Charlestown South 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 South Public School
Charlestown · Government primary · K-6
235 students · ICSEA 1075
St Mary's Catholic College
Gateshead · Catholic high school · 7-12
989 students · ICSEA 1062
| Measure | Charlestown South Public School Charlestown NSW | St Mary's Catholic College Gateshead NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 63 Top 50% | 73 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | #540 of 1,619 | #75 of 539 |
| National rank (type) | #1652 of 4,908 | #211 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
| Year range | K-6 | 7-12 |
| Students | 235 | 989 |
| Girls / boys | 112 / 123 | 497 / 492 |
| Foundation intake | 21 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 206 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 125 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -10% | +15% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1075 | 1062 |
| ICSEA percentile | 77th | 73th |
| Top SEA quarter | 32% | 29% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 10% | 13% |
| Students per teacher | 17.9 | 12.0 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 13.1 | 82.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 2.4 | 22.5 |
| Language background other than English | 16% | 6% |
| Indigenous students | 9% | 8% |
| Suburb | Charlestown 2290 | Gateshead 2290 |
| Council area | Lake Macquarie | Lake Macquarie |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | charlestos-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 62.9).
- •Charlestown South Public School has the higher ICSEA (1075 vs 1062), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Mary's Catholic College has fewer students per teacher (12.0 vs 17.9).
- •St Mary's Catholic College is the larger school with 989 students compared with 235.
- •St Mary's Catholic College has grown faster over five years (15% vs -10%).
- •Charlestown South 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 South Public School better than St Mary's Catholic College?
On the Success Index, St Mary's Catholic College ranks higher (73.0 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 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 South Public School has 17.9 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Mary's Catholic College has 12.0.
How do Charlestown South Public School and St Mary's Catholic College rank in NSW?
Charlestown South Public School is 540th 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.