Ben Venue Public School vs O'Connor Catholic College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 1.2 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Ben Venue Public School
Armidale · Government primary · K-6
509 students · ICSEA 1008
O'Connor Catholic College
Armidale · Catholic high school · 7-12
511 students · ICSEA 1020
| Measure | Ben Venue Public School Armidale NSW | O'Connor Catholic College Armidale NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 45 Lower 50% | 57 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | #982 of 1,619 | #229 of 539 |
| National rank (type) | #3057 of 4,908 | #589 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
| Year range | K-6 | 7-12 |
| Students | 509 | 511 |
| Girls / boys | 240 / 269 | 239 / 272 |
| Foundation intake | 70 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 108 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 59 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -10% | -6% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1008 | 1020 |
| ICSEA percentile | 50th | 56th |
| Top SEA quarter | 21% | 18% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 25% | 23% |
| Students per teacher | 17.9 | 10.9 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 28.4 | 46.9 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 4.0 | 19.6 |
| Language background other than English | 15% | 8% |
| Indigenous students | 16% | 9% |
| Suburb | Armidale 2350 | Armidale 2350 |
| Council area | Armidale | Armidale |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | benvenue-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | oconnor.nsw.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •O'Connor Catholic College scores higher on the Success Index (56.6 vs 45.3).
- •O'Connor Catholic College has the higher ICSEA (1020 vs 1008), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •O'Connor Catholic College has fewer students per teacher (10.9 vs 17.9).
- •O'Connor Catholic College is the larger school with 511 students compared with 509.
- •Ben Venue Public School is a government school while O'Connor Catholic 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 Ben Venue Public School better than O'Connor Catholic College?
On the Success Index, O'Connor Catholic College ranks higher (56.6 vs 45.3 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 Ben Venue Public School and O'Connor Catholic College?
About 1.2 km in a straight line, between Armidale and Armidale in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Ben Venue Public School has 17.9 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and O'Connor Catholic College has 10.9.
How do Ben Venue Public School and O'Connor Catholic College rank in NSW?
Ben Venue Public School is 982nd of 1,619 and O'Connor Catholic College is 229th of 539 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.