Forrest Primary School vs St Edmund's College Canberra
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Australian Capital Territory, 1.9 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Forrest Primary School
Forrest · Government primary · K-6
479 students · ICSEA 1145
St Edmund's College Canberra
Griffith · Independent combined · 4-12
935 students · ICSEA 1080
| Measure | Forrest Primary School Forrest ACT | St Edmund's College Canberra Griffith ACT |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 78 Top 10% | 66 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | #20 of 80 | #14 of 23 |
| National rank (type) | #348 of 4,908 | #348 of 1,259 |
| Sector | Government | Independent |
| Type | Primary | Combined |
| Year range | K-6 | 4-12 |
| Students | 479 | 935 |
| Girls / boys | 228 / 251 | 0 / 935 |
| Foundation intake | 57 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 166 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 78 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -14% | +26% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1145 | 1080 |
| ICSEA percentile | 94th | 79th |
| Top SEA quarter | 62% | 32% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 4% | 7% |
| Students per teacher | 14.8 | 13.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 32.2 | 71.3 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 13.0 | 31.5 |
| Language background other than English | 46% | 6% |
| Indigenous students | 2% | 5% |
| Suburb | Forrest 2603 | Griffith 2603 |
| Council area | Unincorporated ACT | Unincorporated ACT |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.forrestps.act.edu.au/ | sec.act.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •Forrest Primary School scores higher on the Success Index (77.7 vs 65.8).
- •Forrest Primary School has the higher ICSEA (1145 vs 1080), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Edmund's College Canberra has fewer students per teacher (13.1 vs 14.8).
- •St Edmund's College Canberra is the larger school with 935 students compared with 479.
- •St Edmund's College Canberra has grown faster over five years (26% vs -14%).
- •Forrest Primary School is a government school while St Edmund's College Canberra is an independent school, so fees and enrolment rules differ.
The Success Index summarises community advantage, resourcing and momentum from ACARA data. It does not measure teaching quality, results or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Forrest Primary School better than St Edmund's College Canberra?
On the Success Index, Forrest Primary School ranks higher (77.7 vs 65.8 out of 100). The index measures community advantage and momentum from ACARA data, not teaching quality, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Forrest Primary School and St Edmund's College Canberra?
About 1.9 km in a straight line, between Forrest and Griffith in Australian Capital Territory.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Forrest Primary School has 14.8 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Edmund's College Canberra has 13.1.
How do Forrest Primary School and St Edmund's College Canberra rank in ACT?
Forrest Primary School is 20th of 80 and St Edmund's College Canberra is 14th of 23 among primary schools in Australian Capital Territory on the 2025 Success Index.