Charlestown East Public School vs St Mary's Catholic 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.
Charlestown East Public School
Charlestown · Government primary · K-6
319 students · ICSEA 1036
St Mary's Catholic College
Gateshead · Catholic high school · 7-12
989 students · ICSEA 1062
| Measure | Charlestown East Public School Charlestown NSW | St Mary's Catholic College Gateshead NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 56 Top 50% | 73 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | #739 of 1,619 | #75 of 539 |
| National rank (type) | #2257 of 4,908 | #211 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
| Year range | K-6 | 7-12 |
| Students | 319 | 989 |
| Girls / boys | 149 / 170 | 497 / 492 |
| Foundation intake | 32 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 206 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 125 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +3% | +15% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1036 | 1062 |
| ICSEA percentile | 62th | 73th |
| Top SEA quarter | 22% | 29% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 19% | 13% |
| Students per teacher | 15.6 | 12.0 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 20.4 | 82.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 5.8 | 22.5 |
| Language background other than English | 6% | 6% |
| Indigenous students | 9% | 8% |
| Suburb | Charlestown 2290 | Gateshead 2290 |
| Council area | Lake Macquarie | Lake Macquarie |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | charlestoe-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | gatesheadsm.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Mary's Catholic College scores higher on the Success Index (73.0 vs 55.9).
- •St Mary's Catholic College has the higher ICSEA (1062 vs 1036), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Mary's Catholic College has fewer students per teacher (12.0 vs 15.6).
- •St Mary's Catholic College is the larger school with 989 students compared with 319.
- •St Mary's Catholic College has grown faster over five years (15% vs 3%).
- •Charlestown East Public School is a government school while St Mary's Catholic College is a catholic 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 Charlestown East Public School better than St Mary's Catholic College?
On the Success Index, St Mary's Catholic College ranks higher (73.0 vs 55.9 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 Charlestown East Public School and St Mary's Catholic College?
About 1.5 km in a straight line, between Charlestown and Gateshead in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Charlestown East Public School has 15.6 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Mary's Catholic College has 12.0.
How do Charlestown East Public School and St Mary's Catholic College rank in NSW?
Charlestown East Public School is 739th of 1,619 and St Mary's Catholic College is 75th of 539 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.