Darlington Public School vs St Mary's Catholic Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in New South Wales, 856 m apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Darlington Public School
Chippendale · Government primary · P-6
147 students · ICSEA 1030
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
Erskineville · Catholic primary · K-6
169 students · ICSEA 1145
| Measure | Darlington Public School Chippendale NSW | St Mary's Catholic Primary School Erskineville NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 64 Top 50% | 78 Top 10% |
| State rank (type) | #516 of 1,619 | #94 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | #1568 of 4,908 | #360 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | P-6 | K-6 |
| Students | 147 | 169 |
| Girls / boys | 82 / 65 | 87 / 82 |
| Foundation intake | 26 | 28 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -10% | -13% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1030 | 1145 |
| ICSEA percentile | 60th | 94th |
| Top SEA quarter | 30% | 60% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 22% | 3% |
| Students per teacher | 8.4 | 15.2 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 17.5 | 11.1 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 5.6 | 4.0 |
| Language background other than English | 39% | 42% |
| Indigenous students | 18% | 4% |
| Suburb | Chippendale 2008 | Erskineville 2043 |
| Council area | Sydney | Sydney |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | darlington-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | stmerskineville.syd.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Mary's Catholic Primary School scores higher on the Success Index (77.6 vs 63.8).
- •St Mary's Catholic Primary School has the higher ICSEA (1145 vs 1030), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Darlington Public School has fewer students per teacher (8.4 vs 15.2).
- •St Mary's Catholic Primary School is the larger school with 169 students compared with 147.
- •Darlington Public School is a government school while St Mary'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 Darlington Public School better than St Mary's Catholic Primary School?
On the Success Index, St Mary's Catholic Primary School ranks higher (77.6 vs 63.8 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 Darlington Public School and St Mary's Catholic Primary School?
About 856 m in a straight line, between Chippendale and Erskineville in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Darlington Public School has 8.4 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Mary's Catholic Primary School has 15.2.
How do Darlington Public School and St Mary's Catholic Primary School rank in NSW?
Darlington Public School is 516th of 1,619 and St Mary's Catholic Primary School is 94th of 1,619 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.