John Purchase Public School vs Warrah Specialist School
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
Warrah Specialist School
Dural · Independent special · U
34 students · ICSEA 1065
| Measure | John Purchase Public School Cherrybrook NSW | Warrah Specialist School Dural NSW |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | 78 Top 10% | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | #90 of 1,619 | – |
| National rank (type) | #349 of 4,908 | – |
| Sector | Government | Independent |
| Type | Primary | Special |
| Year range | K-6 | U |
| Students | 550 | 34 |
| Girls / boys | 271 / 279 | 12 / 22 |
| Foundation intake | 50 | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | -16% | +70% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | 1168 | 1065 |
| ICSEA percentile | 98th | 74th |
| Top SEA quarter | 68% | 26% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | 2% | 15% |
| Students per teacher | 19.3 | 5.7 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 28.5 | 6.0 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 4.0 | 7.3 |
| Language background other than English | 80% | 16% |
| Indigenous students | 0% | 3% |
| Suburb | Cherrybrook 2126 | Dural 2158 |
| Council area | Hornsby | Hornsby |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | johnpurch-p.schools.nsw.gov.au | www.warrahspecialistschool.nsw.edu.au |
The verdict
- •John Purchase Public School has the higher ICSEA (1168 vs 1065), indicating a more advantaged community.
- •Warrah Specialist School has fewer students per teacher (5.7 vs 19.3).
- •John Purchase Public School is the larger school with 550 students compared with 34.
- •Warrah Specialist School has grown faster over five years (70% vs -16%).
- •John Purchase Public School is a government school while Warrah Specialist School 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 Warrah Specialist 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 Warrah Specialist School?
About 1.8 km in a straight line, between Cherrybrook and Dural 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 Warrah Specialist School has 5.7.
How do John Purchase Public School and Warrah Specialist School rank in NSW?
John Purchase Public School is 90th of 1,619 and Warrah Specialist School is unranked among primary schools in New South Wales on the 2025 Success Index.