The McDonald College
Updated Oct 2026 · ACARA 2025North Strathfield, New South Wales 2137 · Canada Bay LGA
#60 of 314 combined schools in NSW
#172 of 1,259 nationally
About The McDonald College
The McDonald College is an independent combined (K–12) school located in North Strathfield, New South Wales (2137), within the Canada Bay local government area. It caters for students from 1 to 12 and in 2025 enrolled 265 students (159 girls and 106 boys). The school is affiliated with Independent Schools NSW.
The McDonald College has an ICSEA value of 1123, indicating very high socio-educational advantage. That places it in the 90th percentile of Australian schools. 52% of students come from the top socio-educational quarter and 5% from the bottom quarter.
The school employs 32 teachers (27.4 full-time equivalent) and 29 non-teaching staff, giving a student-to-teacher ratio of about 9.7 to 1. Enrolments have fallen by 9% over the past five years.
On the Success Index, The McDonald College scores 75.5 out of 100, placing it in the top 25% of combined schools nationally and 60th of 314 combined schools in NSW.
Success Index breakdown
Each component is a percentile against schools of the same type across Australia.
- Socio-educational advantage (ICSEA) (50%)ICSEA 1123
- Students in the top advantage quarter (15%)52% of students
- Teacher resourcing (students per teacher) (15%)9.7 students per teacher
- Enrolment growth vs local area (5 years) (10%)-9% enrolments since 2020
- ICSEA trend (5 years) (10%)+26 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 The McDonald College's 265 students are spread across year levels in 2025.
Enrolment trend
How enrolments at The McDonald College have changed over the past decade.
Free academic assessment
Is your child on track at The McDonald College?
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.
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Schools near The McDonald College
Closest schools by straight-line distance, with their Success Index.
Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School
North Strathfield · Catholic primary · K-6
427 students · ICSEA 1140 · 171 m away
Strathfield North Public School
North Strathfield · Government primary · K-6
508 students · ICSEA 1112 · 634 m away
St Ambrose Catholic Primary School
Concord West · Catholic primary · K-6
484 students · ICSEA 1133 · 941 m away
Homebush Public School
Homebush · Government primary · K-6
368 students · ICSEA 1094 · 1.0 km away
Homebush Boys High School
Homebush · Government high school · 7-12
891 students · ICSEA 1043 · 1.1 km away
Victoria Avenue Public School
Concord West · Government primary · K-6
340 students · ICSEA 1071 · 1.2 km away
St Martha's Catholic Primary School
Strathfield · Catholic primary · K-6
315 students · ICSEA 1120 · 1.7 km away
Strathfield Girls High School
Strathfield · Government high school · 7-12
1,063 students · ICSEA 1077 · 1.7 km away
Meriden School
Strathfield · Independent combined · K-12
1,761 students · ICSEA 1180 · 1.8 km away
Mortlake Public School
Concord · Government primary · K-6
261 students · ICSEA 1081 · 1.8 km away
Similar schools
Independent combined schools in NSW with a comparable ICSEA.
Inaburra School
Bangor · Independent combined · K-12
1,211 students · ICSEA 1123
St Mary and St Mina's Coptic Orthodox College
Bexley · Independent combined · K-12
372 students · ICSEA 1123
Australian International Academy, Kellyville Campus
North Kellyville · Independent combined · K-12
733 students · ICSEA 1122
Macarthur Anglican School
Cobbitty · Independent combined · K-12
1,177 students · ICSEA 1125
St Paul's Grammar School
Cranebrook · Independent combined · K-12
824 students · ICSEA 1121
St Patrick's College, Strathfield
Strathfield · Independent combined · 5-12
1,598 students · ICSEA 1126
Frequently asked questions
Is The McDonald College a public or private school?
The McDonald College is a Independent school, which makes it a non-government (private) school affiliated with Independent Schools NSW.
What year levels does The McDonald College offer?
The McDonald College offers 1 to 12. It is classified by ACARA as a combined school.
How many students attend The McDonald College?
In 2025, The McDonald College had 265 enrolled students (159 girls, 106 boys), a change of -9% over five years.
What is the ICSEA of The McDonald College?
The McDonald College has an ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) of 1123. The national average is 1000, so this indicates very high socio-educational advantage. ICSEA reflects the school community, not teaching quality.
How does The McDonald College rank in NSW?
The McDonald College ranks 60th of 314 combined schools in New South Wales on the Success Index (75.5/100), and 172nd of 1,259 nationally.
What is the student-to-teacher ratio at The McDonald College?
The McDonald College has about 9.7 students per full-time-equivalent teacher, based on 2025 ACARA staffing data.
How big is the Year 7 cohort at The McDonald College?
In 2025, The McDonald College had 30 students in Year 7 and 60 in Year 12.
Is The McDonald College co-ed?
Yes. The McDonald College is a co-educational school enrolling both girls and boys.
What other schools are near The McDonald College?
There are 10 other schools within 15 km of The McDonald College 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 The McDonald College?
The closest Success Tutoring centre is Success Tutoring Burwood, about 2.1 km from the school. Success Tutoring offers a free academic assessment to identify your child's strengths and learning gaps before any sessions begin.