Fern Bay Public School vs St Dominic's Catholic College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 5.4 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Fern Bay Public School
Fern Bay · Government primary · K-6
182 students · ICSEA 1002
St Dominic's Catholic College
Mayfield · Catholic special · U
43 students · ICSEA 966
| Measure | Fern Bay Public School Fern Bay NSW | St Dominic's Catholic College Mayfield NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 50 Top 50% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #888 of 1,619 | – |
| National rank (type) | #2732 of 4,908 | – |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Special |
| Year range | K-6 | U |
| Students | 182 | 43 |
| Girls / boys | 93 / 89 | 10 / 33 |
| Foundation intake | 26 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +72% | +26% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1002 | 966 |
| ICSEA percentile | 48th | 32th |
| Top SEA quarter | 13% | 7% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 26% | 36% |
| Students per teacher | 18.2 | 2.6 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 10.0 | 16.5 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 1.8 | 9.5 |
| Language background other than English | 6% | 16% |
| Indigenous students | 15% | 16% |
| Suburb | Fern Bay 2295 | Mayfield 2304 |
| Council area | Port Stephens | Newcastle |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | fernbay-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | mayfieldsd.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Fern Bay Public School has the higher ICSEA (1002 vs 966), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Dominic's Catholic College has fewer students per teacher (2.6 vs 18.2).
- •Fern Bay Public School is the larger school with 182 students compared with 43.
- •Fern Bay Public School has grown faster over five years (72% vs 26%).
- •Fern Bay Public School is a government school while St Dominic's Catholic College 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 Fern Bay Public School better than St Dominic's Catholic College?
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 Fern Bay Public School and St Dominic's Catholic College?
About 5.4 km in a straight line, between Fern Bay and Mayfield in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Fern Bay Public School has 18.2 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Dominic's Catholic College has 2.6.
How do Fern Bay Public School and St Dominic's Catholic College rank in NSW?
Fern Bay Public School is 888th of 1,619 and St Dominic's Catholic College is unranked among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.