Budawang School vs Lakeside School
A head-to-head comparison of two special schools in New South Wales, 285 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Budawang School
Milton · Government special · U
44 students · ICSEA 909
Lakeside School
Gateshead · Government special · U
58 students · ICSEA 910
| Measure | Budawang School Milton NSW | Lakeside School Gateshead NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | – | – |
| National rank (type) | – | – |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Special | Special |
| Year range | U | U |
| Students | 44 | 58 |
| Girls / boys | 8 / 36 | 16 / 42 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +33% | +26% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 909 | 910 |
| ICSEA percentile | 13th | 13th |
| Top SEA quarter | 3% | 3% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 56% | 55% |
| Students per teacher | 4.8 | 5.0 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 9.1 | 11.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 9.4 | 11.6 |
| Language background other than English | 7% | 5% |
| Indigenous students | 30% | 22% |
| Suburb | Milton 2538 | Gateshead 2290 |
| Council area | Shoalhaven | Lake Macquarie |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Major Cities |
| Website | budawang-s.schools.nsw.gov.au | lakeside-s.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •Lakeside School has the higher ICSEA (910 vs 909), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Lakeside School is the larger school with 58 students compared with 44.
- •Budawang School has grown faster over five years (33% vs 26%).
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 Budawang School better than Lakeside 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 Budawang School and Lakeside School?
About 285 km in a straight line, between Milton and Gateshead in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Budawang School has 4.8 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Lakeside School has 5.0.
How do Budawang School and Lakeside School rank in NSW?
Budawang School is unranked and Lakeside School is unranked among special schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.