Charlestown South Public School vs St Joseph's Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in New South Wales, 1.4 km 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
St Joseph's Primary School
Charlestown · Catholic primary · K-6
361 students · ICSEA 1102
| Measure | Charlestown South Public School Charlestown NSW | St Joseph's Primary School Charlestown NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 63 Top 50% | 69 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | #540 of 1,619 | #322 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | #1652 of 4,908 | #1068 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | K-6 | K-6 |
| Students | 235 | 361 |
| Girls / boys | 112 / 123 | 164 / 197 |
| Foundation intake | 21 | 53 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -10% | +50% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1075 | 1102 |
| ICSEA percentile | 77th | 85th |
| Top SEA quarter | 32% | 40% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 10% | 6% |
| Students per teacher | 17.9 | 19.2 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 13.1 | 18.8 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 2.4 | 8.2 |
| Language background other than English | 16% | 12% |
| Indigenous students | 9% | 4% |
| Suburb | Charlestown 2290 | Charlestown 2290 |
| Council area | Lake Macquarie | Lake Macquarie |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | charlestos-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | charlestown.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Joseph's Primary School scores higher on the Success Index (69.4 vs 62.9).
- •St Joseph's Primary School has the higher ICSEA (1102 vs 1075), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Charlestown South Public School has fewer students per teacher (17.9 vs 19.2).
- •St Joseph's Primary School is the larger school with 361 students compared with 235.
- •St Joseph's Primary School has grown faster over five years (50% vs -10%).
- •Charlestown South Public School is a government school while St Joseph's Primary School 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 South Public School better than St Joseph's Primary School?
On the Success Index, St Joseph's Primary School ranks higher (69.4 vs 62.9 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 South Public School and St Joseph's Primary School?
About 1.4 km in a straight line, between Charlestown and Charlestown 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 St Joseph's Primary School has 19.2.
How do Charlestown South Public School and St Joseph's Primary School rank in NSW?
Charlestown South Public School is 540th of 1,619 and St Joseph's Primary School is 322nd of 1,619 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.