Herons Creek Public School vs St Joseph's Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in New South Wales, 8.9 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Herons Creek Public School
Herons Creek · Government primary · K-6
25 students · ICSEA 919
St Joseph's Primary School
Laurieton · Catholic primary · K-6
181 students · ICSEA 1011
| Measure | Herons Creek Public School Herons Creek NSW | St Joseph's Primary School Laurieton NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 27 Lower 50% | 55 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | – | #773 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | – | #2360 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | K-6 | K-6 |
| Students | 25 | 181 |
| Girls / boys | 10 / 15 | 84 / 97 |
| Foundation intake | 3 | 29 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -7% | +17% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 919 | 1011 |
| ICSEA percentile | 15th | 52th |
| Top SEA quarter | 2% | 11% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 38% | 24% |
| Students per teacher | 9.3 | 13.5 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 2.7 | 13.4 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 0.9 | 6.7 |
| Language background other than English | 4% | 9% |
| Indigenous students | 32% | 9% |
| Suburb | Herons Creek 2443 | Laurieton 2443 |
| Council area | Port Macquarie-Hastings | Port Macquarie-Hastings |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | heronscrk-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | www.larplism.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •St Joseph's Primary School scores higher on the Success Index (54.6 vs 26.9).
- •St Joseph's Primary School has the higher ICSEA (1011 vs 919), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Herons Creek Public School has fewer students per teacher (9.3 vs 13.5).
- •St Joseph's Primary School is the larger school with 181 students compared with 25.
- •St Joseph's Primary School has grown faster over five years (17% vs -7%).
- •Herons Creek Public School is a government school while St Joseph's 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 Herons Creek Public School better than St Joseph's Primary School?
On the Success Index, St Joseph's Primary School ranks higher (54.6 vs 26.9 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 Herons Creek Public School and St Joseph's Primary School?
About 8.9 km in a straight line, between Herons Creek and Laurieton in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Herons Creek Public School has 9.3 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Joseph's Primary School has 13.5.
How do Herons Creek Public School and St Joseph's Primary School rank in NSW?
Herons Creek Public School is unranked and St Joseph's Primary School is 773rd of 1,619 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.