Bowral High School vs Southern Highlands Christian School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 2.2 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Bowral High School
Bowral · Government high school · 7-12
564 students · ICSEA 956
Southern Highlands Christian School
Bowral · Independent combined · K-12
363 students · ICSEA 1068
| Measure | Bowral High School Bowral NSW | Southern Highlands Christian School Bowral NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 30 Lower 50% | 59 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | #426 of 539 | #152 of 314 |
| National rank (type) | #1174 of 1,472 | #479 of 1,259 |
| Sector | Government | Independent |
| Type | Secondary | Combined |
| Year range | 7-12 | K-12 |
| Students | 564 | 363 |
| Girls / boys | 283 / 281 | 187 / 176 |
| Foundation intake | – | 28 |
| Year 7 cohort | 99 | 40 |
| Year 12 cohort | 65 | 17 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -28% | +3% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 956 | 1068 |
| ICSEA percentile | 27th | 75th |
| Top SEA quarter | 4% | 28% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 47% | 15% |
| Students per teacher | 10.1 | 11.8 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 55.8 | 30.7 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 16.5 | 15.5 |
| Language background other than English | 12% | 10% |
| Indigenous students | 11% | 1% |
| Suburb | Bowral 2576 | Bowral 2576 |
| Council area | Wingecarribee | Wingecarribee |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | bowral-h.schools.nsw.gov.au | www.shcs.nsw.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Southern Highlands Christian School scores higher on the Success Index (58.9 vs 30.2).
- •Southern Highlands Christian School has the higher ICSEA (1068 vs 956), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Bowral High School has fewer students per teacher (10.1 vs 11.8).
- •Bowral High School is the larger school with 564 students compared with 363.
- •Southern Highlands Christian School has grown faster over five years (3% vs -28%).
- •Bowral High School is a government school while Southern Highlands Christian School is an independent 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 Bowral High School better than Southern Highlands Christian School?
On the Success Index, Southern Highlands Christian School ranks higher (58.9 vs 30.2 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 Bowral High School and Southern Highlands Christian School?
About 2.2 km in a straight line, between Bowral and Bowral in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Bowral High School has 10.1 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Southern Highlands Christian School has 11.8.
How do Bowral High School and Southern Highlands Christian School rank in NSW?
Bowral High School is 426th of 539 and Southern Highlands Christian School is 152nd of 314 among secondary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.