Balgowlah Heights Public School vs St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in New South Wales, 1.1 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Balgowlah Heights Public School
Balgowlah · Government primary · K-6
651 students · ICSEA 1177
St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School
Balgowlah · Catholic primary · K-6
232 students · ICSEA 1168
| Measure | Balgowlah Heights Public School Balgowlah NSW | St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School Balgowlah NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 77 Top 10% | 77 Top 10% |
| State rank (type) | #100 of 1,619 | #107 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | #382 of 4,908 | #394 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | K-6 | K-6 |
| Students | 651 | 232 |
| Girls / boys | 312 / 339 | 146 / 86 |
| Foundation intake | 70 | 43 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -8% | -15% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1177 | 1168 |
| ICSEA percentile | 98th | 98th |
| Top SEA quarter | 72% | 65% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 1% | 1% |
| Students per teacher | 18.4 | 16.8 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 35.4 | 13.8 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Language background other than English | 22% | 14% |
| Indigenous students | 1% | 0% |
| Suburb | Balgowlah 2093 | Balgowlah 2093 |
| Council area | Northern Beaches | Northern Beaches |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | balgowlaht-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | www.scbdbb.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (77.2 vs 77.0).
- •Balgowlah Heights Public School has the higher ICSEA (1177 vs 1168), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School has fewer students per teacher (16.8 vs 18.4).
- •Balgowlah Heights Public School is the larger school with 651 students compared with 232.
- •Balgowlah Heights Public School has grown faster over five years (-8% vs -15%).
- •Balgowlah Heights Public School is a government school while St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School 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 Balgowlah Heights Public School better than St Cecilia's Catholic Primary 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 Balgowlah Heights Public School and St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School?
About 1.1 km in a straight line, between Balgowlah and Balgowlah in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Balgowlah Heights Public School has 18.4 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School has 16.8.
How do Balgowlah Heights Public School and St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School rank in NSW?
Balgowlah Heights Public School is 100th of 1,619 and St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School is 107th of 1,619 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.