Hunter River High School vs Millers Forest Public School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 4.4 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Hunter River High School
Heatherbrae · Government high school · 7-12
762 students · ICSEA 899
Millers Forest Public School
Millers Forest · Government primary · K-6
60 students · ICSEA 920
| Measure | Hunter River High School Heatherbrae NSW | Millers Forest Public School Millers Forest NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 26 Lower 50% | 26 Lower 50% |
| State rank (type) | #473 of 539 | – |
| National rank (type) | #1294 of 1,472 | – |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Secondary | Primary |
| Year range | 7-12 | K-6 |
| Students | 762 | 60 |
| Girls / boys | 352 / 410 | 28 / 32 |
| Foundation intake | – | 10 |
| Year 7 cohort | 155 | – |
| Year 12 cohort | 66 | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -13% | +3% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 899 | 920 |
| ICSEA percentile | 10th | 15th |
| Top SEA quarter | 3% | 2% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 62% | 64% |
| Students per teacher | 10.3 | 14.3 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 73.7 | 4.2 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 26.5 | 1.4 |
| Language background other than English | 6% | 5% |
| Indigenous students | 27% | 18% |
| Suburb | Heatherbrae 2324 | Millers Forest 2324 |
| Council area | Port Stephens | Maitland |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | hunterriv-h.schools.nsw.gov.au | millersfor-p.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (25.5 vs 26.2).
- •Millers Forest Public School has the higher ICSEA (920 vs 899), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Hunter River High School has fewer students per teacher (10.3 vs 14.3).
- •Hunter River High School is the larger school with 762 students compared with 60.
- •Millers Forest Public School has grown faster over five years (3% vs -13%).
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 Hunter River High School better than Millers Forest 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 Hunter River High School and Millers Forest Public School?
About 4.4 km in a straight line, between Heatherbrae and Millers Forest in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Hunter River High School has 10.3 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Millers Forest Public School has 14.3.
How do Hunter River High School and Millers Forest Public School rank in NSW?
Hunter River High School is 473rd of 539 and Millers Forest Public School is unranked among secondary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.