Nelson Park School vs Sale and District Specialist School
A head-to-head comparison of two special schools in Victoria, 239 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Nelson Park School
Bell Park · Government special · U
334 students · ICSEA 938
Sale and District Specialist School
Sale · Government special · U
101 students · ICSEA 937
| Measure | Nelson Park School Bell Park VIC | Sale and District Specialist School Sale VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | – | – |
| National rank (type) | – | – |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Special | Special |
| Year range | U | U |
| Students | 334 | 101 |
| Girls / boys | 98 / 236 | 39 / 62 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +1% | +38% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 938 | 937 |
| ICSEA percentile | 20th | 20th |
| Top SEA quarter | 6% | 7% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 58% | 56% |
| Students per teacher | 5.8 | 5.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 57.4 | 19.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 68.6 | 27.5 |
| Language background other than English | 8% | 5% |
| Indigenous students | 11% | 14% |
| Suburb | Bell Park 3215 | Sale 3850 |
| Council area | Greater Geelong | Wellington |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Inner Regional |
| Website | www.nelsonpark.vic.edu.au/ | www.salesds.vic.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •Nelson Park School has the higher ICSEA (938 vs 937), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Sale and District Specialist School has fewer students per teacher (5.1 vs 5.8).
- •Nelson Park School is the larger school with 334 students compared with 101.
- •Sale and District Specialist School has grown faster over five years (38% vs 1%).
The Success Index summarises community advantage, resourcing and momentum from ACARA data. It does not measure teaching quality, results or fit. Methodology.
Free academic assessment
Torn between two schools? Start with your child.
Whichever you choose, a free Success Tutoring assessment shows exactly where your child is in English and Maths and how to get ahead before the next school year.
- Personalised learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum
- English & Maths from Kindergarten to Year 12
- Flexible memberships, no lock-in contracts
- Your nearest centre: Success Tutoring South Geelong
Frequently asked questions
Is Nelson Park School better than Sale and District Specialist 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 Nelson Park School and Sale and District Specialist School?
About 239 km in a straight line, between Bell Park and Sale in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Nelson Park School has 5.8 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Sale and District Specialist School has 5.1.
How do Nelson Park School and Sale and District Specialist School rank in VIC?
Nelson Park School is unranked and Sale and District Specialist School is unranked among special schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.