Fort Street Public School vs St Mary's Cathedral College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 1.5 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Fort Street Public School
Sydney · Government primary · K-6
284 students · ICSEA 1094
St Mary's Cathedral College
Sydney · Catholic combined · K-12
937 students · ICSEA 1125
| Measure | Fort Street Public School Sydney NSW | St Mary's Cathedral College Sydney NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 69 Top 25% | 75 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | #327 of 1,619 | #63 of 314 |
| National rank (type) | #1074 of 4,908 | #182 of 1,259 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Combined |
| Year range | K-6 | K-12 |
| Students | 284 | 937 |
| Girls / boys | 136 / 148 | 127 / 810 |
| Foundation intake | 40 | 21 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 155 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 112 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +32% | +18% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1094 | 1125 |
| ICSEA percentile | 83th | 90th |
| Top SEA quarter | 39% | 49% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 8% | 4% |
| Students per teacher | 15.7 | 13.0 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 18.1 | 72.3 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 2.5 | 17.5 |
| Language background other than English | 84% | 61% |
| Indigenous students | 0% | 1% |
| Suburb | Sydney 2000 | Sydney 2000 |
| Council area | Sydney | Sydney |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | fortstreet-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | smccsydney.syd.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Mary's Cathedral College scores higher on the Success Index (74.9 vs 69.3).
- •St Mary's Cathedral College has the higher ICSEA (1125 vs 1094), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St Mary's Cathedral College has fewer students per teacher (13.0 vs 15.7).
- •St Mary's Cathedral College is the larger school with 937 students compared with 284.
- •Fort Street Public School has grown faster over five years (32% vs 18%).
- •Fort Street Public School is a government school while St Mary's Cathedral 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 Fort Street Public School better than St Mary's Cathedral College?
On the Success Index, St Mary's Cathedral College ranks higher (74.9 vs 69.3 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 Fort Street Public School and St Mary's Cathedral College?
About 1.5 km in a straight line, between Sydney and Sydney in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Fort Street Public School has 15.7 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Mary's Cathedral College has 13.0.
How do Fort Street Public School and St Mary's Cathedral College rank in NSW?
Fort Street Public School is 327th of 1,619 and St Mary's Cathedral College is 63rd of 314 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.