River Nile School vs Simonds Catholic College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Victoria, 211 m apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
River Nile School
North Melbourne · Independent special · 11-12
121 students · ICSEA 820
Simonds Catholic College
West Melbourne · Catholic high school · 7-12
359 students · ICSEA 1053
| Measure | River Nile School North Melbourne VIC | Simonds Catholic College West Melbourne VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 73 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | – | #84 of 348 |
| National rank (type) | – | #207 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Independent | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Secondary |
| Year range | 11-12 | 7-12 |
| Students | 121 | 359 |
| Girls / boys | 121 / 0 | 0 / 359 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 65 |
| Year 12 cohort | 30 | 57 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | 29 |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | 3.4% |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +17% | -14% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 820 | 1053 |
| ICSEA percentile | 3th | 69th |
| Top SEA quarter | 1% | 29% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 88% | 24% |
| Students per teacher | 8.6 | 9.5 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 14.0 | 37.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 24.4 | 18.5 |
| Language background other than English | 99% | 36% |
| Indigenous students | 0% | 0% |
| Suburb | North Melbourne 3051 | West Melbourne 3003 |
| Council area | Melbourne | Melbourne |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.rivernileschool.vic.edu.au/ | www.sccmelb.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Simonds Catholic College has the higher ICSEA (1053 vs 820), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •River Nile School has fewer students per teacher (8.6 vs 9.5).
- •Simonds Catholic College is the larger school with 359 students compared with 121.
- •River Nile School has grown faster over five years (17% vs -14%).
- •River Nile School is a independent school while Simonds Catholic 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 River Nile School better than Simonds Catholic 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 River Nile School and Simonds Catholic College?
About 211 m in a straight line, between North Melbourne and West Melbourne in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
River Nile School has 8.6 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Simonds Catholic College has 9.5.
How do River Nile School and Simonds Catholic College rank in VIC?
River Nile School is unranked and Simonds Catholic College is 84th of 348 among special schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.