Islington Public School vs St Columban's Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in New South Wales, 1.6 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Islington Public School
Islington · Government primary · K-6
159 students · ICSEA 1090
St Columban's Primary School
Mayfield · Catholic primary · K-6
162 students · ICSEA 1034
| Measure | Islington Public School Islington NSW | St Columban's Primary School Mayfield NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 77 Top 10% | 59 Top 50% |
| State rank (type) | #113 of 1,619 | #672 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | #433 of 4,908 | #2052 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | K-6 | K-6 |
| Students | 159 | 162 |
| Girls / boys | 82 / 77 | 77 / 85 |
| Foundation intake | 18 | 25 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -5% | +7% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1090 | 1034 |
| ICSEA percentile | 81th | 62th |
| Top SEA quarter | 39% | 19% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 8% | 20% |
| Students per teacher | 9.4 | 15.9 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 17.0 | 10.2 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 1.8 | 4.6 |
| Language background other than English | 11% | 42% |
| Indigenous students | 4% | 6% |
| Suburb | Islington 2296 | Mayfield 2304 |
| Council area | Newcastle | Newcastle |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | islington-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | mayfieldsc.catholic.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Islington Public School scores higher on the Success Index (76.5 vs 58.5).
- •Islington Public School has the higher ICSEA (1090 vs 1034), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Islington Public School has fewer students per teacher (9.4 vs 15.9).
- •St Columban's Primary School is the larger school with 162 students compared with 159.
- •St Columban's Primary School has grown faster over five years (7% vs -5%).
- •Islington Public School is a government school while St Columban's Primary School is a catholic 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 Islington Public School better than St Columban's Primary School?
On the Success Index, Islington Public School ranks higher (76.5 vs 58.5 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 Islington Public School and St Columban's Primary School?
About 1.6 km in a straight line, between Islington and Mayfield in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Islington Public School has 9.4 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St Columban's Primary School has 15.9.
How do Islington Public School and St Columban's Primary School rank in NSW?
Islington Public School is 113th of 1,619 and St Columban's Primary School is 672nd of 1,619 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.