Hills Montessori School vs West Pennant Hills Public School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in New South Wales, 2.5 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
West Pennant Hills Public School
West Pennant Hills · Government primary · K-6
510 students · ICSEA 1134
| Measure | Hills Montessori School West Pennant Hills NSW | West Pennant Hills Public School West Pennant Hills NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 95 Top 5% | 73 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | – | #218 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | – | #777 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Independent | Government |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | K | K-6 |
| Students | 16 | 510 |
| Girls / boys | 5 / 11 | 239 / 271 |
| Foundation intake | 16 | 72 |
| 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 | 1134 |
| ICSEA percentile | 94th | 92th |
| Top SEA quarter | 65% | 54% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 0% | 3% |
| Students per teacher | – | 18.8 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 3.0 | 27.1 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 2.8 | 4.0 |
| Language background other than English | 50% | 45% |
| Indigenous students | 0% | 2% |
| Suburb | West Pennant Hills 2125 | West Pennant Hills 2125 |
| Council area | The Hills | Hornsby |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | www.hillsmontessori.com/ | westpenhil-p.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •Hills Montessori School scores higher on the Success Index (95.0 vs 72.7).
- •Hills Montessori School has the higher ICSEA (1141 vs 1134), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •West Pennant Hills Public School is the larger school with 510 students compared with 16.
- •Hills Montessori School is a independent school while West Pennant Hills 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 West Pennant Hills Public School?
On the Success Index, Hills Montessori School ranks higher (95.0 vs 72.7 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 West Pennant Hills Public School?
About 2.5 km in a straight line, between West Pennant Hills and West Pennant Hills 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 West Pennant Hills Public School rank in NSW?
Hills Montessori School is unranked and West Pennant Hills Public School is 218th of 1,619 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.