Charlestown South Public School vs Lakeside School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 965 m apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Charlestown South Public School
Charlestown · Government primary · K-6
235 students · ICSEA 1075
Lakeside School
Gateshead · Government special · U
58 students · ICSEA 910
| Measure | Charlestown South Public School Charlestown NSW | Lakeside School Gateshead NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 63 Top 50% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #540 of 1,619 | – |
| National rank (type) | #1652 of 4,908 | – |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Primary | Special |
| Year range | K-6 | U |
| Students | 235 | 58 |
| Girls / boys | 112 / 123 | 16 / 42 |
| Foundation intake | 21 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -10% | +26% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1075 | 910 |
| ICSEA percentile | 77th | 13th |
| Top SEA quarter | 32% | 3% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 10% | 55% |
| Students per teacher | 17.9 | 5.0 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 13.1 | 11.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 2.4 | 11.6 |
| Language background other than English | 16% | 5% |
| Indigenous students | 9% | 22% |
| Suburb | Charlestown 2290 | Gateshead 2290 |
| Council area | Lake Macquarie | Lake Macquarie |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | charlestos-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | lakeside-s.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •Charlestown South Public School has the higher ICSEA (1075 vs 910), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Lakeside School has fewer students per teacher (5.0 vs 17.9).
- •Charlestown South Public School is the larger school with 235 students compared with 58.
- •Lakeside School has grown faster over five years (26% vs -10%).
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 South Public 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 Charlestown South Public School and Lakeside School?
About 965 m in a straight line, between Charlestown and Gateshead in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Charlestown South Public School has 17.9 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Lakeside School has 5.0.
How do Charlestown South Public School and Lakeside School rank in NSW?
Charlestown South Public School is 540th of 1,619 and Lakeside School is unranked among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.