Fort Street High School vs The John Berne School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 526 m apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Fort Street High School
Petersham · Government high school · 7-12
917 students · ICSEA 1176
The John Berne School
Lewisham · Independent special · U
45 students · ICSEA 1038
| Measure | Fort Street High School Petersham NSW | The John Berne School Lewisham NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 72 Top 25% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #91 of 539 | – |
| National rank (type) | #249 of 1,472 | – |
| Sector | Government | Independent |
| Type | Secondary | Special |
| Year range | 7-12 | U |
| Students | 917 | 45 |
| Girls / boys | 301 / 616 | 6 / 39 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | 150 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 158 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | 0% | +13% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1176 | 1038 |
| ICSEA percentile | 98th | 63th |
| Top SEA quarter | 65% | 32% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 3% | 18% |
| Students per teacher | 14.3 | 4.6 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 64.0 | 9.8 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 12.4 | 9.2 |
| Language background other than English | 78% | 11% |
| Indigenous students | 0% | 18% |
| Suburb | Petersham 2049 | Lewisham 2049 |
| Council area | Inner West | Inner West |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | fortstreet-h.schools.nsw.gov.au | www.thejohnberneschool.org |
The verdict
- •Fort Street High School has the higher ICSEA (1176 vs 1038), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •The John Berne School has fewer students per teacher (4.6 vs 14.3).
- •Fort Street High School is the larger school with 917 students compared with 45.
- •The John Berne School has grown faster over five years (13% vs 0%).
- •Fort Street High School is a government school while The John Berne School is an independent 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 Fort Street High School better than The John Berne 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 Fort Street High School and The John Berne School?
About 526 m in a straight line, between Petersham and Lewisham in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Fort Street High School has 14.3 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and The John Berne School has 4.6.
How do Fort Street High School and The John Berne School rank in NSW?
Fort Street High School is 91st of 539 and The John Berne School is unranked among secondary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.