Mount Tarcoola Primary School vs St John's School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in Western Australia, 1.9 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Mount Tarcoola Primary School
Geraldton · Government primary · K-6
390 students · ICSEA 938
St John's School
Geraldton · Catholic primary · PP-6
180 students · ICSEA 921
| Measure | Mount Tarcoola Primary School Geraldton WA | St John's School Geraldton WA |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 26 Lower 50% | 26 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | #497 of 583 | #501 of 583 |
| National rank (type) | #4408 of 4,908 | #4420 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | K-6 | PP-6 |
| Students | 390 | 180 |
| Girls / boys | 192 / 198 | 90 / 90 |
| Foundation intake | 34 | 26 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +1% | +5% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 938 | 921 |
| ICSEA percentile | 21th | 15th |
| Top SEA quarter | 8% | 2% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 42% | 46% |
| Students per teacher | 16.4 | 15.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 22.6 | 11.9 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 26.5 | 15.3 |
| Language background other than English | 36% | 4% |
| Indigenous students | 26% | 24% |
| Suburb | Geraldton 6530 | Geraldton 6530 |
| Council area | Greater Geraldton | Greater Geraldton |
| Remoteness | Outer Regional | Outer Regional |
| Website | mttarcoola.wa.edu.au/ | www.sjr.wa.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (26.3 vs 26.2).
- •Mount Tarcoola Primary School has the higher ICSEA (938 vs 921), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St John's School has fewer students per teacher (15.1 vs 16.4).
- •Mount Tarcoola Primary School is the larger school with 390 students compared with 180.
- •Mount Tarcoola Primary School is a government school while St John's 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 Mount Tarcoola Primary School better than St John's 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 Mount Tarcoola Primary School and St John's School?
About 1.9 km in a straight line, between Geraldton and Geraldton in Western Australia.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Mount Tarcoola Primary School has 16.4 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St John's School has 15.1.
How do Mount Tarcoola Primary School and St John's School rank in WA?
Mount Tarcoola Primary School is 497th of 583 and St John's School is 501st of 583 among primary schools in Western Australia on the 2025 Success Index.