Holy Family Catholic Primary School vs Southern Cross Public School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in New South Wales, 2.8 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Holy Family Catholic Primary School
Skennars Head · Catholic primary · K-6
446 students · ICSEA 1102
Southern Cross Public School
East Ballina · Government primary · K-6
388 students · ICSEA 1053
| Measure | Holy Family Catholic Primary School Skennars Head NSW | Southern Cross Public School East Ballina NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 69 Top 25% | 69 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | #350 of 1,619 | #338 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | #1138 of 4,908 | #1112 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Catholic | Government |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | K-6 | K-6 |
| Students | 446 | 388 |
| Girls / boys | 192 / 254 | 164 / 224 |
| Foundation intake | 86 | 47 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +7% | -2% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1102 | 1053 |
| ICSEA percentile | 85th | 70th |
| Top SEA quarter | 39% | 25% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 4% | 16% |
| Students per teacher | 18.6 | 14.4 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 24.0 | 26.9 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 11.9 | 7.0 |
| Language background other than English | 3% | 12% |
| Indigenous students | 3% | 6% |
| Suburb | Skennars Head 2478 | East Ballina 2478 |
| Council area | Ballina | Ballina |
| Remoteness | Inner Regional | Inner Regional |
| Website | www.skhplism.catholic.edu.au/ | sthcross-c.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (68.7 vs 69.0).
- •Holy Family Catholic Primary School has the higher ICSEA (1102 vs 1053), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Southern Cross Public School has fewer students per teacher (14.4 vs 18.6).
- •Holy Family Catholic Primary School is the larger school with 446 students compared with 388.
- •Holy Family Catholic Primary School has grown faster over five years (7% vs -2%).
- •Holy Family Catholic Primary School is a catholic school while Southern Cross 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 Holy Family Catholic Primary School better than Southern Cross Public 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 Holy Family Catholic Primary School and Southern Cross Public School?
About 2.8 km in a straight line, between Skennars Head and East Ballina in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Holy Family Catholic Primary School has 18.6 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Southern Cross Public School has 14.4.
How do Holy Family Catholic Primary School and Southern Cross Public School rank in NSW?
Holy Family Catholic Primary School is 350th of 1,619 and Southern Cross Public School is 338th of 1,619 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.