John Palmer Public School vs St John Paul II Catholic College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 1.7 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
John Palmer Public School
The Ponds · Government primary · K-6
950 students · ICSEA 1125
St John Paul II Catholic College
Schofields · Catholic high school · 7-12
1,159 students · ICSEA 1074
| Measure | John Palmer Public School The Ponds NSW | St John Paul II Catholic College Schofields NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 77 Top 10% | 72 Top 25% |
| State rank (type) | #112 of 1,619 | #83 of 539 |
| National rank (type) | #417 of 4,908 | #230 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Catholic |
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
| Year range | K-6 | 7-12 |
| Students | 950 | 1,159 |
| Girls / boys | 429 / 521 | 590 / 569 |
| Foundation intake | 103 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 237 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 122 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +1% | +15% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1125 | 1074 |
| ICSEA percentile | 90th | 77th |
| Top SEA quarter | 52% | 31% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 5% | 13% |
| Students per teacher | 17.1 | 13.6 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 55.7 | 85.3 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 9.4 | 28.2 |
| Language background other than English | 68% | 58% |
| Indigenous students | 2% | 2% |
| Suburb | The Ponds 2769 | Schofields 2762 |
| Council area | Blacktown | Blacktown |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | johnpalmer-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | www.stjohnpaul2.catholic.edu.au/ |
The verdict
- •John Palmer Public School scores higher on the Success Index (76.7 vs 72.3).
- •John Palmer Public School has the higher ICSEA (1125 vs 1074), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •St John Paul II Catholic College has fewer students per teacher (13.6 vs 17.1).
- •St John Paul II Catholic College is the larger school with 1,159 students compared with 950.
- •St John Paul II Catholic College has grown faster over five years (15% vs 1%).
- •John Palmer Public School is a government school while St John Paul II Catholic College 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 John Palmer Public School better than St John Paul II Catholic College?
On the Success Index, John Palmer Public School ranks higher (76.7 vs 72.3 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 John Palmer Public School and St John Paul II Catholic College?
About 1.7 km in a straight line, between The Ponds and Schofields in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
John Palmer Public School has 17.1 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and St John Paul II Catholic College has 13.6.
How do John Palmer Public School and St John Paul II Catholic College rank in NSW?
John Palmer Public School is 112th of 1,619 and St John Paul II Catholic College is 83rd of 539 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.