Mercedes College vs St John's Grammar School
Mercedes College (Springfield) is a catholic school and St John's Grammar School (Belair) is a independent school. Both are co-educational. Both teach R-12. Mercedes College has 1,111 students and St John's Grammar School has 1,009 (ACARA 2025). They are about 2.9 km apart in a straight line.
Photos: Mercedes College: Photo: Michael Coghlan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr · St John's Grammar School: 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 | St John's Grammar School |
|---|---|---|
| Suburb | Springfield | Belair |
| Region | Adelaide - South | Adelaide - South |
| Sector | Catholic | Independent |
| Students | Co-ed | Co-ed |
| Year levels | R-12 | R-12 |
| Religion | Catholic (Mercy) | Anglican |
| Boarding | No | No |
| Senior years | SACE + IB Diploma | SACE |
| Facilities and sport (school site) | Australian rules football, Soccer, Netball, Cricket, Basketball, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis, Volleyball, Badminton, Water polo | Indoor sports centre, Theatre / performing arts centre, Early learning centre, Library, Science / STEM labs, Australian rules football, Soccer, Netball, Cricket, Basketball, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis, Hockey, Volleyball, Badminton |
| Distance apart | About 2.9 km in a straight line | |
Facts from ACARA (2025) and each school’s own website.
Which suits whom
- Students wanting the IB Diploma: Mercedes College lists it on its website; St John's Grammar School does not confirm it.
- Families choosing by faith: Mercedes College is Catholic (Mercy); St John's Grammar School is Anglican.
- Size: Mercedes College is the larger school, with 102 more students.
- Listed by Mercedes College but not St John's Grammar School: Water polo.
- Listed by St John's Grammar School but not Mercedes College: Indoor sports centre, Theatre / performing arts centre, Early learning centre, Library, Science / STEM labs 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
St John's Grammar School
St John’s Grammar School was founded in 1958 at Belair in the Adelaide Hills. Its Junior School sits beside Belair National Park and the Belair railway station.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Questions parents ask
What is the difference between Mercedes College and St John's Grammar School?
Both are co-educational. Both teach R-12. Mercedes College has 1,111 students and St John's Grammar School has 1,009 (ACARA 2025).
Is Mercedes College or St John's Grammar School co-ed?
Both are co-educational.
Which is bigger, Mercedes College or St John's Grammar School?
Mercedes College is bigger: 1,111 students against 1,009 (ACARA 2025).
How many students per teacher do Mercedes College and St John's Grammar School have?
Mercedes College has 12.0 students per teacher and St John's Grammar School has 12.3 (ACARA My School 2025: total enrolments divided by full-time-equivalent teaching staff).
Which is older, Mercedes College or St John's Grammar School?
Mercedes College is older. Mercedes College was founded in 1954 and St John's Grammar School in 1958.
Do Mercedes College and St John's Grammar School take boarders?
Neither takes boarders.
How far apart are Mercedes College and St John's Grammar School?
About 2.9 km in a straight line: Mercedes College is in Springfield and St John's Grammar School is in Belair.
How do Mercedes College and St John's Grammar 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