Communicare Academy vs St Francis' School
A head-to-head comparison of two special schools in Western Australia, 1.8 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Communicare Academy
Kenwick · Independent special · 7-12
70 students · ICSEA 896
St Francis' School
Maddington · Catholic special · 10-12
39 students · ICSEA 975
| Measure | Communicare Academy Kenwick WA | St Francis' School Maddington WA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | – | – |
| National rank (type) | – | – |
| Sector | Independent | Catholic |
| Type | Special | Special |
| Year range | 7-12 | 10-12 |
| Students | 70 | 39 |
| Girls / boys | 33 / 37 | 17 / 22 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 5 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 11 | 11 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -17% | +22% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 896 | 975 |
| ICSEA percentile | 10th | 36th |
| Top SEA quarter | 1% | 5% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 74% | 45% |
| Students per teacher | 5.8 | 4.7 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 12.0 | 8.3 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 10.2 | 5.9 |
| Language background other than English | 0% | 2% |
| Indigenous students | 9% | 3% |
| Suburb | Kenwick 6107 | Maddington 6109 |
| Council area | Gosnells | Gosnells |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.communicare.wa.edu.au/ | www.stfs.wa.edu.au/index.php |
The verdict
- •St Francis' School has the higher ICSEA (975 vs 896), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Francis' School has fewer students per teacher (4.7 vs 5.8).
- •Communicare Academy is the larger school with 70 students compared with 39.
- •St Francis' School has grown faster over five years (22% vs -17%).
- •Communicare Academy is a independent school while St Francis' School 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 Communicare Academy better than St Francis' 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 Communicare Academy and St Francis' School?
About 1.8 km in a straight line, between Kenwick and Maddington in Western Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Communicare Academy has 5.8 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Francis' School has 4.7.
How do Communicare Academy and St Francis' School rank in WA?
Communicare Academy is unranked and St Francis' School is unranked among special schools in Western Australia on the 2025 Success Index.