Hills Montessori School vs Italian Bilingual School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in New South Wales, 9.5 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Hills Montessori School
West Pennant Hills · Independent primary · K
16 students · ICSEA 1141
Italian Bilingual School
Meadowbank · Independent primary · K-6
111 students · ICSEA 1142
| Measure | Hills Montessori School West Pennant Hills NSW | Italian Bilingual School Meadowbank NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 95 Top 5% | 83 Top 5% |
| State rank (type) | – | #22 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | – | #84 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Independent | Independent |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | K | K-6 |
| Students | 16 | 111 |
| Girls / boys | 5 / 11 | 50 / 61 |
| Foundation intake | 16 | 18 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | – | +19% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1141 | 1142 |
| ICSEA percentile | 94th | 94th |
| Top SEA quarter | 65% | 57% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 0% | 3% |
| Students per teacher | – | 10.5 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 3.0 | 10.6 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 2.8 | 3.8 |
| Language background other than English | 50% | 52% |
| Indigenous students | 0% | 3% |
| Suburb | West Pennant Hills 2125 | Meadowbank 2114 |
| Council area | The Hills | Ryde |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.hillsmontessori.com/ | www.ibs.nsw.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •Hills Montessori School scores higher on the Success Index (95.0 vs 83.0).
- •Italian Bilingual School has the higher ICSEA (1142 vs 1141), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Italian Bilingual School is the larger school with 111 students compared with 16.
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 Hills Montessori School better than Italian Bilingual School?
On the Success Index, Hills Montessori School ranks higher (95.0 vs 83.0 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 Hills Montessori School and Italian Bilingual School?
About 9.5 km in a straight line, between West Pennant Hills and Meadowbank in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Staffing data is not available for one of the schools.
How do Hills Montessori School and Italian Bilingual School rank in NSW?
Hills Montessori School is unranked and Italian Bilingual School is 22nd of 1,619 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.