Pinnacle College vs Saint Ignatius' College
Pinnacle College (Elizabeth East) is a independent school and Saint Ignatius' College (Athelstone) is a catholic school. Both are co-educational. Both teach R-12. Pinnacle College has 993 students and Saint Ignatius' College has 1,421 (ACARA 2025). They are about 16.2 km apart in a straight line.
Photos: Pinnacle College (school website) · Saint Ignatius' College: Photo: Ashton 29, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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 | Pinnacle College | Saint Ignatius' College |
|---|---|---|
| Suburb | Elizabeth East | Athelstone |
| Region | Adelaide - North | Adelaide - Central and Hills |
| Sector | Independent | Catholic |
| Students | Co-ed | Co-ed |
| Year levels | R-12 | R-12 |
| Religion | Non-denominational | Catholic (Jesuit) |
| Boarding | No | No |
| Senior years | SACE | SACE |
| Facilities and sport (school site) | Library | Early learning centre, Science / STEM labs |
| Distance apart | About 16.2 km in a straight line | |
Facts from ACARA (2025) and each school’s own website.
Which suits whom
- Families choosing by faith: Pinnacle College is Non-denominational; Saint Ignatius' College is Catholic (Jesuit).
- Location: Pinnacle College is in Elizabeth East (Adelaide - North); Saint Ignatius' College is in Athelstone (Adelaide - Central and Hills).
- Size: Saint Ignatius' College is the larger school, with 428 more students.
- Smaller ratio: Saint Ignatius' College has fewer students per teacher (11.2 against 12.5, ACARA 2025).
- Listed by Pinnacle College but not Saint Ignatius' College: Library.
- Listed by Saint Ignatius' College but not Pinnacle College: Early learning centre and Science / STEM labs.
History
Pinnacle College
Pinnacle College opened on 27 January 2005 at Wandana Avenue, Gilles Plains, as Burc College, a Turkish word meaning ‘pinnacle’, with 25 students. It was set up by the McYess Foundation as a non-denominational school for parents wanting a disciplined, caring environment that supports multicultural values.
Source: pinnacle.sa.edu.au
Saint Ignatius' College
Saint Ignatius’ opened on 13 February 1951 in Queen Street, Norwood, with 52 boys and six Jesuit fathers, after Archbishop Matthew Beovich encouraged more Catholic schooling in Adelaide. It is part of the worldwide network of Jesuit schools and is named for Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Questions parents ask
What is the difference between Pinnacle College and Saint Ignatius' College?
Both are co-educational. Both teach R-12. Pinnacle College has 993 students and Saint Ignatius' College has 1,421 (ACARA 2025).
Is Pinnacle College or Saint Ignatius' College co-ed?
Both are co-educational.
Which is bigger, Pinnacle College or Saint Ignatius' College?
Saint Ignatius' College is bigger: 1,421 students against 993 (ACARA 2025).
How many students per teacher do Pinnacle College and Saint Ignatius' College have?
Pinnacle College has 12.5 students per teacher and Saint Ignatius' College has 11.2 (ACARA My School 2025: total enrolments divided by full-time-equivalent teaching staff).
Which is older, Pinnacle College or Saint Ignatius' College?
Saint Ignatius' College is older. Pinnacle College was founded in 2005 and Saint Ignatius' College in 1951.
Do Pinnacle College and Saint Ignatius' College take boarders?
Neither takes boarders.
How far apart are Pinnacle College and Saint Ignatius' College?
About 16.2 km in a straight line: Pinnacle College is in Elizabeth East and Saint Ignatius' College is in Athelstone.
How do Pinnacle College and Saint Ignatius' 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.
Related comparisons
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