Forster Public School
Updated Oct 2026 · ACARA 2025Forster, New South Wales 2428 · Mid-Coast LGA
#1423 of 1,619 primary schools in NSW
#4342 of 4,908 nationally
About Forster Public School
Forster Public School is a public primary school located in Forster, New South Wales (2428), within the Mid-Coast local government area. It caters for students from K to 6 and in 2025 enrolled 573 students (256 girls and 317 boys).
Forster Public School has an ICSEA value of 934, indicating below-average socio-educational advantage. That places it in the 19th percentile of Australian schools. 7% of students come from the top socio-educational quarter and 46% from the bottom quarter.
The school employs 47 teachers (39.9 full-time equivalent) and 16 non-teaching staff, giving a student-to-teacher ratio of about 14.4 to 1. Enrolments have fallen by 23% over the past five years.
On the Success Index, Forster Public School scores 27.1 out of 100, placing it in the lower 50% of primary schools nationally and 1423rd of 1,619 primary schools in NSW (15th of 21 in the Mid-Coast area).
Success Index breakdown
Each component is a percentile against schools of the same type across Australia.
- Socio-educational advantage (ICSEA) (50%)ICSEA 934
- Students in the top advantage quarter (15%)7% of students
- Teacher resourcing (students per teacher) (15%)14.4 students per teacher
- Enrolment growth vs local area (5 years) (10%)-23% enrolments since 2020 (area median -3%)
- ICSEA trend (5 years) (10%)+1 ICSEA points since 2020
The Success Index summarises the academic environment of a school community using official ACARA data. It is not a measure of teaching quality or student results. Read the methodology.
Student profile
Distribution of students across socio-educational advantage (SEA) quarters, plus community characteristics.
Enrolments by year level
How Forster Public School's 573 students are spread across year levels in 2025.
Enrolment trend
How enrolments at Forster Public School have changed over the past decade.
Free academic assessment
Is your child on track at Forster Public School?
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Schools near Forster Public School
Closest schools by straight-line distance, with their Success Index.
Holy Name Primary School
Forster · Catholic primary · K-6
345 students · ICSEA 1014 · 615 m away
Tuncurry Public School
Tuncurry · Government primary · K-6
366 students · ICSEA 930 · 3.0 km away
Great Lakes College Tuncurry Campus
Tuncurry · Government high school · 7-10
466 students · ICSEA 949 · 3.5 km away
Great Lakes College Senior Campus
Tuncurry · Government high school · 11-12
349 students · ICSEA 988 · 3.6 km away
Great Lakes College Forster Campus
Forster · Government high school · 7-10
478 students · ICSEA 936 · 3.7 km away
Similar schools
Government primary schools in NSW with a comparable ICSEA.
Matraville Soldiers Settlement Public School
Matraville · Government primary · P-6
114 students · ICSEA 934
Bossley Park Public School
Bossley Park · Government primary · K-6
265 students · ICSEA 934
Yanderra Public School
Yanderra · Government primary · K-6
35 students · ICSEA 934
Lansvale Public School
Canley Vale · Government primary · P-6
524 students · ICSEA 934
Argenton Public School
Argenton · Government primary · K-6
46 students · ICSEA 934
Fingal Head Public School
Fingal Head · Government primary · K-6
33 students · ICSEA 934
Frequently asked questions
Is Forster Public School a public or private school?
Forster Public School is a public (government) school run by the New South Wales education department.
What year levels does Forster Public School offer?
Forster Public School offers K to 6. It is classified by ACARA as a primary school.
How many students attend Forster Public School?
In 2025, Forster Public School had 573 enrolled students (256 girls, 317 boys), a change of -23% over five years.
What is the ICSEA of Forster Public School?
Forster Public School has an ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) of 934. The national average is 1000, so this indicates below-average socio-educational advantage. ICSEA reflects the school community, not teaching quality.
How does Forster Public School rank in NSW?
Forster Public School ranks 1423rd of 1,619 primary schools in New South Wales on the Success Index (27.1/100), and 4342nd of 4,908 nationally.
What is the student-to-teacher ratio at Forster Public School?
Forster Public School has about 14.4 students per full-time-equivalent teacher, based on 2025 ACARA staffing data.
How many students start Kindergarten at Forster Public School each year?
In 2025, Forster Public School had 90 students in Kindergarten and 90 in Year 6.
Is Forster Public School co-ed?
Yes. Forster Public School is a co-educational school enrolling both girls and boys.
What other schools are near Forster Public School?
There are 5 other schools within 15 km of Forster Public School in our database. Scroll up to the "Nearby schools" section to compare them by Success Index, ICSEA and enrolments, or use the Compare tool.
Where can I get tutoring near Forster Public School?
The closest Success Tutoring centre is Success Tutoring Belmont, about 124 km from the school. Success Tutoring offers a free academic assessment to identify your child's strengths and learning gaps before any sessions begin.