Forest Lodge Public School vs St James Catholic Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in New South Wales, 435 m apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Forest Lodge Public School
Forest Lodge · Government primary · K-6
307 students · ICSEA 1161
St James Catholic Primary School
Glebe · Catholic primary · K-6
152 students · ICSEA 1125
| Measure | Forest Lodge Public School Forest Lodge NSW | St James Catholic Primary School Glebe NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 79 Top 5% | 77 Top 10% |
| State rank (type) | #56 of 1,619 | #98 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | #240 of 4,908 | #375 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | K-6 | K-6 |
| Students | 307 | 152 |
| Girls / boys | 169 / 138 | 76 / 76 |
| Foundation intake | 52 | 26 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -14% | -6% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1161 | 1125 |
| ICSEA percentile | 97th | 90th |
| Top SEA quarter | 66% | 49% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 3% | 4% |
| Students per teacher | 16.2 | 14.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 19.0 | 10.8 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 2.8 | 2.7 |
| Language background other than English | 44% | 77% |
| Indigenous students | 2% | 0% |
| Suburb | Forest Lodge 2037 | Glebe 2037 |
| Council area | Sydney | Sydney |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | forestlodg-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | stjglebe.syd.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Forest Lodge Public School scores higher on the Success Index (79.2 vs 77.4).
- •Forest Lodge Public School has the higher ICSEA (1161 vs 1125), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St James Catholic Primary School has fewer students per teacher (14.1 vs 16.2).
- •Forest Lodge Public School is the larger school with 307 students compared with 152.
- •St James Catholic Primary School has grown faster over five years (-6% vs -14%).
- •Forest Lodge Public School is a government school while St James 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 Forest Lodge Public School better than St James Catholic Primary School?
On the Success Index, Forest Lodge Public School ranks higher (79.2 vs 77.4 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 Forest Lodge Public School and St James Catholic Primary School?
About 435 m in a straight line, between Forest Lodge and Glebe in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Forest Lodge Public School has 16.2 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St James Catholic Primary School has 14.1.
How do Forest Lodge Public School and St James Catholic Primary School rank in NSW?
Forest Lodge Public School is 56th of 1,619 and St James Catholic Primary School is 98th of 1,619 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.