Hills Montessori School vs Murray Farm Public School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in New South Wales, 2.1 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
Murray Farm Public School
Carlingford · Government primary · K-6
787 students · ICSEA 1142
| Measure | Hills Montessori School West Pennant Hills NSW | Murray Farm Public School Carlingford NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 95 Top 5% | 70 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | – | #314 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | – | #1046 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Independent | Government |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | K | K-6 |
| Students | 16 | 787 |
| Girls / boys | 5 / 11 | 381 / 406 |
| Foundation intake | 16 | 93 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | – | -18% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1141 | 1142 |
| ICSEA percentile | 94th | 94th |
| Top SEA quarter | 65% | 56% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 0% | 3% |
| Students per teacher | – | 16.8 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 3.0 | 46.9 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 2.8 | 4.7 |
| Language background other than English | 50% | 86% |
| Indigenous students | 0% | 0% |
| Suburb | West Pennant Hills 2125 | Carlingford 2118 |
| Council area | The Hills | Parramatta |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.hillsmontessori.com/ | murrayfarm-p.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •Hills Montessori School scores higher on the Success Index (95.0 vs 69.6).
- •Murray Farm Public School has the higher ICSEA (1142 vs 1141), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Murray Farm Public School is the larger school with 787 students compared with 16.
- •Hills Montessori School is a independent school while Murray Farm Public School is a government 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 Hills Montessori School better than Murray Farm Public School?
On the Success Index, Hills Montessori School ranks higher (95.0 vs 69.6 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 Murray Farm Public School?
About 2.1 km in a straight line, between West Pennant Hills and Carlingford 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 Murray Farm Public School rank in NSW?
Hills Montessori School is unranked and Murray Farm Public School is 314th of 1,619 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.