John Purchase Public School vs Oakhill College
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in New South Wales, 1.8 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
John Purchase Public School
Cherrybrook · Government primary · K-6
550 students · ICSEA 1168
Oakhill College
Castle Hill · Independent high school · 7-12
2,242 students · ICSEA 1124
| Measure | John Purchase Public School Cherrybrook NSW | Oakhill College Castle Hill NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 78 Top 10% | 77 Top 10% |
| State rank (type) | #90 of 1,619 | #35 of 539 |
| National rank (type) | #349 of 4,908 | #102 of 1,472 |
| Sector | Government | Independent |
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
| Year range | K-6 | 7-12 |
| Students | 550 | 2,242 |
| Girls / boys | 271 / 279 | 262 / 1,980 |
| Foundation intake | 50 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | 356 |
| Year 12 cohort | – | 411 |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -16% | +27% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1168 | 1124 |
| ICSEA percentile | 98th | 90th |
| Top SEA quarter | 68% | 49% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 2% | 3% |
| Students per teacher | 19.3 | 14.9 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 28.5 | 150.2 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 4.0 | 43.8 |
| Language background other than English | 80% | 36% |
| Indigenous students | 0% | 1% |
| Suburb | Cherrybrook 2126 | Castle Hill 2154 |
| Council area | Hornsby | Hornsby |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | johnpurch-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | www.oakhill.nsw.edu.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (77.7 vs 77.4).
- •John Purchase Public School has the higher ICSEA (1168 vs 1124), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Oakhill College has fewer students per teacher (14.9 vs 19.3).
- •Oakhill College is the larger school with 2,242 students compared with 550.
- •Oakhill College has grown faster over five years (27% vs -16%).
- •John Purchase Public School is a government school while Oakhill College is an independent 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 Purchase Public School better than Oakhill College?
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 John Purchase Public School and Oakhill College?
About 1.8 km in a straight line, between Cherrybrook and Castle Hill in New South Wales.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
John Purchase Public School has 19.3 students per full-time-equivalent teacher and Oakhill College has 14.9.
How do John Purchase Public School and Oakhill College rank in NSW?
John Purchase Public School is 90th of 1,619 and Oakhill College is 35th of 539 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.