St Mary's School vs Swan Hill Specialist School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Victoria, 2.3 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
St Mary's School
Swan Hill · Catholic primary · Prep-6
603 students · ICSEA 1036
Swan Hill Specialist School
Swan Hill · Government special · U
85 students · ICSEA 908
| Measure | St Mary's School Swan Hill VIC | Swan Hill Specialist School Swan Hill VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 62 Top 50% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #617 of 1,290 | – |
| National rank (type) | #1803 of 4,908 | – |
| Sector | Catholic | Government |
| Type | Primary | Special |
| Year range | Prep-6 | U |
| Students | 603 | 85 |
| Girls / boys | 303 / 300 | 35 / 50 |
| Foundation intake | 79 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +5% | -20% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1036 | 908 |
| ICSEA percentile | 62th | 12th |
| Top SEA quarter | 18% | 3% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 18% | 60% |
| Students per teacher | 14.2 | 4.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 42.6 | 20.8 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 30.6 | 23.2 |
| Language background other than English | 23% | 5% |
| Indigenous students | 5% | 20% |
| Suburb | Swan Hill 3585 | Swan Hill 3585 |
| Council area | Swan Hill | Swan Hill |
| Remoteness | Outer Regional | Outer Regional |
| Website | www.smswanhill.catholic.edu.au | www.swanhillspec.vic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Mary's School has the higher ICSEA (1036 vs 908), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Swan Hill Specialist School has fewer students per teacher (4.1 vs 14.2).
- •St Mary's School is the larger school with 603 students compared with 85.
- •St Mary's School has grown faster over five years (5% vs -20%).
- •St Mary's School is a catholic school while Swan Hill Specialist School is a government 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 St Mary's School better than Swan Hill 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 St Mary's School and Swan Hill Specialist School?
About 2.3 km in a straight line, between Swan Hill and Swan Hill in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
St Mary's School has 14.2 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Swan Hill Specialist School has 4.1.
How do St Mary's School and Swan Hill Specialist School rank in VIC?
St Mary's School is 617th of 1,290 and Swan Hill Specialist School is unranked among primary schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.