Moonee Ponds West Primary School vs St Columba's College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Victoria, 1.3 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Moonee Ponds West Primary School
Moonee Ponds · Government primary · Prep-6
289 students · ICSEA 1136
St Columba's College
Essendon · Catholic high school · 7-12
1,047 students · ICSEA 1107
| Measure | Moonee Ponds West Primary School Moonee Ponds VIC | St Columba's College Essendon VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 75 Top 10% | 74 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | #259 of 1,290 | #77 of 348 |
| National rank (type) | #542 of 4,908 | #183 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
| Year range | Prep-6 | 7-12 |
| Students | 289 | 1,047 |
| Girls / boys | 132 / 157 | 1,047 / 0 |
| Foundation intake | 45 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 172 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 172 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | 32 |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | 8.4% |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -37% | +1% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1136 | 1107 |
| ICSEA percentile | 92th | 86th |
| Top SEA quarter | 55% | 41% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 3% | 6% |
| Students per teacher | 15.0 | 13.4 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 19.2 | 78.3 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 5.2 | 47.6 |
| Language background other than English | 26% | 21% |
| Indigenous students | 1% | 0% |
| Suburb | Moonee Ponds 3039 | Essendon 3040 |
| Council area | Moonee Valley | Moonee Valley |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.mooneewestps.vic.edu.au | www.columba.vic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (74.9 vs 74.2).
- •Moonee Ponds West Primary School has the higher ICSEA (1136 vs 1107), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Columba's College has fewer students per teacher (13.4 vs 15.0).
- •St Columba's College is the larger school with 1,047 students compared with 289.
- •St Columba's College has grown faster over five years (1% vs -37%).
- •Moonee Ponds West Primary School is a government school while St Columba's 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 Moonee Ponds West Primary School better than St Columba's 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 Moonee Ponds West Primary School and St Columba's College?
About 1.3 km in a straight line, between Moonee Ponds and Essendon in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Moonee Ponds West Primary School has 15.0 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Columba's College has 13.4.
How do Moonee Ponds West Primary School and St Columba's College rank in VIC?
Moonee Ponds West Primary School is 259th of 1,290 and St Columba's College is 77th of 348 among primary schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.