 1110
| Measure | Merri Creek Primary School Fitzroy North VIC | Santa Maria College Northcote VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 80 Top 5% | 81 Top 5% |
| State rank (type) | #104 of 1,290 | #27 of 348 |
| National rank (type) | #179 of 4,908 | #59 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
| Year range | Prep-6 | 7-12 |
| Students | 442 | 779 |
| Girls / boys | 234 / 208 | 779 / 0 |
| Foundation intake | 66 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 141 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 136 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | 32 |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | 8.6% |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +1% | -12% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1186 | 1110 |
| ICSEA percentile | 99th | 87th |
| Top SEA quarter | 76% | 43% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 1% | 8% |
| Students per teacher | 15.9 | 11.3 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 27.8 | 69.2 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 13.8 | 33.5 |
| Language background other than English | 19% | 11% |
| Indigenous students | 1% | 0% |
| Suburb | Fitzroy North 3068 | Northcote 3070 |
| Council area | Yarra | Darebin |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.merricreekps.vic.edu.au/ | www.santamaria.vic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (80.2 vs 80.8).
- •Merri Creek Primary School has the higher ICSEA (1186 vs 1110), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Santa Maria College has fewer students per teacher (11.3 vs 15.9).
- •Santa Maria College is the larger school with 779 students compared with 442.
- •Merri Creek Primary School has grown faster over five years (1% vs -12%).
- •Merri Creek Primary School is a government school while Santa Maria College 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 Merri Creek Primary School better than Santa Maria 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 Merri Creek Primary School and Santa Maria College?
About 1.5 km in a straight line, between Fitzroy North and Northcote in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Merri Creek Primary School has 15.9 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Santa Maria College has 11.3.
How do Merri Creek Primary School and Santa Maria College rank in VIC?
Merri Creek Primary School is 104th of 1,290 and Santa Maria College is 27th of 348 among primary schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.