St James' Primary School
Updated Oct 2026 · ACARA 2025Kotara South, New South Wales 2289 · Newcastle LGA
#556 of 1,619 primary schools in NSW
#1704 of 4,908 nationally
About St James' Primary School
St James' Primary School is a catholic primary school located in Kotara South, New South Wales (2289), within the Newcastle local government area. It caters for students from K to 6 and in 2025 enrolled 334 students (169 girls and 165 boys). The school is affiliated with Catholic Schools NSW.
St James' Primary School has an ICSEA value of 1104, indicating very high socio-educational advantage. That places it in the 85th percentile of Australian schools. 40% of students come from the top socio-educational quarter and 4% from the bottom quarter.
The school employs 26 teachers (20.6 full-time equivalent) and 17 non-teaching staff, giving a student-to-teacher ratio of about 16.2 to 1. Enrolments have fallen by 15% over the past five years.
On the Success Index, St James' Primary School scores 62.4 out of 100, placing it in the top 50% of primary schools nationally and 556th of 1,619 primary schools in NSW (22nd of 45 in the Newcastle area).
Success Index breakdown
Each component is a percentile against schools of the same type across Australia.
- Socio-educational advantage (ICSEA) (50%)ICSEA 1104
- Students in the top advantage quarter (15%)40% of students
- Teacher resourcing (students per teacher) (15%)16.2 students per teacher
- Enrolment growth vs local area (5 years) (10%)-15% enrolments since 2020 (area median -4%)
- ICSEA trend (5 years) (10%)-22 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 St James' Primary School's 334 students are spread across year levels in 2025.
Enrolment trend
How enrolments at St James' Primary School have changed over the past decade.
Free academic assessment
Is your child on track at St James' Primary School?
Rankings tell you about a school community. A free Success Tutoring assessment tells you about your child: exactly where they are in English and Maths, where the gaps are, and a plan to close them. Small-group, Australian-curriculum tutoring with no lock-in contracts.
- Personalised learning plan mapped to the Australian Curriculum
- English & Maths from Kindergarten to Year 12
- Flexible memberships, no lock-in contracts
- Your nearest centre: Success Tutoring Belmont
Schools near St James' Primary School
Closest schools by straight-line distance, with their Success Index.
Kotara South Public School
Kotara · Government primary · K-6
309 students · ICSEA 1069 · 533 m away
Kotara School
Kotara · Government special · U
25 students · ICSEA 816 · 612 m away
Kotara High School
Adamstown · Government high school · 7-12
1,130 students · ICSEA 1066 · 665 m away
Belair Public School
Adamstown · Government primary · K-6
409 students · ICSEA 1103 · 1.1 km away
Garden Suburb Public School
Garden Suburb · Government primary · K-6
227 students · ICSEA 1045 · 1.6 km away
Trinity Catholic College
Adamstown · Catholic high school · 7-11
849 students · ICSEA 1090 · 1.9 km away
New Lambton Heights Infants School
New Lambton Heights · Government primary · K-2
55 students · ICSEA 1100 · 1.9 km away
Charlestown Public School
Charlestown · Government primary · K-6
234 students · ICSEA 1037 · 1.9 km away
St Joseph's Primary School
Charlestown · Catholic primary · K-6
361 students · ICSEA 1102 · 2.1 km away
Newcastle Junior School
Hillsborough · Government special · U
63 students · ICSEA 940 · 2.1 km away
Similar schools
Catholic primary schools in NSW with a comparable ICSEA.
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School
Mona Vale · Catholic primary · K-6
417 students · ICSEA 1104
Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School
Kiama · Catholic primary · K-6
363 students · ICSEA 1104
St Michael's Catholic Primary School
Daceyville · Catholic primary · K-6
371 students · ICSEA 1104
Santa Sophia Catholic College (Primary)
Gables · Catholic primary · K-6
884 students · ICSEA 1104
Our Lady of the Angels Primary School
Kellyville · Catholic primary · K-6
600 students · ICSEA 1105
St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School
Bowral · Catholic primary · K-6
219 students · ICSEA 1103
Frequently asked questions
Is St James' Primary School a public or private school?
St James' Primary School is a Catholic school, which makes it a non-government (private) school affiliated with Catholic Schools NSW.
What year levels does St James' Primary School offer?
St James' Primary School offers K to 6. It is classified by ACARA as a primary school.
How many students attend St James' Primary School?
In 2025, St James' Primary School had 334 enrolled students (169 girls, 165 boys), a change of -15% over five years.
What is the ICSEA of St James' Primary School?
St James' Primary School has an ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) of 1104. The national average is 1000, so this indicates very high socio-educational advantage. ICSEA reflects the school community, not teaching quality.
How does St James' Primary School rank in NSW?
St James' Primary School ranks 556th of 1,619 primary schools in New South Wales on the Success Index (62.4/100), and 1704th of 4,908 nationally.
What is the student-to-teacher ratio at St James' Primary School?
St James' Primary School has about 16.2 students per full-time-equivalent teacher, based on 2025 ACARA staffing data.
How many students start Kindergarten at St James' Primary School each year?
In 2025, St James' Primary School had 48 students in Kindergarten and 41 in Year 6.
Is St James' Primary School co-ed?
Yes. St James' Primary School is a co-educational school enrolling both girls and boys.
What other schools are near St James' Primary School?
There are 10 other schools within 15 km of St James' Primary 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 St James' Primary School?
The closest Success Tutoring centre is Success Tutoring Belmont, about 9.3 km from the school. Success Tutoring offers a free academic assessment to identify your child's strengths and learning gaps before any sessions begin.