Chifley College Bidwill Campus vs Forbes High School
A head-to-head comparison of two secondary schools in New South Wales, 264 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Chifley College Bidwill Campus
Bidwill · Government high school · 7-12
720 students · ICSEA 849
Forbes High School
Forbes · Government high school · 7-12
287 students · ICSEA 848
| Measure | Chifley College Bidwill Campus Bidwill NSW | Forbes High School Forbes NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 18 Lower 50% | 18 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | #527 of 539 | #531 of 539 |
| National rank (type) | #1429 of 1,472 | #1433 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Secondary | Secondary |
| Year range | 7-12 | 7-12 |
| Students | 720 | 287 |
| Girls / boys | 347 / 373 | 137 / 150 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 119 | 54 |
| Year 12 cohort | 83 | 19 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +11% | -14% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 849 | 848 |
| ICSEA percentile | 5th | 5th |
| Top SEA quarter | 1% | 1% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 81% | 69% |
| Students per teacher | 10.8 | 8.0 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 66.4 | 35.8 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 19.3 | 13.2 |
| Language background other than English | 45% | 4% |
| Indigenous students | 26% | 37% |
| Suburb | Bidwill 2770 | Forbes 2871 |
| Council area | Blacktown | Forbes |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Outer Regional |
| Website | bidwill-h.schools.nsw.gov.au | forbes-h.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (18.1 vs 17.8).
- •Chifley College Bidwill Campus has the higher ICSEA (849 vs 848), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Forbes High School has fewer students per teacher (8.0 vs 10.8).
- •Chifley College Bidwill Campus is the larger school with 720 students compared with 287.
- •Chifley College Bidwill Campus has grown faster over five years (11% vs -14%).
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 Chifley College Bidwill Campus better than Forbes High 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 Chifley College Bidwill Campus and Forbes High School?
About 264 km in a straight line, between Bidwill and Forbes in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Chifley College Bidwill Campus has 10.8 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Forbes High School has 8.0.
How do Chifley College Bidwill Campus and Forbes High School rank in NSW?
Chifley College Bidwill Campus is 527th of 539 and Forbes High School is 531st of 539 among secondary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.