Hamilton South Public School vs Holy Family Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in New South Wales, 1.7 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Hamilton South Public School
Merewether · Government primary · K-6
362 students · ICSEA 1139
Holy Family Primary School
Merewether Beach · Catholic primary · K-6
198 students · ICSEA 1132
| Measure | Hamilton South Public School Merewether NSW | Holy Family Primary School Merewether Beach NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 75 Top 10% | 75 Top 10% |
| State rank (type) | #142 of 1,619 | #152 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | #546 of 4,908 | #569 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | K-6 | K-6 |
| Students | 362 | 198 |
| Girls / boys | 176 / 186 | 93 / 105 |
| Foundation intake | 42 | 18 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -14% | -17% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1139 | 1132 |
| ICSEA percentile | 93th | 92th |
| Top SEA quarter | 58% | 52% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 5% | 2% |
| Students per teacher | 16.0 | 13.1 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 22.6 | 15.1 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 6.0 | 3.7 |
| Language background other than English | 16% | 17% |
| Indigenous students | 5% | 3% |
| Suburb | Merewether 2291 | Merewether Beach 2291 |
| Council area | Newcastle | Newcastle |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | hamiltons-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | merewetherbeach.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (74.8 vs 74.6).
- •Hamilton South Public School has the higher ICSEA (1139 vs 1132), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Holy Family Primary School has fewer students per teacher (13.1 vs 16.0).
- •Hamilton South Public School is the larger school with 362 students compared with 198.
- •Hamilton South Public School is a government school while Holy Family 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 Hamilton South Public School better than Holy Family Primary 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 Hamilton South Public School and Holy Family Primary School?
About 1.7 km in a straight line, between Merewether and Merewether Beach in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Hamilton South Public School has 16.0 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Holy Family Primary School has 13.1.
How do Hamilton South Public School and Holy Family Primary School rank in NSW?
Hamilton South Public School is 142nd of 1,619 and Holy Family Primary School is 152nd of 1,619 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.