Emmanuel College vs St Hilda's School
Emmanuel College (Carrara) and St Hilda's School (Southport) are both independent schools on the Gold Coast. Emmanuel College is co-educational; St Hilda's School is a girls’ school. Both teach P-12. Only St Hilda's School takes boarders. Emmanuel College has 1,686 students and St Hilda's School has 1,258 (ACARA 2025). They are about 6.6 km apart in a straight line.
Photos: Emmanuel College (school website) · St Hilda's School (school website)
See both schools’ full fees, ATAR results and cost to Year 12
Every year level’s fees from each school’s own schedule, the results each school publishes, and the total cost to Year 12, side by side.
Compare these schools in full →A$9.99 a year, cancel anytimeSecure payment by Stripe
Key numbers
Students, ICSEA, students per teacher and girls/boys: ACARA My School 2025 (students per teacher is total enrolments divided by full-time-equivalent teaching staff; it isn’t class size).
Fees and results
Side by side
| Fact | Emmanuel College | St Hilda's School |
|---|---|---|
| Suburb | Carrara | Southport |
| Region | Nerang | Southport |
| Sector | Independent | Independent |
| Students | Co-ed | Girls |
| Year levels | P-12 | P-12 |
| Religion | Christian | Anglican |
| Boarding | No | Yes |
| Senior years | QCE | QCE |
| Facilities and sport (school site) | Library | Swimming pool, Gym, Oval, Indoor sports centre, Boarding, Early learning centre, Tennis courts, Australian rules football, Netball, Cricket, Basketball, Rowing, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis, Volleyball, Badminton |
| Distance apart | About 6.6 km in a straight line | |
Facts from ACARA (2025) and each school’s own website.
Which suits whom
- Families wanting a co-educational school: Emmanuel College is co-ed.
- Families wanting a single-sex school for a daughter: St Hilda's School takes girls only.
- Families needing boarding: only St Hilda's School takes boarders.
- Families choosing by faith: Emmanuel College is Christian; St Hilda's School is Anglican.
- Location: Emmanuel College is in Carrara (Nerang); St Hilda's School is in Southport (Southport).
- Size: Emmanuel College is the larger school, with 428 more students.
- Smaller ratio: St Hilda's School has fewer students per teacher (12.5 against 15.3, ACARA 2025).
- Listed by Emmanuel College but not St Hilda's School: Library.
- Listed by St Hilda's School but not Emmanuel College: Swimming pool, Gym, Oval, Indoor sports centre, Boarding, Early learning centre, Tennis courts, Australian rules football, Netball, Cricket, Basketball, Rowing, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis, Volleyball and Badminton.
History
Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College opened at Carrara in 1985 with 66 students in Years 8 and 9. Within two years it had 300 students, and its Junior School opened in 1989.
Source: emmanuel.qld.edu.au
St Hilda's School
St Hilda’s began in 1912, when the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane bought an existing school at Southport known as Goy-te-Lea. It celebrated its centenary in 2012 and is a day and boarding school for girls from Pre-Prep to Year 12.
Source: sthildas.qld.edu.au
Questions parents ask
What is the difference between Emmanuel College and St Hilda's School?
Emmanuel College is co-educational; St Hilda's School is a girls’ school. Both teach P-12. Only St Hilda's School takes boarders.
Is Emmanuel College or St Hilda's School co-ed?
Emmanuel College is co-educational and St Hilda's School is a girls’ school.
Which is bigger, Emmanuel College or St Hilda's School?
Emmanuel College is bigger: 1,686 students against 1,258 (ACARA 2025).
How many students per teacher do Emmanuel College and St Hilda's School have?
Emmanuel College has 15.3 students per teacher and St Hilda's School has 12.5 (ACARA My School 2025: total enrolments divided by full-time-equivalent teaching staff).
Which is older, Emmanuel College or St Hilda's School?
St Hilda's School is older. Emmanuel College was founded in 1985 and St Hilda's School in 1912.
Do Emmanuel College and St Hilda's School take boarders?
Only St Hilda's School takes boarders.
How far apart are Emmanuel College and St Hilda's School?
About 6.6 km in a straight line: Emmanuel College is in Carrara and St Hilda's School is in Southport.
How do Emmanuel College and St Hilda's School fees compare?
Each school publishes its own fee schedule. Members see both schedules year by year, the results each school reports and the total cost to Year 12. Always confirm current fees with the school.
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School profiles
Get the full picture: fees, ATAR results and cost to Year 12
Every year level’s fees from each school’s own schedule, the results each school publishes, and the total cost to Year 12, side by side.
Compare these schools in full →A$9.99 a year, cancel anytimeSecure payment by Stripe
Source and date
Enrolment, ICSEA, students per teacher and girls/boys: ACARA My School 2025. Other facts: each school’s website, checked 21 October 2026. Distance is a straight line between the schools’ map points, not travel distance. Check details with the schools before deciding. Methodology