Coniston Public School vs The Illawarra Grammar School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 1.9 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Coniston Public School
Coniston · Government primary · K-6
181 students · ICSEA 990
The Illawarra Grammar School
Wollongong West · Independent combined · K-12
970 students · ICSEA 1159
| Measure | Coniston Public School Coniston NSW | The Illawarra Grammar School Wollongong West NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 46 Lower 50% | 80 Top 10% |
| State rank (type) | #959 of 1,619 | #44 of 314 |
| National rank (type) | #2967 of 4,908 | #107 of 1,259 |
| Sector | Government | Independent |
| Type | Primary | Combined |
| Year range | K-6 | K-12 |
| Students | 181 | 970 |
| Girls / boys | 82 / 99 | 464 / 506 |
| Foundation intake | 23 | 49 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 106 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 92 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -9% | +23% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 990 | 1159 |
| ICSEA percentile | 42th | 96th |
| Top SEA quarter | 11% | 64% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 37% | 2% |
| Students per teacher | 11.8 | 9.7 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 15.4 | 99.8 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 5.0 | 45.4 |
| Language background other than English | 62% | 36% |
| Indigenous students | 7% | 2% |
| Suburb | Coniston 2500 | Wollongong West 2500 |
| Council area | Wollongong | Wollongong |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | coniston-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | www.tigs.nsw.edu.au |
The verdict
- •The Illawarra Grammar School scores higher on the Success Index (80.3 vs 46.3).
- •The Illawarra Grammar School has the higher ICSEA (1159 vs 990), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •The Illawarra Grammar School has fewer students per teacher (9.7 vs 11.8).
- •The Illawarra Grammar School is the larger school with 970 students compared with 181.
- •The Illawarra Grammar School has grown faster over five years (23% vs -9%).
- •Coniston Public School is a government school while The Illawarra Grammar School is an independent 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 Coniston Public School better than The Illawarra Grammar School?
On the Success Index, The Illawarra Grammar School ranks higher (80.3 vs 46.3 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 Coniston Public School and The Illawarra Grammar School?
About 1.9 km in a straight line, between Coniston and Wollongong West in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Coniston Public School has 11.8 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and The Illawarra Grammar School has 9.7.
How do Coniston Public School and The Illawarra Grammar School rank in NSW?
Coniston Public School is 959th of 1,619 and The Illawarra Grammar School is 44th of 314 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.