Dapto Public School vs St John's Catholic Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in New South Wales, 2.1 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Dapto Public School
Horsley · Government primary · K-6
790 students · ICSEA 1006
St John's Catholic Primary School
Dapto · Catholic primary · K-6
623 students · ICSEA 1038
| Measure | Dapto Public School Horsley NSW | St John's Catholic Primary School Dapto NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 49 Top 50% | 58 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | #893 of 1,619 | #676 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | #2743 of 4,908 | #2061 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | K-6 | K-6 |
| Students | 790 | 623 |
| Girls / boys | 382 / 408 | 317 / 306 |
| Foundation intake | 114 | 94 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +6% | +7% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1006 | 1038 |
| ICSEA percentile | 50th | 63th |
| Top SEA quarter | 11% | 17% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 29% | 16% |
| Students per teacher | 16.9 | 15.7 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 46.8 | 39.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 9.7 | 16.6 |
| Language background other than English | 11% | 4% |
| Indigenous students | 8% | 6% |
| Suburb | Horsley 2530 | Dapto 2530 |
| Council area | Wollongong | Wollongong |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | dapto-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | www.sjddow.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St John's Catholic Primary School scores higher on the Success Index (58.4 vs 49.3).
- •St John's Catholic Primary School has the higher ICSEA (1038 vs 1006), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St John's Catholic Primary School has fewer students per teacher (15.7 vs 16.9).
- •Dapto Public School is the larger school with 790 students compared with 623.
- •Dapto Public School is a government school while St John's Catholic 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 Dapto Public School better than St John's Catholic Primary School?
On the Success Index, St John's Catholic Primary School ranks higher (58.4 vs 49.3 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 Dapto Public School and St John's Catholic Primary School?
About 2.1 km in a straight line, between Horsley and Dapto in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Dapto Public School has 16.9 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St John's Catholic Primary School has 15.7.
How do Dapto Public School and St John's Catholic Primary School rank in NSW?
Dapto Public School is 893rd of 1,619 and St John's Catholic Primary School is 676th of 1,619 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.