Davidson High School vs The Forest High School
A head-to-head comparison of two secondary schools in New South Wales, 2.3 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Davidson High School
Frenchs Forest · Government high school · 7-12
790 students · ICSEA 1089
The Forest High School
Frenchs Forest · Government high school · 7-12
769 students · ICSEA 1062
| Measure | Davidson High School Frenchs Forest NSW | The Forest High School Frenchs Forest NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 68 Top 25% | 68 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | #131 of 539 | #138 of 539 |
| National rank (type) | #325 of 1,472 | #335 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Secondary | Secondary |
| Year range | 7-12 | 7-12 |
| Students | 790 | 769 |
| Girls / boys | 359 / 431 | 357 / 412 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 135 | 134 |
| Year 12 cohort | 104 | 97 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -11% | -4% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1089 | 1062 |
| ICSEA percentile | 81th | 73th |
| Top SEA quarter | 32% | 27% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 8% | 14% |
| Students per teacher | 13.9 | 12.7 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 56.6 | 60.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 11.1 | 14.1 |
| Language background other than English | 18% | 34% |
| Indigenous students | 0% | 3% |
| Suburb | Frenchs Forest 2086 | Frenchs Forest 2086 |
| Council area | Northern Beaches | Northern Beaches |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | davidson-h.schools.nsw.gov.au | theforest-h.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (68.1 vs 67.8).
- •Davidson High School has the higher ICSEA (1089 vs 1062), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •The Forest High School has fewer students per teacher (12.7 vs 13.9).
- •Davidson High School is the larger school with 790 students compared with 769.
- •The Forest High School has grown faster over five years (-4% vs -11%).
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 Davidson High School better than The Forest 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 Davidson High School and The Forest High School?
About 2.3 km in a straight line, between Frenchs Forest and Frenchs Forest in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Davidson High School has 13.9 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and The Forest High School has 12.7.
How do Davidson High School and The Forest High School rank in NSW?
Davidson High School is 131st of 539 and The Forest High School is 138th of 539 among secondary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.