Mercedes College vs Scotch College
Mercedes College (Springfield) is a catholic school and Scotch College (Torrens Park) is a independent school. Both are co-educational. Both teach R-12. Only Scotch College takes boarders. Mercedes College has 1,111 students and Scotch College has 1,213 (ACARA 2025). They are about 1.3 km apart in a straight line.
Photos: Mercedes College: Photo: Michael Coghlan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr · Scotch College: Photo: Michael Coghlan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr
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.
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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 | Mercedes College | Scotch College |
|---|---|---|
| Suburb | Springfield | Torrens Park |
| Region | Adelaide - South | Adelaide - South |
| Sector | Catholic | Independent |
| Students | Co-ed | Co-ed |
| Year levels | R-12 | R-12 |
| Religion | Catholic (Mercy) | Uniting Church |
| Boarding | No | Yes |
| Senior years | SACE + IB Diploma | SACE (IB not confirmed on school site) |
| Facilities and sport (school site) | Australian rules football, Soccer, Netball, Cricket, Basketball, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis, Volleyball, Badminton, Water polo | Gym, Oval, Theatre / performing arts centre, Music centre, Boarding, Early learning centre, Library, Australian rules football, Soccer, Netball, Cricket, Basketball, Rowing, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis, Hockey, Volleyball, Badminton |
| Distance apart | About 1.3 km in a straight line | |
Facts from ACARA (2025) and each school’s own website.
Which suits whom
- Families needing boarding: only Scotch College takes boarders.
- Students wanting the IB Diploma: Mercedes College lists it on its website; Scotch College does not confirm it.
- Families choosing by faith: Mercedes College is Catholic (Mercy); Scotch College is Uniting Church.
- Size: Scotch College is the larger school, with 102 more students.
- Smaller ratio: Scotch College has fewer students per teacher (11.0 against 12.0, ACARA 2025).
- Listed by Mercedes College but not Scotch College: Water polo.
- Listed by Scotch College but not Mercedes College: Gym, Oval, Theatre / performing arts centre, Music centre, Boarding, Early learning centre, Library, Rowing and Hockey.
History
Mercedes College
The Sisters of Mercy reached Adelaide in 1880 after leaving Buenos Aires during unrest there, and later ran a girls’ boarding school as part of St Aloysius in Angas Street. Looking for a healthier setting for their boarders, they bought a 20-acre property at Springfield, centred on Strathspey, the house Sir John Duncan built in 1899, and opened Mercedes College in 1954 with 80 boarders and 60 day pupils. “Mercedes” is Spanish for mercy, a nod to the order’s Argentine connection.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Scotch College
Scotch College grew out of Kyre College, a boys’ school that David Henry Hollidge founded at Malvern in 1902. After years of fundraising for a Presbyterian boys’ school, led by the Rev. John Seymour, Kyre became Scotch College and opened under that name in 1919.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Questions parents ask
What is the difference between Mercedes College and Scotch College?
Both are co-educational. Both teach R-12. Only Scotch College takes boarders.
Is Mercedes College or Scotch College co-ed?
Both are co-educational.
Which is bigger, Mercedes College or Scotch College?
Scotch College is bigger: 1,213 students against 1,111 (ACARA 2025).
How many students per teacher do Mercedes College and Scotch College have?
Mercedes College has 12.0 students per teacher and Scotch College has 11.0 (ACARA My School 2025: total enrolments divided by full-time-equivalent teaching staff).
Which is older, Mercedes College or Scotch College?
Scotch College is older. Mercedes College was founded in 1954 and Scotch College in 1919.
Do Mercedes College and Scotch College take boarders?
Only Scotch College takes boarders.
How far apart are Mercedes College and Scotch College?
About 1.3 km in a straight line: Mercedes College is in Springfield and Scotch College is in Torrens Park.
How do Mercedes College and Scotch College 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