Billabong High School vs St Joseph's Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 1.1 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Billabong High School
Culcairn · Government high school · 7-12
312 students · ICSEA 946
St Joseph's Primary School
Culcairn · Catholic primary · K-6
53 students · ICSEA 1016
| Measure | Billabong High School Culcairn NSW | St Joseph's Primary School Culcairn NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 29 Lower 50% | 53 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | #436 of 539 | – |
| National rank (type) | #1193 of 1,472 | – |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Secondary | Primary |
| Year range | 7-12 | K-6 |
| Students | 312 | 53 |
| Girls / boys | 157 / 155 | 22 / 31 |
| Foundation intake | – | 6 |
| Year 7 cohort | 48 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 30 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -17% | -7% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 946 | 1016 |
| ICSEA percentile | 23th | 54th |
| Top SEA quarter | 3% | 13% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 51% | 24% |
| Students per teacher | 8.8 | 8.3 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 35.6 | 6.4 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 10.6 | 2.1 |
| Language background other than English | 3% | 0% |
| Indigenous students | 11% | 0% |
| Suburb | Culcairn 2660 | Culcairn 2660 |
| Council area | Greater Hume | Greater Hume |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | billabong-h.schools.nsw.gov.au | web.sjcuww.catholic.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •St Joseph's Primary School scores higher on the Success Index (53.4 vs 29.3).
- •St Joseph's Primary School has the higher ICSEA (1016 vs 946), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Billabong High School is the larger school with 312 students compared with 53.
- •St Joseph's Primary School has grown faster over five years (-7% vs -17%).
- •Billabong High School is a government school while St Joseph's 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 Billabong High School better than St Joseph's Primary School?
On the Success Index, St Joseph's Primary School ranks higher (53.4 vs 29.3 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 Billabong High School and St Joseph's Primary School?
About 1.1 km in a straight line, between Culcairn and Culcairn in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Billabong High School has 8.8 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Joseph's Primary School has 8.3.
How do Billabong High School and St Joseph's Primary School rank in NSW?
Billabong High School is 436th of 539 and St Joseph's Primary School is unranked among secondary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.