Callaghan College Jesmond Senior Campus vs Margaret Jurd College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 1.5 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Callaghan College Jesmond Senior Campus
Jesmond · Government high school · 11-12
659 students · ICSEA 980
Margaret Jurd College
Shortland · Independent special · U
103 students · ICSEA 889
| Measure | Callaghan College Jesmond Senior Campus Jesmond NSW | Margaret Jurd College Shortland NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 52 Top 50% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #265 of 539 | – |
| National rank (type) | #692 of 1,472 | – |
| Sector | Government | Independent |
| Type | Secondary | Special |
| Year range | 11-12 | U |
| Students | 659 | 103 |
| Girls / boys | 332 / 327 | 53 / 50 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 314 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +7% | +45% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 980 | 889 |
| ICSEA percentile | 38th | 9th |
| Top SEA quarter | 11% | 9% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 38% | 56% |
| Students per teacher | 9.9 | 5.6 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 65.5 | 18.5 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 17.3 | 26.5 |
| Language background other than English | 25% | 0% |
| Indigenous students | 12% | 46% |
| Suburb | Jesmond 2299 | Shortland 2307 |
| Council area | Newcastle | Newcastle |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | jesmondcc-h.schools.nsw.gov.au | www.mjc.nsw.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •Callaghan College Jesmond Senior Campus has the higher ICSEA (980 vs 889), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Margaret Jurd College has fewer students per teacher (5.6 vs 9.9).
- •Callaghan College Jesmond Senior Campus is the larger school with 659 students compared with 103.
- •Margaret Jurd College has grown faster over five years (45% vs 7%).
- •Callaghan College Jesmond Senior Campus is a government school while Margaret Jurd College 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 Callaghan College Jesmond Senior Campus better than Margaret Jurd College?
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 Callaghan College Jesmond Senior Campus and Margaret Jurd College?
About 1.5 km in a straight line, between Jesmond and Shortland in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Callaghan College Jesmond Senior Campus has 9.9 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Margaret Jurd College has 5.6.
How do Callaghan College Jesmond Senior Campus and Margaret Jurd College rank in NSW?
Callaghan College Jesmond Senior Campus is 265th of 539 and Margaret Jurd College is unranked among secondary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.