John Palmer Public School vs The Ponds High School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 1.4 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
The Ponds High School
The Ponds · Government high school · 7-12
2,321 students · ICSEA 1118
| Measure | John Palmer Public School The Ponds NSW | The Ponds High School The Ponds NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 77 Top 10% | 79 Top 10% |
| State rank (type) | #112 of 1,619 | #24 of 539 |
| National rank (type) | #417 of 4,908 | #79 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
| Year range | K-6 | 7-12 |
| Students | 950 | 2,321 |
| Girls / boys | 429 / 521 | 1,112 / 1,209 |
| Foundation intake | 103 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 422 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 319 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | +1% | +31% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1125 | 1118 |
| ICSEA percentile | 90th | 89th |
| Top SEA quarter | 52% | 49% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 5% | 5% |
| Students per teacher | 17.1 | 15.2 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 55.7 | 152.3 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 9.4 | 26.6 |
| Language background other than English | 68% | 79% |
| Indigenous students | 2% | 1% |
| Suburb | The Ponds 2769 | The Ponds 2769 |
| Council area | Blacktown | Blacktown |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | johnpalmer-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | theponds-h.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •The Ponds High School scores higher on the Success Index (79.4 vs 76.7).
- •John Palmer Public School has the higher ICSEA (1125 vs 1118), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •The Ponds High School has fewer students per teacher (15.2 vs 17.1).
- •The Ponds High School is the larger school with 2,321 students compared with 950.
- •The Ponds High School has grown faster over five years (31% vs 1%).
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 The Ponds High School?
On the Success Index, The Ponds High School ranks higher (79.4 vs 76.7 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 John Palmer Public School and The Ponds High School?
About 1.4 km in a straight line, between The Ponds and The Ponds 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 The Ponds High School has 15.2.
How do John Palmer Public School and The Ponds High School rank in NSW?
John Palmer Public School is 112th of 1,619 and The Ponds High School is 24th of 539 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.