Carinya School vs Georges River College Penshurst Campus
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.
Carinya School
Mortdale · Government special · U
55 students · ICSEA 975
Georges River College Penshurst Campus
Penshurst · Government high school · 7-10
488 students · ICSEA 1038
| Measure | Carinya School Mortdale NSW | Georges River College Penshurst Campus Penshurst NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | 59 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #215 of 539 |
| National rank (type) | – | #542 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Special | Secondary |
| Year range | U | 7-10 |
| Students | 55 | 488 |
| Girls / boys | 10 / 45 | 416 / 72 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 172 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +17% | -8% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 975 | 1038 |
| ICSEA percentile | 35th | 63th |
| Top SEA quarter | 12% | 19% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 42% | 23% |
| Students per teacher | 4.9 | 13.0 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 11.2 | 37.4 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 12.5 | 9.1 |
| Language background other than English | 29% | 76% |
| Indigenous students | 13% | 1% |
| Suburb | Mortdale 2223 | Penshurst 2222 |
| Council area | Georges River | Georges River |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | carinya-s.schools.nsw.gov.au | penshurst-h.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •Georges River College Penshurst Campus has the higher ICSEA (1038 vs 975), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Carinya School has fewer students per teacher (4.9 vs 13.0).
- •Georges River College Penshurst Campus is the larger school with 488 students compared with 55.
- •Carinya School has grown faster over five years (17% vs -8%).
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 Carinya School better than Georges River College Penshurst Campus?
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 Carinya School and Georges River College Penshurst Campus?
About 1.1 km in a straight line, between Mortdale and Penshurst in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Carinya School has 4.9 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Georges River College Penshurst Campus has 13.0.
How do Carinya School and Georges River College Penshurst Campus rank in NSW?
Carinya School is unranked and Georges River College Penshurst Campus is 215th of 539 among special schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.