Sacred Heart Girls' College vs St Bernard's College
A head-to-head comparison of two secondary schools in Victoria, 25 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Sacred Heart Girls' College
Hughesdale · Catholic high school · 7-12
932 students · ICSEA 1102
St Bernard's College
Essendon · Catholic high school · 7-12
1,567 students · ICSEA 1100
| Measure | Sacred Heart Girls' College Hughesdale VIC | St Bernard's College Essendon VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 76 Top 10% | 77 Top 10% |
| State rank (type) | #55 of 348 | #53 of 348 |
| National rank (type) | #126 of 1,472 | #124 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Catholic | Catholic |
| Type | Secondary | Secondary |
| Year range | 7-12 | 7-12 |
| Students | 932 | 1,567 |
| Girls / boys | 932 / 0 | 0 / 1,567 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 158 | 277 |
| Year 12 cohort | 146 | 247 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | 31 | 31 |
| VCE study scores 40+ | 8.8% | 8.4% |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -5% | +2% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1102 | 1100 |
| ICSEA percentile | 85th | 84th |
| Top SEA quarter | 41% | 38% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 9% | 7% |
| Students per teacher | 11.1 | 12.9 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 83.6 | 121.2 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 36.7 | 59.8 |
| Language background other than English | 63% | 7% |
| Indigenous students | 0% | 0% |
| Suburb | Hughesdale 3166 | Essendon 3040 |
| Council area | Monash | Moonee Valley |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.shgc.vic.edu.au | www.sbc.vic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (76.4 vs 76.6).
- •Sacred Heart Girls' College has the higher ICSEA (1102 vs 1100), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Sacred Heart Girls' College has fewer students per teacher (11.1 vs 12.9).
- •St Bernard's College is the larger school with 1,567 students compared with 932.
- •St Bernard's College has grown faster over five years (2% vs -5%).
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 Carnegie
Frequently asked questions
Is Sacred Heart Girls' College better than St Bernard'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 Sacred Heart Girls' College and St Bernard's College?
About 25 km in a straight line, between Hughesdale and Essendon in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Sacred Heart Girls' College has 11.1 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Bernard's College has 12.9.
How do Sacred Heart Girls' College and St Bernard's College rank in VIC?
Sacred Heart Girls' College is 55th of 348 and St Bernard's College is 53rd of 348 among secondary schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.