Ariah Park Central School vs The Rock Central School
A head-to-head comparison of two combined schools in New South Wales, 103 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Ariah Park Central School
Ariah Park · Government combined · K-12
123 students · ICSEA 947
The Rock Central School
The Rock · Government combined · K-12
169 students · ICSEA 953
| Measure | Ariah Park Central School Ariah Park NSW | The Rock Central School The Rock NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 33 Lower 50% | 34 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | #270 of 314 | #264 of 314 |
| National rank (type) | #1003 of 1,259 | #983 of 1,259 |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Combined | Combined |
| Year range | K-12 | K-12 |
| Students | 123 | 169 |
| Girls / boys | 60 / 63 | 79 / 90 |
| Foundation intake | 6 | 18 |
| Year 7 cohort | 8 | 7 |
| Year 12 cohort | 3 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -12% | -6% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 947 | 953 |
| ICSEA percentile | 23th | 26th |
| Top SEA quarter | 5% | 7% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 52% | 46% |
| Students per teacher | 8.0 | 11.7 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 15.4 | 14.4 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 6.6 | 4.2 |
| Language background other than English | 2% | 4% |
| Indigenous students | 4% | 15% |
| Suburb | Ariah Park 2665 | The Rock 2655 |
| Council area | Temora | Lockhart |
| Remoteness | Outer Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | ariahpark-c.schools.nsw.gov.au | therock-c.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (33.2 vs 34.0).
- •The Rock Central School has the higher ICSEA (953 vs 947), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Ariah Park Central School has fewer students per teacher (8.0 vs 11.7).
- •The Rock Central School is the larger school with 169 students compared with 123.
- •The Rock Central School has grown faster over five years (-6% vs -12%).
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 Ariah Park Central School better than The Rock Central School?
The two schools are very close on the Success Index. Differences in sector, size, year range and distance from home will matter more than the score.
How far apart are Ariah Park Central School and The Rock Central School?
About 103 km in a straight line, between Ariah Park and The Rock in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Ariah Park Central School has 8.0 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and The Rock Central School has 11.7.
How do Ariah Park Central School and The Rock Central School rank in NSW?
Ariah Park Central School is 270th of 314 and The Rock Central School is 264th of 314 among combined schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.