John Purchase Public School vs Oakhill Drive Public 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.
John Purchase Public School
Cherrybrook · Government primary · K-6
550 students · ICSEA 1168
Oakhill Drive Public School
Castle Hill · Government primary · K-6
756 students · ICSEA 1152
| Measure | John Purchase Public School Cherrybrook NSW | Oakhill Drive Public School Castle Hill NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 78 Top 10% | 77 Top 10% |
| State rank (type) | #90 of 1,619 | #111 of 1,619 |
| National rank (type) | #349 of 4,908 | #405 of 4,908 |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | K-6 | K-6 |
| Students | 550 | 756 |
| Girls / boys | 271 / 279 | 336 / 420 |
| Foundation intake | 50 | 80 |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -16% | -1% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1168 | 1152 |
| ICSEA percentile | 98th | 95th |
| Top SEA quarter | 68% | 61% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 2% | 1% |
| Students per teacher | 19.3 | 19.3 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 28.5 | 39.2 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Language background other than English | 80% | 80% |
| Indigenous students | 0% | 0% |
| Suburb | Cherrybrook 2126 | Castle Hill 2154 |
| Council area | Hornsby | Hornsby |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | johnpurch-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | oakhilldr-p.schools.nsw.gov.au |
The verdict
- •Both schools have almost identical Success Index scores (77.7 vs 76.8).
- •John Purchase Public School has the higher ICSEA (1168 vs 1152), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Oakhill Drive Public School is the larger school with 756 students compared with 550.
- •Oakhill Drive Public School has grown faster over five years (-1% vs -16%).
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 Drive 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 John Purchase Public School and Oakhill Drive Public School?
About 1.6 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 Drive Public School has 19.3.
How do John Purchase Public School and Oakhill Drive Public School rank in NSW?
John Purchase Public School is 90th of 1,619 and Oakhill Drive Public School is 111th of 1,619 among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.