Cardiff High School vs Newcastle Junior School
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.
Cardiff High School
Cardiff · Government high school · 7-12
778 students · ICSEA 986
Newcastle Junior School
Hillsborough · Government special · U
63 students · ICSEA 940
| Measure | Cardiff High School Cardiff NSW | Newcastle Junior School Hillsborough NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 52 Top 50% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #261 of 539 | – |
| National rank (type) | #687 of 1,472 | – |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Secondary | Special |
| Year range | 7-12 | U |
| Students | 778 | 63 |
| Girls / boys | 367 / 411 | 20 / 43 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 146 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 92 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +10% | +13% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 986 | 940 |
| ICSEA percentile | 40th | 21th |
| Top SEA quarter | 11% | 12% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 33% | 51% |
| Students per teacher | 11.7 | 4.4 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 66.1 | 14.3 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 19.1 | 11.5 |
| Language background other than English | 9% | 25% |
| Indigenous students | 16% | 22% |
| Suburb | Cardiff 2285 | Hillsborough 2290 |
| Council area | Lake Macquarie | Lake Macquarie |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | cardiff-h.schools.nsw.gov.au | newcastlej-s.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •Cardiff High School has the higher ICSEA (986 vs 940), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Newcastle Junior School has fewer students per teacher (4.4 vs 11.7).
- •Cardiff High School is the larger school with 778 students compared with 63.
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 Cardiff High School better than Newcastle Junior 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 Cardiff High School and Newcastle Junior School?
About 1.2 km in a straight line, between Cardiff and Hillsborough in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Cardiff High School has 11.7 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Newcastle Junior School has 4.4.
How do Cardiff High School and Newcastle Junior School rank in NSW?
Cardiff High School is 261st of 539 and Newcastle Junior School is unranked among secondary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.