Palmerston District Primary School vs St John Paul II College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in Australian Capital Territory, 2.8 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Palmerston District Primary School
Palmerston · Government primary · K-6
640 students · ICSEA 1077
St John Paul II College
Nicholls · Catholic high school · 7-12
880 students · ICSEA 1089
| Measure | Palmerston District Primary School Palmerston ACT | St John Paul II College Nicholls ACT |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 67 Top 25% | 75 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | #52 of 80 | #8 of 27 |
| National rank (type) | #1272 of 4,908 | #174 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
| Year range | K-6 | 7-12 |
| Students | 640 | 880 |
| Girls / boys | 306 / 334 | 433 / 447 |
| Foundation intake | 91 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 208 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 59 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -8% | -2% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1077 | 1089 |
| ICSEA percentile | 78th | 81th |
| Top SEA quarter | 33% | 34% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 12% | 7% |
| Students per teacher | 12.7 | 11.7 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 50.2 | 75.4 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 27.3 | 34.5 |
| Language background other than English | 47% | 23% |
| Indigenous students | 3% | 2% |
| Suburb | Palmerston 2913 | Nicholls 2913 |
| Council area | Unincorporated ACT | Unincorporated ACT |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.palmdps.act.edu.au/ | www.jpc.act.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St John Paul II College scores higher on the Success Index (74.9 vs 67.2).
- •St John Paul II College has the higher ICSEA (1089 vs 1077), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St John Paul II College has fewer students per teacher (11.7 vs 12.7).
- •St John Paul II College is the larger school with 880 students compared with 640.
- •St John Paul II College has grown faster over five years (-2% vs -8%).
- •Palmerston District Primary School is a government school while St John Paul II College is a catholic 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 Palmerston District Primary School better than St John Paul II College?
On the Success Index, St John Paul II College ranks higher (74.9 vs 67.2 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 Palmerston District Primary School and St John Paul II College?
About 2.8 km in a straight line, between Palmerston and Nicholls in Australian Capital Territory.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Palmerston District Primary School has 12.7 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St John Paul II College has 11.7.
How do Palmerston District Primary School and St John Paul II College rank in ACT?
Palmerston District Primary School is 52nd of 80 and St John Paul II College is 8th of 27 among primary schools in Australian Capital Territory on the 2025 Success Index.