Portland Bay School vs St John's Lutheran School
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.
Portland Bay School
Portland · Government special · U
74 students · ICSEA 898
St John's Lutheran School
Portland · Independent primary · Prep-6
112 students · ICSEA 1007
| Measure | Portland Bay School Portland VIC | St John's Lutheran School Portland VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 51 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #857 of 1,290 |
| National rank (type) | – | #2631 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Independent |
| Type | Special | Primary |
| Year range | U | Prep-6 |
| Students | 74 | 112 |
| Girls / boys | 26 / 48 | 68 / 44 |
| Foundation intake | – | 21 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +16% | +44% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 898 | 1007 |
| ICSEA percentile | 10th | 50th |
| Top SEA quarter | 5% | 9% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 68% | 20% |
| Students per teacher | 6.0 | 12.2 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 12.4 | 9.2 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 24.0 | 4.9 |
| Language background other than English | 4% | 5% |
| Indigenous students | 19% | 8% |
| Suburb | Portland 3305 | Portland 3305 |
| Council area | Glenelg | Glenelg |
| Remoteness | Outer Regional | Outer Regional |
| Website | portlandbayschool.vic.edu.au/ | www.stjohnsportland.com.au/ |
The verdict
- •St John's Lutheran School has the higher ICSEA (1007 vs 898), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Portland Bay School has fewer students per teacher (6.0 vs 12.2).
- •St John's Lutheran School is the larger school with 112 students compared with 74.
- •St John's Lutheran School has grown faster over five years (44% vs 16%).
- •Portland Bay School is a government school while St John's Lutheran School is an independent 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.
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 Torquay
Frequently asked questions
Is Portland Bay School better than St John's Lutheran 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 Portland Bay School and St John's Lutheran School?
About 1.3 km in a straight line, between Portland and Portland in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Portland Bay School has 6.0 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St John's Lutheran School has 12.2.
How do Portland Bay School and St John's Lutheran School rank in VIC?
Portland Bay School is unranked and St John's Lutheran School is 857th of 1,290 among special schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.